Images courtesy of the Walter Camp Foundation
The 18th annual Walter Camp High School “Breakfast of Champions” took place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Mohegan Sun Earth Ballroom. This storied event serves as the primary stage to honor the elite of Connecticut high school football from the 2025 season, celebrating the teams and individuals who defined the year’s gridiron narrative.
Below is a breakdown of the major award winners and honorees from the 2025 season.
Major Individual Awards
Connecticut Player of the Year
The highlight of the individual honors, the 2025 Player of the Year was selected from a talented group of finalists.
Finalists: Hayden Allard (Killingly) and Andrew Esposito (New Canaan).
Winner: AJ Robinson (Windsor High School): Robinson, the signal-caller for Windsor, was recognized for his dual-threat capability and leadership in guiding the Warriors to a state title. In his final season, Robinson completed 197 of 302 passes for 3,647 yards, and set state records for most touchdowns in a single-season (50) and a career (120). He led the Warriors to a Class MM state title.
Connecticut Coach of the Year
The award is presented by Stadium System and it recognizes the leadership and mentorship behind the state’s most successful programs.
Finalists: Erik Becker (Daniel Hand) and John Ferrazzi (Sheehan).
Winner: Lou Marinelli (New Canaan): Marinelli added to his legendary status by leading New Canaan to an undefeated 13-0 season and a second consecutive Class L championship. It was his 15th title as the Rams head coach.
Lifetime Achievement & Inspiration Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award: Paul Sponheimer: The former Seymour High School coach was honored for his decades of dedication to the sport and the impact he made on generations of athletes in the Naugatuck Valley.
Champion of Community Award: Bill O’Brien: A retired banker from Branford, O’Brien was recognized for his extensive history of supporting the Walter Camp Football Foundation and his broader community service.
Team Honors: The State Champions
The “Breakfast of Champions” officially recognizes the six CIAC state title winners. A special distinction, the Joseph W. Kelly Award, was presented to New Canaan for the second straight season, as they finished as the consensus number-one team in the state’s final polls.
2025 State Champions by Class:
Class LL: Greenwich
Class L: New Canaan
Class MM: Windsor
Class M: Berlin
Class SS: Daniel Hand
Class S: Sheehan
All-Connecticut First Team (Offense)
The Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team is voted on by a selection committee of 10 high school coaches. The 2025 First Team Offense featured several multi-talented athletes:
QB: AJ Robinson (Windsor)
RB: Hayden Allard (Killingly), Cristian Luciano (Amity Regional)
WR: Jayden Compton (Windsor), Andrew Esposito (New Canaan)
TE: Hunter Allard (Killingly)
OL: Michael Allen (Killingly), Adrian Delicata (New Canaan), Colin Falla (Greenwich), Tim O’Malley (Daniel Hand), AJ Tatro (Sheehan)
Connecticut College Players of the Year
While the breakfast focuses on high school achievements, the Foundation also announced the 2025 Connecticut Players of the Year for college-level athletes who are state residents or played scholastically in CT:
Offensive Player of the Year: Cam Edwards (University of Connecticut): The Norwalk native led the Huskies with 1,240 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kenny Soares, Jr. (North Carolina State): The Trumbull resident and former Avon Old Farms standout recorded 80 tackles and was a dominant force for the Wolfpack defense.