Masuk quarterback Casey Cochran is widely considered the top recruit in Connecticut for the class of 2012.
With some fanfare, top college recruiting website Rivals.comunveiled its state-by-state recruit rankings a couple of weeks ago. So we here at Connecticut Football HQ thought it would be nice to take those and compile a comprehensive list of the state’s top recruits heading into the 2011 season.
This is purely a list based on website reports. None of it has come from actual reporting on our end. This list designed to give fans a comprehensive look at our state’s prospects in the eyes of the recruiting world. And what you see on those sites is what you’ll get here.
Also, this is just for the Class of 2012. So you won’t be seeing any reports on Brookfield QB Boeing Brown, or Sacred Heart WR David Coggins, etc. or Masuk’s Shawn Flynn, etc. (Brain freeze on Flynn. He’s a part of this mix.)
We’ve added links to each players’ junior year profile page on MaxPreps.com.
If we could find them (and we usually did), we added recruiting videos below each profile.
CASEY COCHRAN, QB, Masuk
Reported Interest
Rivals (CT Rank No. 1)– Boston College*, UConn, Harvard, Princeton, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Yale
Scout – Alabama, Boston College, Connecticut, Duke, Harvard, LSU, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Rutgers, Stanford, Texas A&M, Virginia, Yale
ESPN – Boston College, Michigan State, Duke, UConn, North Carolina State Highlight Video
Mike Money
MIKE MONEY, OT, Fairfield Warde – 6-4, 275
Reported Interest
Rivals (CT Rank No. 5) – No schools listed.
TAREK BRUCE, LB, Stamford Reported Interest
Scout: UConn, Maryland, Rutgers Note: Scout.com lists Bruce as A) a quarterback; B) from Westhill. Maybe I missed something? He has no listing on Rivals.
TAYLOR WRICE, ATH, Bristol Eastern – 5-9, 165
Reported Interest
Rivals (CT No. 8 ) – Boston College, Cincinnati, UConn, Northwestern, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple
Scout: Boston College, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, West Virginia Highlight Video
ESPN’s recruiting site is decidedly more liberal than any of the two big recruiting sites. Lots of names, little substance and somewhat inaccurate. Danbury’s Austin Calitro, for example, is listed as undeclared. Who knows how this list is compiled and curated.
Still, it adds a lot more names. So take these as just an expansive list of other prospects/good players who may or may not end up playing in college.
Again, by no means is this an all-encompassing list, just what the internet bots at ESPN have collated for our fair state.
Players in bold are not found on either Rivals.com or Scout.com rankings. We’ve thrown in a few recruiting video links for local players.
Update: We’re going to cheat a bit and add players we know are being recruited, but not on the ESPN recruiting site to this list. They’ll be given an asterisk. We’ll post info as necessary. (I’ve changed this. See below.)
Andrew Vollaro, RB, Haddam-Killingworth — 5-8, 162
Zachary Voytek, DT, Trumbull – 6-5, 295
Derek Ward, QB, Griswold – 5-10, 178
Jonathan Ware, DE, Fitch – 6-2, 217
Shaquille Watkin, DE, Stamford — 6-0, 212
Brandon Williams, DE, Bassick
David Wolff, LB, Fairfield Warde — 5-8, 200
Taylor Wrice, ATH, Bristol Eastern – 5-8, 165
NON-CIAC
Malik Golden, ATH, Cheshire Academy — 6-1, 185
Bunta Biyana, DT, Canterbury — 6-2, 285
Kevin Carey, DT, Taft — 6-0, 181
Darnell Davis, LB, Avon Old Farms — 6-2, 228
Herbie May, QB, Salisbury — 6-0, 190
Kevin Peabody, QB, King — 6-1, 180
Bryce Peters, WR, Avon Old Farms — 6-0, 200
Keshaudas Spence, FB, Taft — 5-10, 230
Billy Weyrauch, LB, Cheshire Academy — 5-9, 194
BRAND NEW!
THE RECRUITING WRITE-IN PAGE
OK, since everyone’s anxious to add their favorite player (or son on the list, I’m creating the write-in section below. Players who did not appear on any of the big recruiting lists (as of July 21) will appear here. I’ve added a few of my one from the previous list.
Masuk quarterback Casey Cochran is one of 400 high school football players nominated to participate in the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Cochran, perhaps the state’s most sought-after senior high school football player, is the only Connecticut player to receive a nomination. The U.S. Army All-American Bowl chooses nominees through the three main recruiting services — Scout.com, Rivals.com and Tom Lemming — and through various camps, combines and clinics. Players must also have good standing in school and in their communities.
None of that has been a problem for the 6-foot-1 Cochran. He has thrown for approximately 7,000 yards and more than 70 touchdowns since his freshman year at New London. He’s been a two-time Connecticut Post All-Star and all-state selection. He’s a member of the National Honor Society and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average.
The final rosters will be determined in the fall. The game is played the week after the college bowl season.
According to a variety of reports, the 6-foot-1 Cochran has received an offer from Boston College, and interest from a host of other schools, including UConn, Duke, Notre Dame, Princeton, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Yale, Alabama, Harvard, LSU, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, Rutgers, Stanford, Texas A&M, Michigan State, North Carolina State.
October 18, 2010 at 11:17 am by Sean Patrick Bowley
Masuk's #3 Joe Testani crosses over for a touchdown against Bunnell in SWC football action in Stratford, Conn. on Friday October 15, 2010. Photo: Christian Abraham / Connecticut Post
The Monroe Express to Brookfield (site of the SWC championship game) plowed through the Bulldogs with a somewhat deceptive, yet convincing 45-0 victory. Instead of a sterling finish to an uplifting upset, we got seven consecutive kneel-downs by the junior varsity while the Masuk student section cheered “Coch-ran! Coch-ran! Coch-ran!” over and over in the gloomy night.
And, no, they weren’t referring to the quarterback.
Regardless of the final, Bunnell came to play. It moved the ball on offense and got within the shadow of the Masuk goal line several times. But turnovers doomed the Dawgs early, midway and late in the game. What good things Bunnell accomplished were wiped away almost immediately, however A Joe Diaz pickoff TD here, Colin Markus a 60-yard run and TD there. Masuk just kind of bled Bunnell to death.
It wasn’t a vintage Masuk performance, but it barely broke a sweat in taking a 21-0 lead. Bunnell attempted to flood the passing lanes, which gave QB Casey Cochran some trouble (he was picked off three times and threw for 155 yards).
But no worries, Masuk merely picked its spots and punched back with Markus, who broke free for several long runs to set up easy touchdowns. It was 21-0 at halftime. Hardly a wipeout. But the casual fans had already seen enough, and fled the field and the rain.
Then Diaz returned the second half kickoff for a TD. That was pretty much ballgame, although there would be more Markus to come.
Highlights of football action between Pomperaug and Weston in Weston, Conn. on Saturday October 16, 2010. Photo: Christian Abraham / Connecticut Post
We took the show to Weston on Saturday morning (Pomperaug 38, Weston 7) and the general consensus among SWC coaches in attendance was that nobody was touching Masuk (hardly new news). We drifted to other topics, such as who might be Masuk’s unfortunate opponent in an SWC title game, a potential Pomperaug-Brookfield showdown for that spot next month, a Bunnell-Newtown showdown this week, and, of course CIAC playoff possibilities for everyone. (It’s getting to be that time of year. Some of Xavier’s coaching staff was in attendance checking out Pomperaug, which stands to qualify in Class LL if it wins out.)
Oxford’s 14-7 loss to New Milford might have taken the Wolverines out of the race permanently. We also learned that Oxford QB Alex Miller broke the pinky finger on his non-throwing hand during practice before the game. He had surgery and will miss significant time, if not the rest of the year.
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Elsewhere, Trumbull affirmed its second-half mission by rallying to beat Greenwich 18-13. The Eagles are flying high at 5-0. Darien toppled Trinity Catholic 32-14to improve to 5-0 and assure everyone that it will be unbeaten in the FCIAC when it’s time to tally playoff points in Week 9. (Their next game against Red Lion Christian of Delaware is another matter, but it doesn’t count toward FCIAC playoffs).
Tom Pauciello, # 5 of Trumbull High School, takes one in for a touchdown Friday night at Greenwich High School, Oct. 15, 2010. Photo: Bob Luckey
Not only did Staples struggle to take out McMahon, the Wreckers learned that outstanding sophomore Nick Kelly might have seriously damaged his knee in the process. The injury has yet to be sufficiently diagnosed. We should learn more soon.
So that leaves four undefeated teams left in the FCIAC.Darien’s scheduleseems to give the Blue Wave an inside track to the FCIAC Championship game at McDougall Stadium on Nov. 19. Staples’ schedule looks manageable until if faces Trumbull in decisive Week 9. Trumbull’s schedule is tough, with both Staples and Ridgefield remaining.
As for New Canaan, the Rams are back from their first-half cruise and join the race this week. First up, a massive grudgematch with wounded St. Joseph at Dalling Field — will Tyler Matakevich, who has been testing his injured foot on the sidelines during games, make a triumphant return?
The Rams then comes home to Dunning Stadium to face, in order: Wilton, Greenwich and Central. Undefeated should get them close to an FCIAC berth. Whether they play Darien for the championship on Thanksgiving or somebody else at Trumbull on Nov. 19 remains a question.
Here are the FCIAC playoff points through Week 5:
Trumbull
5-0
620
124.0
Staples
5-0
590
118.0
Darien
5-0
570
114.0
New Canaan
4-0
420
105.0
Ridgefield
3-1
340
85.0
Bridgeport Central
4-1
420
84.0
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In the NVL, Ansonia shocked everybody by running roughshod over preseason favorite Wolcott in a crucial Copper Division battle at rainy Jarvis Stadium. Montrell Dobbs ran for 305 yards and freshman Arkeel Newsome continued to impress with a 72-yard kickoff touchdown. So Ansonia holds serve in the Copper, with only Watertown (this week) and Derby/O’Brien Tech (next) and Seymour (Week 9) standing it its way of an NVL title game berth.
On the other side, it’s Naugy in front, Woodland and Torrington nipping on their heels. Both Woodland (2-0 Brass) and Torrington (2-1) face off this week in a key division game. Woodland controls its own destiny (it faces Naugatuck in three weeks).
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In the SCC, Notre Dame-West Haven kept its playoff hopes alive by crushing Hand. Cheshire all but dropped out of the Class LL race with an 18-14 loss to Wilbur Cross. ND and Cross play in two weeks. West Haven is 5-0 and in decent shape in Class LL, but begins a brutal stretch of games beginning this week — at Cheshire, vs. Hand, at Wilbur Cross, at Xavier then vs. Fairfield Prep.
Xavier dominated Fairfield Prep and continued its inexorable march toward that West Haven showdown in Week 9. …The rest of the league has its eyes on Lyman Hall, now a surprising 4-1, and in the thick of the Class M race; North Haven, 4-1 and in the mix in Class L; and Hand, which is also 4-1 and in the Class L playoff race with West Haven and Wilbur Cross among its remaining games.
But if the season ended today (and thank God it doesn’t)…
Class LL – 8. Southington at 1. Trumbull; 7. Glastonbury at 2. NFA; 6. Hall at 3. Xavier; 5. West Haven at 4. Staples Class L – 8. Hand at 1. Masuk; 7. New Canaan at 2. Darien; 6. Naugatuck at 3. Wethersfield; 5. Bristol Eastern at 4. Fitch Class M – 8. Wolcott at 1. Berlin; 7. Cheney Tech at 2. New London; 6. Platt at 3. Waterford; 5. Enfield at 4. Plainville Class S – 8. Woodland at 1. Ansonia; 7. North Branford at 2. Valley Regional/Old Lyme; 6. Montville at 3. Hyde; 5. Sacred Heart at 4. Coginchaug.
Resist the urge to go bonkers over these midseason pairings. Lots of season left.
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We’ll have the State Polls, the Elite 8 tonight and, tomorrow, video of Bunnell-Masuk and Pomperaug-Weston.
Also, we will be publishing a Midseason Report Friday both in our papers and in this space.
If all goes well, we’ll have a first-half video collage of all the first-half 2010 action.
Less than 24 hours away, everybody in Connecticut will be practicing for the 2010 High School Football Season.
It’s here. It’s now. Let’s rock.
On Monday, at various points and times around the state, 85 high school football teams will join the 40 already underway for fall practices. For them, it’s conditioning week. For the original 40, it’s time to lace up the pads and start hitting for real.
I. Can’t. Wait.
Just a quick rundown on stories sprinkled about on this rainy Sunday.
Oh, and here’s a CT overview contribution from the new and encroaching ESPNBoston, which has taken to covering New England high school sports using freelancers. Here, they’ve acquired the services of Norwich Bulletin writer Matt Stout and local photographer Dave Choate to do the honors for Connecticut. (We here at CTHSFootball Central got a call from Matt a few weeks ago and gave him the scoop on Western CT HS football. You’re welcome, ESPNBoston.)
By the way, Matt did a bang-up job on the piece. Lots of info (more than we can say for ourselves at this point. Gotta get to work).
Anyhoo, expect a ton of stories to come flowing out of all the state newspapers tomorrow and in the coming days. Reporters from all over should be out and about looking for news at all the practices going on. We’ll try to get you the best of the best stuff from camp in the coming weeks. First scrimmages are six days away.
Oh, bay-bay. Football is back!
And on behalf of football coaches, players, writers and broadcasters, I say to all our wives and girlfriends and close family members and friends:
The Gators were Jordan’s first official offer last summer and, after varying degrees of courtship by Notre Dame, Rutgers, Penn State, Boston College, Syracuse and Duke, he’s decided to stick with the Gators. defending BCS champions.
Jordan’s quite a catch: 6-foot-5, 295-pound, first-team all-state, Connecticut Post All-Star, Walter Camp Team, Connecticut State Lineman of the Year, first-team All-FCIAC and FCIAC Player of the Year. He has also been nominated for the Army All-American Bowl.
We’ll have much, much, much more on Tom’s decision in the coming days and months.
on the list, I’m creating the write-in section below. Players who did not appear on any of the big recruiting lists (as of July 21) will appear here. I’ve added a few of my one from the previous list.
Masuk quarterback Casey Cochran is one of 400 high school football players nominated to participate in the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
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