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Villanova's always been a quarterback's kind of program. Whenever the Wildcats have thrived, a Chris Boden or Brett Gordon - and even a Tom Colombo or Clint Park - has played the heck out of the position.
Welcome to Antwon Young's world.
"I think he's one of the top quarterbacks in the country," 'Nova coach Andy Talley said.
Quite a mouthful, for someone who has started six games on the Main Line.
"I think he can create a lot of problems for people this year," the Head Cat continued. "He's that double threat of being a runner and a passer. He knows where to go with the football. What [true freshman backup] Chris [Whitney] didn't have last year was that ability yet to read a defense. Antwon brings that back.
"He can also scramble, make some plays that way. He's experienced, and he's a winner."
The Wildcats have been to the I-AA playoffs once since 1997. That was in 2002. Last season they were 4-2 when Young went down with a knee injury. They lost the following week, at playoff-bound Massachusetts in four overtimes. They won three of their last four, with the blemish coming at playoff-bound Richmond. They closed with a victory at Delaware, which would make it to the national title game. Along the way they found a defense and a running game, two things they haven't always had. Now, with a bunch back, including all five starters on the offensive line, they don't want to come up one win short of the postseason again.
Young, by definition, will obviously shoulder much of that burden.
"You can never underestimate his talent," said senior wideout Phil Atkinson, the leading returning receiver, who had a team-best eight touchdowns. "He can do a lot of different things to make it happen. He worked hard, to come back even stronger and faster.
"He can be electrifying."
Young completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,192 yards and 14 touchdowns. And was only intercepted four times. He also had 72 carries, for 151 yards and two scores. This year he'll be asked to run it even more, as the 'Cats go with more of a West Virginia look.
So maybe it makes sense that they open in Morgantown tomorrow afternoon. The Mountaineers are the favorites in the Big East. 'Nova was only picked to finish fourth in the six-team CAA South, despite being ranked No. 21.
"I was actually excited to get into camp, just to be able to run around and compete in drills [again]," Young said. "You can get a feel of things from the sideline. But sitting out's pretty tough. All my friends were out there. The quarterback's supposed to be the leader. I felt like I kind of let our team down a little bit, because we were doing pretty good.
"I actually feel a lot better than I did before the injury. I've been working out with the trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches, through the summer. A lot of lower-body things. I'm running harder. It's great."
He'll wear a brace, because it feels comfortable. "I didn't even know I have it on," he insisted. The 'Cats have some large cleats to fill at running back and tight end. Still, the necessary ingredients appear to be pretty much in place. So long as Young can reemerge as the conductor.
"I'm not going to change the way I play," he said. "I can't think about [the injury]. Throughout the rehab, I've worked on my agility. I probably improved on some things. I'm capable of leading the team. I feel like I'm ready for anything.
"We have [other] playmakers. Watching from the sidelines [during spring practice] made me feel even better about the guys we have on the field. I go into every game thinking that if I can play somewhat near the same level as the other team's quarterback, or outplay him, we'll have a really good chance of winning . . . We don't want to get ahead of ourselves. But we expect to accomplish a better goal than last year's team.
"In high school, I really never ran. I joke with the coaches a lot that I really don't like to run. But when things open up, I guess I'm starting to enjoy becoming a runner.
"Now, I kind of get yelled at every once in awhile if I pitch it."
In his position, it doesn't matter how. If he can count to eight wins come Selection Sunday, he's done his job. *
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