Award ‘watch’ issued for Villanova’s Rolle

The honors continue to Villanova safety Rob Rolle.

The senior was one of 21 players named to the Buck Buchanan watch list for the 2017 season. The Buchanan Award is given annually to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

The watch list will have updates during the course of the season. A national panel of 150 sports information directors, media relations directors, broadcasters and writers will determine the winner of the award at the end of the pour in for season.

Last month, Rolle was named the CAA preseason Defensive Player of the Year and preseason All-American by Athlon Sports at STATS LLC.

Rolle was part of a defensive unit that was one of the best in 2016. He finished tied in the FCS with seven interceptions. He also was in on 63 tackles and scored two defensive TDs, including a 100-yard interception return. He was a first-team All-CAA selection and first-team All-America by Hero Sports.

On the recruiting front, Villanova picked up its fourth verbal commitment Friday when Dev Holmes, a 5-10 all-purpose player from Troy (N.Y.) High School announced he was coming to Villanova via Twitter.

Holmes is the younger brother of recent Green Bay Packers signee Daquan Holmes. The younger Holmes caught 24 passes for 556 yards and seven touchdowns to lead Troy to the NYSPHSAA Class AA championship. He scored two TDs in Troy’s 21-20 victory over Victor in the state final.

A few weeks earlier, Holmes scored on his first two touches as the Flying Horses topped Shaker, 33-21, in the Section II Class AA Super Bowl. Holmes returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a score. After a defensive stop, he pulled in a 69-yard halfback pass from Joe Ward to give Troy a 13-0 lead.

The Wildcats have also received verbal commitments from Nathan Fondacaro, a kicker/punter from St. Augistine Prep (N.J.); defensive back Christian Benford of Randallstown, Md. and Jalen Jackson, a do-it-all player out of Thomas Jefferson H.S. in Richmond, Va.