A former Michigan quarterback who reinvented himself as a tight end at Syracuse, Dan Villari brings rare positional versatility to the Rams as an undrafted rookie.
Dan Villari is a rookie tight end who signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft. The Massapequa, New York native began his college career as a dual-threat quarterback at Michigan before transferring to Syracuse and converting to tight end, where his running ability and physical catch-point skills made him a draft-radar name.
Path to the league
A three-star recruit and the 40th-ranked quarterback in the class of 2021, Villari originally committed to Michigan, where he saw limited action, completing 1 of 3 passes for 26 yards and rushing for 35 yards on nine carries across two seasons. He transferred to Syracuse in 2022 and converted to tight end, playing there through the 2025 season before signing with the Rams as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2026.
Career highlights
At Plainedge High School in New York, Villari rushed for 1,522 yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing for 1,306 yards and 13 more scores as a senior. After his conversion to tight end at Syracuse, he finished his college career with 671 receiving yards on 66 catches and three touchdowns, plus 84 carries for 410 yards and four rushing touchdowns, showcasing the dual-threat skill set that carried over from his quarterback days.
2025 season recap
In his final season at Syracuse, Villari caught 39 passes for 412 yards and added a rushing touchdown, continuing to develop as a receiving option out of the tight end position. He signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in April 2026, wearing No. 38 as he competes for a roster spot behind the team's veteran tight ends.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Dan Villari
- ESPN: Dan Villari
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Tight End
- Group
- offense
- College
- Syracuse
- Hometown
- Massapequa, NY, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
