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'Nova lands prized running backs McClenton, Pollard

When soft-spoken Jarrett McClenton arrived at Archbishop Wood High School as a freshman, he "just wanted to play and make a contribution" to the football team.

Villanova's head coach Andy Talley reacts after a penalty. Sam Houston State at Villanova, FCS quarterfinal on Saturday, December 13, 2014,   (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Villanova's head coach Andy Talley reacts after a penalty. Sam Houston State at Villanova, FCS quarterfinal on Saturday, December 13, 2014, (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)Read more(Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)

When soft-spoken Jarrett McClenton arrived at Archbishop Wood High School as a freshman, he "just wanted to play and make a contribution" to the football team.

He wound up doing much more.

Headed to Villanova in the fall, McClenton capped his career with the Vikings last fall by rushing for a school-record 2,188 yards and 37 touchdowns while helping Wood to its third PIAA Class AAA state title in the last four seasons.

In his last three seasons, the 5-foot-9 and 170 pounder ran for 4,536 yards and 73 touchdowns.

Despite his prodigious numbers, McClenton didn't receive any offers from Football Bowl Subdivision programs. He did receive offers from Bucknell, Holy Cross, Albany, Rhode Island, and Central Connecticut.

He wanted to stay as close to home as possible, though. So shortly after a tour that he and his parents took of the Villanova campus after his junior year - and after getting very familiar with the coaching staff - McClenton felt comfortable committing to the Wildcats.

"It was a good atmosphere to begin with," said McClenton, who rushed for 232 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries to help the Vikings retain their title with a 33-14 win over Central Valley. "I liked the way they did things; I liked the coaching staff there a lot. It seemed like a good place to go both to get an education and to play football."

The Wildcats, eliminated in the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, finished the season with an 11-3 record. Quarterback John Robertson, winner of the Walter Payton Award given to the best player in the FBS, will return for his final season.

However, the Wildcats will have to replace two of their top weapons: leading rusher Kevin Monangai and receiver Poppy Livers.

"I think it's a good fit for me there because of the up-tempo spread offense they run," McClenton said. "It makes a difference to me that there is a possibility I can play as a freshman, but I'm not taking that for granted."

Whether he plays for the Wildcats and coach Andy Talley as a freshman is something that will be determined this fall. In the meantime, the 2014 Inquirer first-team all-Southern Pennsylvania selection will focus on adding size to better handle the more physical college game.

"I'd like to get up to around 185, just so I'll be better prepared for the physical pounding," McClenton said. "But I don't want to get too much bigger because my speed is my biggest weapon."

The Wildcats did pretty well in the running back department, particularly with regards to local players.

Along with McClenton, who earned all-state honors in 2013 and 2014, the Wildcats also added one of his best friends, Neshaminy running back D'Andre Pollard.

The 5-8, 181-pound Pollard, who committed shortly after McClenton, rushed for 2,929 yards - the sixth-highest total in state history - as a junior. As a senior he rushed for 1,292 yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games.

Pollard said he and McClenton have known each other for more than a decade. They plan to be roommates at Villanova.

"We're going to compete and push each other to be better," said Pollard, acknowledging a rivalry. "I think we're going to be able to do some good things together."

Villanova Class of 2015

Name   Pos.   Ht.   Wt.   High School

Simon Bingelis   TE   6-5   225   Brick Twp. (N.J.)

Brandon Chadbourn   TE   6-1   192   Bishop Guilfoyle (Pa.)

Louie Csaszar   OL   6-4   290   Liberty (Pa.)

Adeyemi DaSilva   QB   6-3   192   Leonia (N.J.)

Dage Davis   DB   5-11   175   N. Bethesda (Md.)

Aaron Forbes   RB   5-10   205   Newburgh (N.Y.)

Ethan Greenidge   OL   6-5   320   Riverhead (N.Y.)

Jafonta Johnson   DL   6-3   235   Henninger (N.Y.)

Anthony Malaguti   LB   6-3   235   Don Bosco Prep (N.J.)

Jarrett McClenton   RB   5-9   170   Arch. Wood (Pa.)

D'Andre Pollard   RB   5-8   181   Neshaminy (Pa.)

Datrell Reed   DE   6-3   225   Lakewood (N.J.)

Keegan Sheedy   OL   6-5   270   Lancaster Cath. (Pa.)

Bryan White   DT   6-2   285   Henderson (Pa.)

Drew Wiley   LB   6-2   225   Hopewell Valley (N.J.)

Julian Williams   DB   6-3   200   Hun School (N.J.)

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