Villanova signs three more football recruits

Villanova has added three football recruits to the 12 who previously signed, providing coach Mark Ferrante the depth he was seeking.

Signing Wednesday were wide receiver Dez Boykin of Whitehall, Pa.; defensive back James Lawson of Bishop McDevitt in Harrisburg; and offensive lineman Nick Torres, who attended Salisbury School in Connecticut.

Boykin (5-foot-10, 194 pounds) was a first-team all-state receiver. Lawson (6-1, 190) was first-team all-league and the defensive MVP of the Keystone Division. Torres (6-5, 290), who hails from Flushing, N.Y., has been selected to play in the New York City Senior All-Star game.

"We feel we have addressed many of our positional needs with this group of signees," Ferrante said about the entire recruiting class in a statement released by the school. "It is exciting for the program to be able to attract a group from our own tri-state area and stretching down to parts of the Mid-Atlantic region, which matches the geographic footprint of CAA football."

This class includes four defensive backs, three offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, two linebackers, and one each of quarterback, kicker-punter, running back, and receiver.

Villanova was hit hard by injuries last year during a 5-6 season, the first under Ferrante.

Here is the entire list of Villanova football commitments, with position, height and weight, and high school and state.

Dez Boykin WR 5-10, 194 Whitehall, Pa.

Christian Benford DB 6-0, 180 Randallstown, Md.

Nathan Fondacaro K-P 5-10, 180 St. Augustine Prep, N.J.

Qadir Ismail QB 6-7, 205 John Carroll School, Md.

Jalen Jackson RB 5-9, 210 Thomas Jefferson, Va.

James Lawson DB 6-1, 190 Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt, Pa.

Matthew Mazza OL 6-4, 270 Manalapan, N.J.

James Petrovcik OL 6-2, 260 Seton Hall Prep, N.J.

Darius Pickett DB 5-11, 180 McDonogh School, Md.

Michael Taylor DL 6-2, 225 Rockville Centre Holy Cross, N.Y.

Owen Thomas LB 6-4, 215 North Penn, Pa.

Nick Torres OL 6-5, 290 Salisbury School, Conn.

Qwahsin Townsel LB 6-0, 205 St. Joseph Hammonton, N.J.

Elijah Trent, DB 6-2, 175 Thomas Wooten, Md.

Garrett Zobel DL 6-3, 280 La Salle, Pa.