New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
CIAC FOOTBALL: 25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Here are 25 CIAC football players to watch in 2021:
Angel Arce, Sr. QB, Maloney: Arce will reclaim his role as Maloney’s starting quarterback after making a name for himself as a sophomore in 2019. Arce led Maloney to a 10-2 record, throwing for 26 touchdowns and 2,003 yards, leading the Spartans to the state playoffs. Chason Barber, Sr. WR, Greenwich: Chason Barber will look to fill the shoes of his 2019 All-State brother, AJ. At 6-foot-4, Chason is bigger than his brother but is rumored to be just as quick. Committed to Brown, Chason could quickly become a top receiver in the state.
Ned Brady, Sr. OL/DL, New Canaan: Standing at 6-foot-5 and 240-pounds, the Army committed lineman will be a force for New Canaan. Described as “a coach’s dream” by Lou Marinelli, Brady will be a deciding factor in the Rams season.
Logan Briggs, Sr. WR/ RB/S, Stafford Co-Op:
Briggs was a GameTimeCT/ New Haven Register AllState team honorable mention selection in 2019 after catching 47 passes for 645 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also scored two touchdowns on the ground along with 236 rushing yards. Briggs may be the best player in the Pequot conference entering this season.
Owen Brunk, Sr. LB, Cromwell/Portland:
Coach Randall Bennett says Cromwel/Portland’s linebacking corps is ‘the best in the state, hands down.’ He couldn’t even begin to make that declaration without Brunk, the perfectly-named keystone of the C/P defense who was a Class S all-state selection as a sophomore. Treyvon Christian, Sr. DT, Norwich Free Academy:
An imposing presence at 6-foot-3, 310, the senior transferred from New London and will be a key piece of NFA’s offensive line as the Wildcats hope to return to the Class LL playoffs. He committed to Rhode Island in August.
Elijah Cromartie, Jr. QB, Windsor: Started as a freshman in 2019 and threw for 1,209 yards and 11 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Now a junior, coach Rob Fleeting believes Cromartie is ready to lead the Warriors back to the playoffs “He is very good,” Fleeting said. “One of the best that I’ve ever coached.”
Eric Dolmus, Sr. WR, Guilford: Guilford isn’t known for producing top football talent, but here comes Dolmus, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver who already has an offer from Central Connecticut State. Dolmus will be a key factor for Guilford as it hopes to continue its turnaround under coach Anthony Salvati.
Cam Edwards, Sr. RB/ DB, Norwalk: Edwards returns as Norwalk’s leading running back after a 2019 campaign in which he led the team with 1,029 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore. According to Norwalk coach Pat Miller, Edwards “has the potential to be one of the best in the state.”
Patrick Flanagan, Hand, QB, Sr.: A projected starter last year finally gets his turn as Hand’s quarterback. New coach Erik Becker says the senior is ready to have a breakout season. “Patch is going to be an elite quarterback,” he said.
David Evanchick, Sr. DL, Darien: David, the younger brother of the 2015 New Haven Register Player of the Year (Mark Evanchick), reprises his role as a starting
defensive end in 2019. One of six Darien players returning, Evanchick led Darien in tackles for a loss with 19 and sacks with seven.
Drew Kron, Sr. QB, Xavier: Kron took control of the Xavier offense as a sophomore in 2019 and flashed his upside in plenty of big moments, including a 22-21 upset over Fairfield Prep in which he scored two touchdowns and completed a game winning two-point conversion. Committed to play baseball at UConn, Kron could be one of the top quarterbacks in the state this year.
Victor Rosa, Sr. QB/DB/ ATH, Bristol Central:
Rosa is the top rated recruit in the CIAC according to 247sports.com. Rosa was a receiver and safety as a freshman, and took over at quarterback as a sophomore in 2019. Rosa rushed for 1,146 yards and 19 touchdowns while throwing for two touchdowns and nearly 500 yards. Committed to UConn, Rosa will be fun to watch this year.
Christian Russo, Sr. RB/ DB, Cheshire:
Russo has been a starter for the Rams at DB since he was a freshman, while also getting some snaps in the backfield. Russo has made 91 total tackles and has picked four passes in his two year career and had seven touchdowns as a sophomore. He will look to add to his numbers on both sides of the ball this season.
Antwone Santiago, Sr., S/WR, Platt: Santiago has started for Platt since his freshman year, bringing plenty of experience to the table as a senior. As a sophomore, Santiago made 57 tackles and had six interceptions.
Jack Sharpe, Sr. RB, Killingly: One of the few GameTimeCT All-State selections that are back for the 2021 season. As a sophomore, Sharpe rushed for 16 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 yards, leading Killingly to its second Class M championship appearance in three years. Don’t expect Sharpe to slow down in his senior year.
Cameron Smith, Sr., OL, Ridgefield: After the CIAC cancelled the football season a year ago, Smith transferred to the Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia to play. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman returned to Ridgefield for his senior season and will bring leadership and experience to the Tigers’ line.
He played as a freshman and started as a sophomore.
Corbin Smith, Trumbull, WR, Sr.: A star rugby player who returns to play football after his freshman year. Trumbull coach
Marce Petroccio calls the senior receiver “dynamic.” He could be the final piece of the puzzle for the Eagles. Nick Smith, Sr. WR, Danbury: Smith was a starter for Danbury as a sophomore, and finished with 315 receiving yards on 25 receptions. Has gotten an offer from Army and is “bound to have a breakout season” according to coach Augie Tieri.
Will Sutman, Sr. DL, Waterford: One of a long line of talented athletes in the Sutman family. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior was All-ECC as a sophomore figures to be a force for the Lancers as they attempt to make another run at the state playoffs under new coach
Seth Sweitzer, Sr. WR/ DB, Hand: Following in the footsteps of his older brothers and his father and uncles, Sweitzer figures to lead a new generation of Hand football stars. As a sophomore, Sweitzer scored three touchdowns and recorded 300 all-purpose yards. He will likely be the top target for quarterback Patch Flanagan.
Ryan Thompson, Sr., QB, Staples: As a sophomore, Thompson was a WR and had 251 receiving yards and a touchdown. Last fall, he shifted to QB in the private league and will lead the Wreckers this season, hoping to reach the state playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Kyshawn Togba, Sr., OL/DT, West Haven:
Coach Rich Boshea says “he’s one of the strongest kids in the state.” Togba started as a sophomore and this offseason he set records at the Berlin Lineman Challenge.
Matthew Weiner, Sr., OL/DL, Shelton:
Weiner was the SCC and Class LL champion in wrestling as a sophomore and now his 6-foot-3, 315 pound body will anchor the offensive line for the Gaels.
Parker Woodring, Sr. WR/CB, Wilton: 6-3, 215 pound wide receiver should be a top weapon in the FCIAC this season. DiNunzio said “he goes up and gets everything” and said he has several college coaches looking at him.