The Syracuse football team needed someone to step up at tight end to replace the incredibly talented Oronde Gadsden II, who is now in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Enter Dan Villari, who is off to a fantastic start for the Orange.
Villari thus far ranks tops in the ACC in tight end receiving yardage, at 199. He's second in the entire country among tight ends, behind just Oklahoma's Jaren Kanak.
Interesting note after a spin through PFF. Among players listed as TEs on PFF, Syracuse's Dan Villari leads the ACC in receiving yards (199) though 3 games and is second in the country behind Oklahoma's Jaren Kanak (242).
— chris carlson (@ccarlsononSU) September 16, 2025
Villari's college football journey has been fascinating.
He went to Michigan out of high school as a quarterback.
But when he transferred after a year, he became a tight end at SU.
The Orange don't just use Villari as a receiver, though. He can also be a goal-line QB sneaker or a Wildcat rusher.
He ran for 326 yards in 2023, but the Orange have mostly used him as a receiver this season.
Ironically, Villari's quietest game came in Week 3 when the Orange put up 66 points in a win over Colgate.
But he'll be one of the most reliable players in the Syracuse offense all season, and he's unlike almost every other tight end in the country.
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