Freshman linebacker Donovan Linthicum brings South Jersey tackling muscle to Villanova
Donovan Linthicum enters the 2026 season as a true freshman linebacker at Villanova, listed at 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, with a reputation built on production: Villanova says he piled up more than 380 total tackles, 67 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles at Oakcrest High. That kind of downhill, contact-first profile is exactly why he’s intriguing—he looks like a tone-setter who can fit a physical defense and play with edge. The upside is obvious; the current on-field sample is still too small to judge, but the pedigree and punch are real.
