After months battling injury, Dan Villari hit his stride in front of a home crowd: ‘It’s very satisfying’

New York — Dino Babers wanted to be clear postgame: Dan Villari’s explosive game wasn’t a surprise to him or his coaching staff.

They were just waiting to give him the right chance to surprise everyone else.

Syracuse football transitioned Villari from quarterback to tight end shortly following his transfer from Michigan after the 2021 season.

He appeared in seven games in 2022 but had just one catch for 22 yards and no rushing yards.

Then the Orange lost him to a lower-body injury from spring camp through fall camp.

“We didn’t get him until September, and at the time we had [Oronde Gadsden I],” Babers said postgame. “We thought he was good. I believed he was good. I had faith he was good. But he hadn’t done it on the field.”

Villari gave that performance to solidify he’s all the adjectives Babers believed he was Saturday serving as the lynchpin of a reworked Syracuse offense in its 28-13 win over Pittsburgh.

The win in the Bronx, not far from Villari’s hometown Massapequa on Long Island, snapped a five-game losing streak and gave the Orange its first ACC win of the season.

Villari was responsible for over 150 of SU’s 400 offensive yards, logging 154 yards on 17 rushes and tacking on another 12 yards on three passes.

Those numbers more than double anything he’s done this season. His previous season-high total yardage was 67 yards against Clemson, nearly all of which came through the air.

“It’s been a lot of ups and downs,” Villari said. “Like coach said, I was hurt in the spring, so I really didn’t have a complete offseason. I feel like I’m reaching my stride now.”

Villari’s been one of the most outspoken players when it’s come to assessing Syracuse’s offensive issues through the past five weeks.

He’s placed blame on himself and teammates for lack of execution, called the team out for a lack of passion in practice and been honest that he doesn’t feel players have given 100% every game.

Babers alluded that Villari’s heart — and the hearts of Shrader and running back LeQuint Allen — was a catalyst for the revitalization of the offense.

“When you get those three hearts, and you put them together, you have a hell of a beat,” Babers said.

Villari donned a play sheet on his wrist, reminiscent of his quarterbacking days, but kept the “football tough” mentality that he’s learned in the time since.

He said it didn’t take much to transition back into that headspace. He took several snaps at wildcat, attempted more passes than Syracuse’s veteran quarterback Garrett Shrader, and called a few plays to the offensive line.

About 75 family members and friends were present at Yankee Stadium to watch Villari on the biggest night of his collegiate career.

Babers said Villari had asked if he could speak with media first out of eagerness to go celebrate the victory with his loved ones.

“It’s very satisfying... to put on a show for them,” Villari said. “They’ve always been there for me in the hard times when I was still a quarterback not playing. It was real special to do that here.”

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