Villanova offensive lineman Jake Prus will start the Wildcats' season opener Thursday night at Connecticut.

And then he will have an even bigger assignment.

Prus has been selected as a match to make a bone marrow donation next month, coach Andy Talley said Monday. He is then expected to miss the following three games.

A tackle from Woodstown, New Jersey, Prus will be the first Villanova player to donate since Matt Szczur in 2010. Talley has been a driving force with college football teams nationwide to register potential marrow donors for the Be The Match Registry.

The Wildcats come into Thursday's game ranked fourth in the STATS FCS Top 25.