Former Plainedge star Dan Villari ready to fulfill NFL dream
Syracuse tight end Dan Villari celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against Clemson Tigers. Credit: Getty Images/Bryan M. Bennett
Dan Villari is truly living a football life — and loving every minute of it.
The Massapequa product and former Plainedge High School star is training in Fort Myers, Florida, preparing for the upcoming Senior Bowl and the entire pre-draft circuit.
Villari, a quarterback-turned-tight end, spends about eight hours a day at X3 Performance working on his body and his game. He’s training with other tight ends and draft prospects, watching film and being coached by former Iowa offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe. Some nights, he goes to a local high school field to run routes.
The Syracuse grad recently told a buddy that this is “the happiest” he’s ever been.
“I love it,” Villari said. “It’s just a perfect environment for me. I’m real happy right now and I’m just excited with how much better I’m going to get going through this process.”
Villari, the 2019 Thorp Award winner as Nassau’s most outstanding player, has dreamed of playing in the NFL since he was 6 years old.
After his final snap for Syracuse, Villari returned home and trained at T3 Performance in West Hempstead to prepare for the Hula Bowl. He performed well at the all-star game earlier this month in Orlando, Florida. While there, Villari was invited to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, on Jan. 31.
Villari, 23, can’t wait for the opportunity to showcase his skills and possibly improve his draft position after a difficult senior season.
“Just show that I’m the best tight end in the country, best all-around tight end, most athletic and most versatile guy in the draft,” Villari said. “I’ll be able to show that because all the GMs and coaches will be there. All I need to do is just get in front of their faces and show them. Because of how our season went, I was overlooked.”
Villari expected a big year. Former Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden was a fifth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. It was Villari’s turn to be Syracuse’s TE1 this past season — and he was.
He caught 20 passes for 240 yards in the first four games before quarterback Steve Angeli tore an Achilles tendon. Syracuse used three quarterbacks, including freshman walk-on and former Half Hollow Hills West multisport standout Joseph Filardi. Villari had only 19 catches for 172 yards in the final eight games.
“I was considered one of the best tight ends in the country during the first four weeks of the season,” Villari said. “Then my quarterback got hurt and I stopped getting the ball. Now, all of a sudden, they talk about you differently.”
A communications major, Villari also could have a degree in persevering. He transferred from Michigan to Syracuse in 2022 to play quarterback, but the Orange moved him to tight end. Syracuse didn’t have a tight ends coach at the time; it had an inside receivers coach. Villari essentially learned the position from watching upperclassmen and film.
Villari said he was told by then-Syracuse offensive coordinator Robert Anae that he wasn’t big enough to play tight end in the ACC. Villari, who is 6-4, 240 pounds, proved him wrong.
The next year, Villari tore a patellar tendon during blocking drills but didn’t miss a game. Playing tight end, quarterback and running back, Villari had receiving, rushing and passing touchdowns in 2023. He set a Syracuse tight end rushing record, running for 154 yards against Pitt.
Villari suffered a labrum tear in 2024. He wore a protective Cowboy Collar under his pads and played through it.
“I showed a lot of versatility and perseverance because I had a lot of unfortunate things happen in my career,” he said.
Nunzio Campanile believes that will serve Villari well at the next level.
Campanile was his tight ends coach in 2023 and worked on Syracuse’s offensive staff the past three seasons. Campanile, now UConn’s offensive coordinator, said all Villari needs is a chance.
“He’s a blue-collar kid from Long Island and he plays like it,” Campanile said. “He’s a tough kid from a great family and he’s a great teammate. He just needs to have the door cracked open for him because he’s the type of kid that will kick it down. He’s a dynamic athlete. With his toughness, his work ethic, his intelligence, he just needs the door cracked open.”
After this week's Senior Bowl, Villari will return to Fort Myers and prepare for the NFL Combine and Syracuse’s pro day. Scouts and agents project him to be a third-day pick. That motivates Villari — “Hell, yeah,” he said — because he believes that when Angeli was healthy, he showed the kind of player he can be.
“I’m still the same guy,” Villari said. “I’m healthy and I’m eager. I’m hungry and I’m ready to get back to where I was — on top.”
Getting drafted by an NFL team is the most important thing to Villari.
“It would mean the world,” he said. “It would mean I accomplished what I set out to accomplish since a young age. My whole life has revolved around getting to the NFL and clawing and fighting my way there. Just hearing my name, it would be the best day of my life so far.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
