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Garnet Valley's Matt Donoghue intent on Villanova

Garnet Valley offensive lineman Matt Donoghue is an admitted late bloomer. Through grade school he had visions of swatting home runs.

Garnet Valley offensive lineman Matt Donoghue is an admitted late bloomer. Through grade school he had visions of swatting home runs.

It wasn't until eighth grade that he started playing organized football, but he quickly became hooked.

A testament to his progression will come Wednesday when Donoghue signs a letter of intent to attend Villanova.

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound Donoghue played guard for an 8-3 Garnet Valley team that ran the triple option. He was a first-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania choice by The Inquirer.

Donoghue should fit in well with Villanova, which led the Colonial Athletic Association in rushing with 252.8 yards per game.

He doesn't have extensive football experience, and even less at his current position. In eighth grade he was a defensive lineman and tight end, and he played tight end as a freshman and sometimes as a sophomore.

Donoghue began playing guard as a sophomore and earned a varsity letter. He has been a starter there the past two seasons.

Even though he played guard in high school, Donoghue has the ability to play any position along the offensive line.

"He is very athletic, can run, and plays with a high motor, is very physical and smart," Garnet Valley coach Mike Ricci said.

Donoghue is a member of the school's 1,000-pound club. He bench-pressed 315 pounds, squatted 405, and deadlifted 405 for a total of 1,125 pounds.

And as he continued to improve in football, his dedication grew, to the point where he stopped playing baseball after his sophomore year. And Donoghue was a varsity baseball player both seasons.

It's not out of line to suggest that Donoghue's better days are ahead.

"I like to think that," he said. "I think there was big improvement junior to senior year in technique and I hope I can learn more and improve."

Villanova Recruiting Class

Name   Pos.   Ht.   Wt.   High School

Matt Donoghue    OL    6-4    280 Garnet Valley

Wesley Smith    DB    5-11   175 Nova South (Fla.)

Michael Williams    DL    6-5    280 Archbishop Spalding (Md.)

Lincoln Collins    WR    6-2    180 Boston College H.S. (Mass.)

Thomas Plonski    DL    6-5    230 Brooklyn Technical (N.Y.)

Lorenzo Fertitta    DB    5-10 175 Bishop Gorman (Nev.)

Trey Johnson    DB    5-11 160 Steinbrenner H.S. ( Fla.)

Jason Ceneus    DB    5-9    170 New Rochelle H.S. (N.Y.) EndText