Image courtesy of Scott Sulkazi
By Andy Close
NEFJ Correspondent
There’s a plethora of talent returning in the state of Connecticut, from players on defending state championship teams to under-the-radar talents who are poised to break out.
Here’s a look at 50 players to watch in the CIAC heading into the 2026 season:
Jayden Compton, Sr., Windsor (WR): One of the top players in the state had 64 receptions for 1,435 yards and 18 touchdowns. Has offers from Florida State and Syracuse.
Dae’Sean Graves, Sr., Holy Cross (WR): One of Jason Candle’s first commitments upon arriving at UConn. Had 80 receptions for 1,149 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2025.
Rody Ricketts, Sr., Bunnell (WR/CB): Has offers from Syracuse, Temple, and others. Had 688 receiving yards, 773 rushing yards, and 19 total touchdowns. Also had four interceptions on defense.
Will Zaccagnino, Sr., St. Joseph (DL): Wisconsin commit is one of the top linemen in the state. Chose Badgers over Illinois and Michigan State.
Joel Budd, Jr., Enfield (OL): A two-time all-state selection. Standing at 6-8, has offers from multiple Division I schools.
Justin Carroll, Sr., Greenwich (LB): A team captain, amassing 118 tackles for arguably the best team in the state a year ago. Returning all-state performer.
Ilir Mamudov, Sr., Naugatuck (OT): One of the state’s best linemen. Has over a dozen FCS offers.
Joe Roche, Jr., Darien (OL/DL): Returns to anchor a strong Darien offensive line. Multiple FCS offers going into junior season.
Artie McCormack, Jr., North Haven (RB): One of the top returning backs in the state. Rushed for 1,270 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.
Connor Furman, Sr., New Canaan (OL): Harvard commit. At 6-5, 270, anchors one of the top offensive lines in the state.
Dakota Newton II, Sr., Fairfield Prep (WR): At 6-1, Newton is receiving FCS interest from multiple schools. Poised for a big senior season.
Brady Lombardo, Sr., Holy Cross (QB): State’s top returning passer. Threw for 2,936 yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 72% of his passes.
Anthony Abarno, Sr., Plainville (QB): First-year starter in 2025; threw for 2,531 yards and 33 touchdowns. Helped lead Plainville to a 6-4 record.
Anthony Caravallo, Sr., East Hartford (QB): Caravallo had a big junior season for East Hartford. Threw for 2,436 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Matthew Witteman, Sr., Law (QB): Dual threat accounted for over 3,000 yards of total offense in 2025. Threw for 2,269 yards and 25 touchdowns and ran for 864 yards.
Devan Bacote, Sr., Maloney (RB): Poised for a big senior season for the Spartans. Rushed for 793 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior.
Rob McKinney, Sr., Windsor (RB/S): Rushed for 809 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. Also had 42 tackles and a pair of interceptions on defense.
Jackson Favry, Sr., Ledyard (RB/LB): Rushed for 1,690 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior. Rushed for 401 yards in a 58-45 win over Woodstock Academy.
Connor Shea, Sr., Seymour (RB/LB): Shea rushed for 1,614 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025. Averaged 6.4 yards per carry.
Gabe Ouellette, Sr., Bristol Central (QB/DB): A 2024 starter on the BC team that made the state playoffs at defensive back, Ouellette became the Rams’ starting quarterback in 2025. Rushed for 1,447 yards and 12 touchdowns and threw for 448 yards and six scores.
Lucca Boyce, Sr., Hand (RB/DB): Boyce had a huge role in Hand’s run to a state title a year ago. Rushed for 1,462 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Dante Casdia, Sr., Glastonbury (RB/LB): A workhorse for the Guardians who has 690 carries over the last three years. Rushed for 1,350 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025.
Jalil Montgomery, Sr., South Windsor (RB/LB): Superb athlete who rushed for 1,344 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2025. Had multiple games with over 200 rushing yards.
Brayden Dempsey, Sr., Hand (OL/DL): An anchor on the line for the defending state champs. Had 16 sacks and 9 ½ tackles for loss last season.
Jack Crowell, Sr., New Canaan (LB): Senior leader ranked second on the defending state champs with 131 tackles in 2025, averaging 10.1 per game.
Wilson Walker, Sr., Hand (LB): His 125 tackles ranked fourth in program history for a single season. Also had nine tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
Landen Burns, Sr., North Branford (LB): His 112 tackles led North Branford for the second consecutive season.
Evan Dimauro, Sr., North Haven (TE/LB): Had 111 tackles and three sacks as a junior.
Justin Pringle, Sr., Woodland (WR): Another 1,000-yard receiver who is returning. Amassed 57 receptions for 1,126 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Naihyr Grace, Jr., Bloomfield (S): The 2025 first-team CCC performer had 76 tackles and an interception from his safety spot.
Ben Beaulieu, Jr., Southington (RB): Buried on the depth chart to start 2025, emerged as lead back after injuries for Class LL finalist. Scored five touchdowns in quarterfinal win over Glastonbury.
Phil Tarantino, Jr., Greenwich (QB): Returns as starting quarterback for state champs after amassing 1,342 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. Also ran for 544 yards and six scores.
Dennis Dustin, Sr., Wilton (RB): Rushed for just shy of 1,000 yards with 23 touchdowns. Added four receiving touchdowns and finished and broke the program’s single-season scoring record with 162 points.
Nathan Derisme, Jr., Notre Dame Prep (DE): One of the state’s top returning sack men, finishing with 14 in 2025. Also had 74 tackles.
Tyler McMahon, Jr., Farmington (LB): Amassed 100 total tackles as a sophomore, including 13 tackles for loss. Also had two sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Kadyn Thomas, Sr., Bloomfield (OL/DL): Standing at 6-3, 280 pounds, earned all-state honors as a junior on the offensive side of the ball. Also had 38 tackles and 3 ½ sacks on defense.
Triston Barnes, Sr., St. Joseph (DL/OL): First-team all-FCIAC in 2025. Amassed 51 tackles and three sacks.
Parker Toohey, Sr., Staples (DL/OL): Established himself as one of the area’s top edge rushers while also paving the way for a potent Staples attack.
Mason Wright, Jr., West Haven (QB): Threw for 1,360 yards as a sophomore, accounting for 14 touchdowns through the air.
Jacoby Roman, Jr., Southington (QB): Stepped in at quarterback midway through last season due to injury and helped lead Blue Knights to the Class LL finals. Threw for 1,207 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Easton Pace, Jr., Norwalk (QB): A true dual-threat, accounted for over 2,500 yards of offense in 2025. Threw for 1,337 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 1,184 yards and 18 scores.
Jacob Kingsley, Sr., Bristol Eastern (QB/DB): Electric playmaker at receiver (44 receptions, 660 yards, eight touchdowns) who will make the switch to quarterback this season. Was also among state leaders in interceptions last season with six.
Anthony Diloreto, Sr., East Lyme (WR/DB): A ballhawk at corner who had five interceptions as a junior in 2025.
Sebastian Rosario, Jr., Sheehan (WR/DB): A two-way standout who had 57 tackles and five interceptions on defense. On offense, had 42 receptions for 545 yards and five touchdowns.
Michael Galano, Jr., Greenwich (K): Perhaps the state’s top returning specialist. Was 7-of-11 on field goals last season with a long of 40 and was 50-of-54 on extra points. No. 63-ranked kicker nationally per Kohl’s kicking.
Rhamell Fairclough, Sr., Branford (RB/LB): Rushed for 1,270 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior, averaging 7.3 yards per carry.
Jakyi Wright, Jr., Hillhouse (WR/DB): The 2025 all-state selection had 54 receptions for 1,131 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 20.0 yards per reception. Has offers from UConn and Syracuse.
Jack Rewenko, Sr., Lewis Mills (DL): One of the top returning sack men in the state. Had seven sacks, 44 tackles, and 10 tackles for loss.
Cole St. Pierre, Sr., Shelton (RB/LB): Rushed for 1,177 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior. Had 207 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Notre Dame-West Haven.
Antwoine Pittman, Sr., Platt (RB/DB): Amassed over 1,000 yards last season for the Panthers.