S. Jersey’s pipeline to Villanova continues

Joe Sarnese and Dustin Thomas have been friends for years.

They live two blocks apart in Ventnor. They played football together for the Ventnor Pirates of the Atlantic County Junior Football League.

Now, they are about to be teammates again, this time for Villanova University.

"Just knowing Dustin so well, it adds so much to the comfort level," Sarnese, The Inquirer's defensive player of the year from Holy Spirit, said of his decision to sign with Villanova on Wednesday.

The Sarnese-Thomas connection underscores the way Villanova has become the No. 1 destination for South Jersey football players.

Sarnese was one of six South Jersey players to sign with Villanova on Wednesday. Thomas, an all-South Jersey quarterback from St. Augustine Prep, was one of five South Jersey players to sign with Villanova in 2010.

That's 11 players in two years. And that follows on the success of older South Jersey products such as senior wide receiver Matt Szczur (Lower Cape May) and senior offensive lineman Ben Ijalana (Rancocas Valley) as well as junior wide receiver Norman White (St. Joseph) and sophomore cornerback Eric Loper (Timber Creek), among others.

"Two things have happened," Villanova coach Andy Talley said. "One, the football in South Jersey has gotten better and better. South Jersey football now is as good as North Jersey football.

"The other thing is we have an assistant coach in Clint Wiley who has made a big push in that area."

Wiley, the Wildcats' linebackers/special teams coach, left Villanova to spend one year as head coach at Oakcrest before returning to Talley's staff. In addition, Villanova defensive coordinator Mark Reardon is a Holy Spirit graduate.

The two coaches' connections in South Jersey, especially in the Cape-Atlantic League, have been a big factor in Villanova's recruiting success in the area.

South Jersey players have seen older South Jersey players enjoying success on the Main Line - Szczur was considered a likely NFL draft choice before he opted to play baseball with the Chicago Cubs, and Ijalana is projected as an early-round pick in April's NFL draft - and that has made the school more attractive.

"It's great to be going to a place where there are so many South Jersey players," said Shawnee linebacker Dillon Lucas, who signed with Villanova on Wednesday. "Those guys all know the South Jersey style of play."

Williamstown two-way lineman Vince Kowalski battled for years against Delsea running back Austin Medley, who signed with Villanova in 2010. Now, they're going to be teammates.

"We've been rivals, but not anymore," said Kowalski, who also signed with the Wildcats on Wednesday.

Kowalski suspects the small army of South Jersey players on the Villanova roster will help smooth his transition to the next level.

"It's going to make it feel more like home," Kowalski said.