The high school football season opens in Connecticut on Thursday (although most schools will play Friday) and there are some interesting storylines and players to watch with area teams.
In Stafford, a 6-8 freshman who has never played high school football already has a scholarship offer from Syracuse. Maloney, which lost in the Class L semifinals last year, has a trio of seniors back, including quarterback Ethan Nedinsky, who will make a difference. Windsor, another Class L semifinalist, returns a number of top players, including quarterback AJ Robinson. Rockville, the Class M runner-up, also returns its quarterback Brady Ramsdell and top lineman Jonathan Kasamba.
Here are some top area players to watch
Joel Budd, Stafford co-op, Fr. OL: Budd is a 6-foot-8, 335-pound freshman who has been offered by Syracuse and he hasn’t even played in high school yet. Budd injured his foot early in practice and is coming back from that so coach Brian Mazzone is just using him on the offensive line for now.
Bradley Campbell, Bloomfield, Sr. OL/DL: Campbell, who is 6-4, 230, is a three-year starter starter on the defensive line for the Class S champion Warhawks.
Vinnie Forte, Granby/Canton, Sr. QB: Forte passed for almost 2,000 yards and rushed for close to 1,000 and had 36 touchdowns for Granby/Canton, a Class SS quarterfinalist last year.
Malachi Fowler, Windham, Sr. OL/LB: Fowler had 100 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries last season for the Whippets, another Class SS quarterfinalist.
Matt Gish, Cromwell/Portland, Sr. RB/LB/TE/S: Gish is valuable because he can play a lot of different positions for the Panthers, who were the Class S runners-up last year. Cromwell coach Sal Morello: “He does whatever we need and excels at everything.”
Donald Highsmith, Maloney, Sr. LB/RB: Highsmith rushed for 687 yards and three touchdowns and is one of three defensive starters returning for the Class L semifinalists after a junior year which saw him amass 102 tackles and six sacks.
Cashmire Lewis, Windsor, Sr. WR/LB: Lewis is the top returning receiver for the Warriors, who were Class MM semifinalists last year.
Jonathan Kasamba, Rockville, Sr. OT/DT: Kasamba, who is 6-4 and 270 pounds and has a 7-foot wingspan, is getting a lot of Division I interest. He also had 87 tackles last year and 11 sacks.
Hashim Jones, Capital Prep, Sr.: Jones, a four-year starter, does a little bit of everything for Capital Prep and led the team in multiple statistical categories last year.
Jesus Martell, Maloney, Sr. WR/S: Martell is a three-year starter at free safety, had 29 tackles and six interceptions last year and was an All-State receiver for the Spartans.
Kyle Melville, Berlin, Sr. WR/DB/RB: Melville is healthy this year, coach Joe Aresimowicz said, after having nagging injuries last year but he was still able to play and led the team in receiving yards (41 per game, 411 total) and had four touchdowns.
Andrew Mikosz, Southington, Sr. LB/RB: Not too many players play on both sides of the ball at Southington but Mikosz, a 6-2, 230-pound running back and linebacker, is one of the few.
Joe Mugovero, Manchester, Sr. WR/SS: Mugovero averaged 95 receiving yards per game and scored 13 touchdowns as Manchester made it to the state playoffs for the first time since 1993.
Ethan Nedinsky, Maloney, Sr. QB: Nedinsky had 2,092 passing yards and 30 touchdowns last year for the Spartans.
Ean Pringle, Xavier, Jr. RB: Pringle had almost 900 yards rushing as a sophomore and threw one touchdown pass and according to coach Andy Guyon, has had some Div. I interest.
Brady Ramsdell, Rockville, Sr. QB: Ramsdell passed for 2,041 yards last year and 2,058 the year before and had 21 touchdowns last year for the Rams. He has also broken multiple school passing records.
AJ Robinson, Windsor, Jr. QB: Robinson had 34 touchdown passes and had 2,000 passing yards last season.
Dravyn Roberts, East Hartford, Sr. QB: Roberts passed for over 1,500 yards and rushed for over 1,200 and had 39 touchdowns for the Hornets.
Joanel Serrano, SMSA, Sr. WR/DB: Serrano led SMSA, a Class M quarterfinalist, in receiving touchdowns last year.