OT: 2016 USA Today All-USA Connecticut Team

[kris1]

Per GameTimeCT.....

The 2016 USA Today All-USA Connecticut football team, which includes players from both CIAC and non-association preparatory schools.

First Team
OFFENSE

• QB — Tyshaun James (6-4, 200, Sr.), Middletown
• RB — Zach Davis (5-10, 170, Sr.), Sheehan (Wallingford)
• RB — C.J. Holmes (6-0, 200, Sr.), Cheshire Academy
• WR — Tarik Black (6-4, 208, Sr.), Cheshire Academy
• WR— Brad Hawkins (6-1, 202, Sr.), Suffield Academy
• TE— D. Major Roman (6-5, 205, Sr.), New London
• OL— Byron Dickens (6-3, 290, Sr.), West Haven
• OL— Ted Field (6-5, 285, Sr.), Salisbury School
• OL— Jared Nelson (6-3, 251, Sr.), Glastonbury
• OL— Andrew Stueber (6-6, 285, Sr.), Darien
• OL— Seth Willis (6-6, 325, Sr.), Newtown (Sandy Hook)

Offensive Player of the Year: Zach Davis, Sheehan

DEFENSE

• DL— Matt Albino (6-0, 260, Sr.), Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford)
• DL— Jawaun Johnson (5-11, 190, Sr.), Norwich Free Academy
• DL— James Makszin (6-4, 260, Sr.), Norwalk
• DL— Evan Carp (6-3, 250, Sr.), Avon Old Farms
• LB— Tim Gardner-Russaw (6-3, 225, Sr.), Windsor
• LB— Ben Mason (6-3, 247, Sr.), Newtown (Sandy Hook)
• LB— Vance Upham (5-11, 200, Sr.), Southington
• DB— Ryan O’Connell (6-0, 190, Sr.), New Canaan
• DB— Jason Pinnock (6-1, 190, Sr.), Windsor
• DB— Nico Ragaini (6-1, 190, Sr.), Notre Dame (West Haven)
• DB— Brandon Sebastian (6-1, 180, Sr.), Cheshire Academy

Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Mason, Newtown

SPECIAL TEAMS
K — Joe Zoppi (5-11, 180, Sr.), Shelton

Coach of the Year: Lou Marinelli, New Canaan

Second Team
OFFENSE

• QB— Jahkari Grant (6-3, 188, Sr.) Windsor
• RB— Matthew Brehon (5-7, 190, Sr.), Hillhouse (New Haven)
• RB— Markell Dobbs (5-11, 172, Jr.), Ansonia
• WR— Brett Huber (5-10, 175, Sr.), Foran (Milford)
• WR— Russell Thompson-Bishop (6-2, 198, Sr.), Bloomfield
• TE— Ryan Fitton (6-5, 240, Sr.), Staples (Westport)
• OL— Hassan Azeem (6-1, 265, Jr.), South Windsor
• OL— Travis Jones (6-4, 330, Jr.), Wilbur Cross (New Haven)
• OL— Chazz Sanders (5-9, 313, Sr.), Ansonia
• OL— Gerrik Vollmer (6-5, 275, Sr.), Taft School (Watertown)
• OL— Samuel Vretman (6-6, 295, Sr.), Cheshire Academy

DEFENSE

• DL— Quinn Fay (6-3, 215, Sr.), Darien
• DL— Jack Kircher (6-5, 263, Sr.), New Canaan
• DL— Niko Kvietkus (6-3, 252, Sr.), Xavier (Middletown)
• DL— Ben Kraninger (6-4, 262, Sr.), Greenwich
• LB— Finlay Collins (6-1, 185, Sr.), Darien
• LB— Glenn Cunningham (6-2, 215, Sr.), Xavier (Middletown)
• LB— Dillon Harris (6-0, 210, Jr.), Cheshire Academy
• DB— Hunter Cobb (5-9, 185, Sr.), Newtown (Sandy Hook)
• DB— Anthony Godfrey (5-9, 175, Sr.), West Haven
• DB— Cam Kelly (5-10, 170, Sr.), Brunswick School (Greenwich)
• DB— David Wells (6-1, 180, Sr.), Shelton

 

[JMick]

Would not be surprised to see Edsall reach out to Zach Davis. He seems like an Edsall kind of back.

 

[sportsart]

Speaking of local kids. Wonder how the CT Coaches are feeling about Randy's return.

Heh heh heh...

 

[hardcorehusky]

If I am right, Diaco got 1 second team kid from that list - Ryan Fitton. That is the worst UCONN has done in state since going D1

 

[kris1]

Would not be surprised to see Edsall reach out to Zach Davis. He seems like an Edsall kind of back.

Davis is headed to Fordham

 

[JMick]

Davis is headed to Fordham

Yeah but nothing is signed yet

 

[JMick]

Speaking of local kids. Wonder how the CT Coaches are feeling about Randy's return.

Heh heh heh...

I just hope everyone realizes not all CT coaches disliked Edsall - just the loud minority.

 

[huskymedic]

If I am right, Diaco got 1 second team kid from that list - Ryan Fitton. That is the worst UCONN has done in state since going D1

USAT is a weird one. A good number of those listed are going FCS/Ivy or no offers.

 

[huskyrob1]

USAT is a weird one. A good number of those listed are going FCS/Ivy or no offers.

Ben Mason is the best D1 recruit from CT in the last several years. Made first team all-state his sophomore, junior and senior years. No one has done that since Bobby Valentine 50 years ago. He'll be playing for Harbaugh at Michigan, as is Steuber from Darien. OL Willis of Newtown signed with BYU. Tarik Black and CJ Holmes also committed to P5 schools. HCRE might want to take a look at Dickens of West Haven, Makszin of Norwalk, Kircher of New Canaan, and James of Middletown.

 

[kris1]

Ben Mason is the best D1 recruit from CT in the last several years. Made first team all-state his sophomore, junior and senior years. No one has done that since Bobby Valentine 50 years ago.

There's a kid named Arkeel Newsome who did it quite recently. He was 1st team All State 2011-2013, state player of the year in 2011 & 2013, and a 1st team Parade All American. You may have heard of him.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

I just hope everyone realizes not all CT coaches disliked Edsall - just the loud minority.

Alas, quite similar to more than a few Boneyard bloviators. That said, a show me (us) perspective may be relatively reasonable.

 

[huskyrob1]

There's a kid named Arkeel Newsome who did it quite recently. He was 1st team All State 2011-2013, state player of the year in 2011 & 2013, and a 1st team Parade All American. You may have heard of him.

You are correct. My mistake. I was going by a state HS football blog that said Mason had been the first to do that since Bobby Valentine. They also forgot Newsome.

 

[UCweCONN]

Ben Mason is legit. At 6'3", 247 lbs, I wonder if Harbaugh plans to make him into a down linemen or defensive end instead of a linebacker?

 

[huskyrob1]

Ben Mason is legit. At 6'3", 247 lbs, I wonder if Harbaugh plans to make him into a down linemen or defensive end instead of a linebacker?

One thing I do know, is he broke or tied Valentine's pick 6 record. For a kid his size to do that I bet they make him a TE.

Football: Newtown's Ben Mason is the 2016 Gatorade State Player of the Year - GameTime CT

 

[UCweCONN]

One thing I do know, is he broke or tied Valentine's pick 6 record. For a kid his size to do that I bet they make him a TE.

Football: Newtown's Ben Mason is the 2016 Gatorade State Player of the Year - GameTime CT

The video of him on offense is sick. He just discards would be tacklers like flys.

 

[huskymedic]

For a kid his size to do that I bet they make him a TE.

C'mon - JH didn't recruit Mason to be a TE. They have 12 TE's on their current roster (only two are graduating) and have 2 4* TE incoming I believe. He's a LB/FB all the way.

 

[kris1]

One thing I do know, is he broke or tied Valentine's pick 6 record.

Mason tied the record. Although they don't mention it, Valentine is not the only player to have five career INTs for TDs...Phil Pope also accomplished the feat.

MOST INT. RETURNS FOR TDS, CAREER:
Player, School Int. Year
Bobby Valentine, Rippowam-Stamford 5 1965-67
Phil Pope, Simsbury 5 1966-68
Jamal Johnson, New London 4 1987
Phil Bresson, Torrington. 4 2010-12

 

[UCweCONN]

It shows that lack of respect shown to CT football. Mason is a stud, Gatorade Player of the Year, 3 time All State and going to Michigan and is only rated 3 stars. Many years ago, a guy I went to school with was the NY Daily News Defensive Player of the Year and his best offers were from FCS (then called D1A) and Ivy schools. Connecticut gets no respect.

 

[kris1]

JH didn't recruit Mason to be a TE. They have 12 TE's on their current roster (only two are graduating) and have 2 4* TE incoming I believe. He's a LB/FB all the way.

.....And only one of them is under 6'4 (Devin Asiasi, 6'3, 287, Fr.). If Mason isn't a LB or FB at Michigan, maybe he adds 20lbs. and transitions to DE. I could see him as a pass rushing DE with his athleticism and quickness.

 

[huskyblooz]

The 3 SCC kids I like are Zach Davis, Nico Ragaini (they can both help Edsall on special teams this fall), and Travis Jones, the junior lineman from Wilbur Cross. Very nimble for his size. Will be a top recruit nationally next year.

I'd like to get Conley from New Canaan too. Though he's not on the list.
I havent seen Henkel the Brunswick QB, but I hear he's legit.

 

[kris1]

The 3 SCC kids I like are Zach Davis, Nico Ragaini (they can both help Edsall on special teams this fall), and Travis Jones, the junior lineman from Wilbur Cross. Very nimble for his size. Will be a top recruit nationally next year.

I'd like to get Conley from New Canaan too. Though he's not on the list.

Which Conley?

Will Conley (2017) 6'7, 265
Jack Conley (2019) 6'7, 280

Lol...Can we get both???

 

[huskyblooz]

unfortunately, New Canaan kids still see UConn as a safety school.
Their parents will have to wear a block C on their chest at the country club, ala the Scarlett Letter.

On another note: Marinelli - Coach of the Year? Callahan from Ridgefield deserved it more

 

[huskyrob1]

C'mon - JH didn't recruit Mason to be a TE. They have 12 TE's on their current roster (only two are graduating) and have 2 4* TE incoming I believe. He's a LB/FB all the way.

I was just speculating, relax medic. Watch your blood pressure.

 

[huskymedic]

I was just speculating, relax medic. Watch your blood pressure.

All's good - laughter reduces your BP. The ‘heartier’ the laugh, the better – laughing 30 minutes a day is good for heart health

 

[kris1]

unfortunately, New Canaan kids still see UConn as a safety school.
Their parents will have to wear a block C on their chest at the country club, ala the Scarlett Letter.

On another note: Marinelli - Coach of the Year? Callahan from Ridgefield deserved it more

That's a fence that Edsall's staff needs to mend. There is too much talent in the FCIAC, especially linemen, to not at least try to recruit the Gold Coast harder this time around.

Recruiting in state should start in the FCIAC for OL/DL, LBs, WRs and QBs, move to the SCC for OL/DL, LBs, RBs, WRs and DBs, then hit the CCC for OL/DL, QBs and more RBs, WRs, and DBs with speed. Occasionally, you'll find D1 players in the NVL and the SWC along the way.