After a busy Week 0 with Maine, URI, Bryant and New Haven all picking up wins, we’re on to Week 1. Nine teams in total around New England kicked off their seasons last week and we’ve got 12 strapping it up this weekend. Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth and Brown begin next week. There’s a lot of intriguing storylines heading into season openers for BC, UMass and UConn, while a bunch of…
2026 UConn Huskies Season Preview
The UConn Huskies football team enters the 2026 season under new leadership, marking a fresh chapter for the program as it continues to compete as an independent in Division I FBS. First-year head coach Jason Candle takes the helm following the departure of Jim Mora. With an exciting non-conference schedule that features six home games—including visits from Maryland, Syracuse, UMass, North Carolina, James Madison, and Old Dominion—the Huskies are focused on establishing a physical, playmaking brand of football. Backed by new offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanile and defensive coordinator Ryan Manalac, Connecticut brings a refreshed roster loaded with emerging talent and key transfer portal additions looking to leave their mark on East Hartford.
Vrabel, O’Brien talk Quintayvious Hutchins making Patriots 53-man roster
FOXBOROUGH – As soon as you walk into the new Patriots locker room inside the New Balance Athletics Center, Quintayvious Hutchins locker is just to the left in the corner. The No. 45 name plate and ‘Boston College’ looked pretty damn good before practice on Tuesday. Hutchins walked out to his first ‘real’ NFL practice wearing No. 0, indicating he’d be playing a critical role on scout team this week,…
Newest Patriots running back leaning on team legend Kevin Faulk
FOXBOROUGH – One of the first phone calls Corey Kiner made when he was traded from the Cardinals to the Patriots was to team Hall of Famer Kevin Faulk. “When I heard I was getting traded here Saturday, I called him, he was one of the first people I called,” Kiner said at his locker before practice on Tuesday. Faulk recruited Kiner to LSU several years ago and the two…
Sharon’s Salkin takes long road back in inspiring story
When Sharon senior Brayden Salkin tore his ACL in the opposite knee after tearing one the year before, he immediately pulled out a calendar to figure out how soon he could make it back. One rehab didn’t slow him down, so two certainly weren’t going to either. Now, Salkin is a full participant in camp with his Sharon/Dedham teammates, preparing for his final season as a captain for the Eagles….
Top 50 MIAA Players heading into 2026
By Tyler Amaral NEFJ Correspondent There is no shortage of game-changing players in the MIAA this fall. From a five-star quarterback recruit to a Division 8 lineman and everything in between, here are 50 players poised to leave their mark on the state this season. Players are listed in alphabetical order: Hassah Armstrong, DL, Barnstable: The senior lineman holds five Division 1 offers. He will be a game-wrecker for the…
50 Connecticut Players to Watch in 2026
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…
NEFJ Connecticut preseason All-State teams
Image courtesy of Dan Heary By Andy Close and Rob Gullo NEFJ Correspondends The talent in the state of Connecticut has arguably never been better. With that in mind, here are the preseason First and Second CIAC All-State Teams. FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB-Easton Pace, Norwalk (Junior) Though they didn’t make the postseason last year, Easton Pace made a name for himself as arguably the most dual-threat quarterback in the state last…
2026 UMass Minutemen Season Preview
UMass Athletics By Ryan Barry NEFJ Correspondent The UMass Minutemen return to the gridiron for the 2026 season under second year head coach Joe Harasymiak looking to change the narrative of the program. After a dreadful 2025 campaign that saw the program finish 0-12 for the first time since joining the FBS in 2012, things can only go up from here for a team picked to finish last in the…
Former UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano makes Baltimore Ravens 53-man roster
Courtesy of the Baltimore Ravens When training camp opened, Joe Fagnano entered Baltimore as little more than a camp arm, expected to take third-string snaps and put some good play on film. Instead, the undrafted quarterback out of UConn forced the Ravens’ front office into an undeniable decision, stringing together one of the most efficient exhibition runs in recent franchise history to earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster…