2026 CIAC Conference Showcase OL/DL Standouts
| D’Mitri Charles | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’3″ | 260 | OL | Montville |
Has offers from the Naval Academy and Columbia University.
Dmitri Charles is a high-upside, scheme-versatile defensive line prospect who just put himself firmly on the national radar at the CIAC Showcase. At 6’3″ and 260 pounds with the speed, strength, hand quickness, bend, and athleticism he displayed, he projects as a contributor at the Group of 5 level with legitimate Power 4 upside if he continues to refine his pass-rush toolbox and add functional strength.
Charles arrived with the rare blend of length, power, and fluidity that defensive coordinators dream about in the modern game. His get-off was noticeably fast, allowing him to win the first step consistently against offensive tackles and guards. What separated Charles from the pack was his hand usage and bend. Quick, violent hands allowed him to swipe, rip, and discard blockers with efficiency most 260- pounders don’t possess. His pad level and natural knee bend were excellent; he stayed low through contact and never lost leverage, even when asked to redirect or chase in space. Lateral movement and change-of-direction skills were equally impressive. In the agility circuits and pursuit drills, Charles moved
exceptionally well laterally and showed the ability to close distance in space without losing balance. He flipped his hips cleanly and tracked the ball carrier with surprising range for his size—traits that translate directly to both 4-3 and 3-4 defensive fronts. One of the biggest takeaways for scouts was Charles’ true two-way DL potential. He looked equally comfortable playing interior shade (0- or 1-tech) as he did on the edge. That positional flexibility gives defensive coordinators scheme versatility they rarely find in a prospect with his physical profile.
| Cristian Harvey | New York | 2027 | 6’5″ | 235 | OL | Trinity Pauling |
Cristian Harvey arrived at the 2026 CIAC Showcase as one of the more intriguing long-lever prospects in the Northeast Class of 2027 and left having validated every bit of the buzz. Harvey is currently attending New Fairfield High School New Fairfield, CT and will transfer to Trinity Pauling in New York for fall 2026 season. The frame is already college-ready in terms of length and build, but what separated him on the field was the suddenness and fluidity he showed in space. Harvey is legitimately twitchy for a 6’5″ offensive tackle. In the individual pass-rush and run-blocking drills, he consistently won with first-step quickness and hip snap that allowed him to mirror rushers and recover balance instantly. His change-of-direction ability stood out in the agility circuits and small-area movement drills — rare traits for a tackle his size. He looked natural sliding laterally in space, dropping his anchor when needed, and redirecting without lunging or losing his base. Coaches in attendance repeatedly noted how easily he moved in open space for a player with his length. Harvey’s athleticism allowed him to stay square and control the point of attack without overcommitting. At 235 lbs he is still filling out, but the functional strength and leverage he showed suggest he will be able to add the necessary mass without sacrificing the twitch that makes him special. His primary projection remains offensive tackle, where his length, foot quickness, and ability to play in space give him legitimate Power 4 upside. It would also be good to evaluate him at defensive end — a natural spot given his burst off the ball and ability to drop into space — while his frame and movement skills translate cleanly to tight end in certain schemes, giving programs schematic flexibility. The upcoming transfer to Trinity Pawling is a major developmental win, as the prep-school environment will provide high-level competition weekly, along with the national exposure and structured strength-and-conditioning program needed to push his frame closer to 260–270 lbs while preserving the elite athleticism.
| Fey Aquino | Connecticut | 2028 | 6′ 5″ | 230 | DL | Farmington High School |
Aquino was one of the more physically dominant players on the field all day. His combination of length, strength, and burst consistently disrupted drills and one-on-ones. He consistently won off the snap with a quick, violent first step that allowed him to gain half a man advantage before blockers could set. The 230-pound frame is already strong through the hands and upper body, and he showed excellent pad level and leverage. His motor never stopped.Fey Aquino is a legitimate high-major developmental prospect. His combination of length (near-7-foot wingspan estimated), functional strength, and athleticism gives him the upside to develop into a disruptive 5-technique or hybrid edge defender at the next level. Programs running 4-3 or 3-4 fronts that value long, athletic defensive linemen who can set edges and collapse pockets will have him high on their boards. At his current weight, he projects as a strong-side defensive end who can also kick inside on obvious passing downs. With continued strength gains and technical refinement—particularly in hand usage and counter moves—he has the tools to become a three-down player.The CIAC Showcase was another box checked for Aquino’s growing profile. As a 2028 with this size/skill combination, he is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. College coaches who attended left with clear notes: high-motor, physical, and athletic enough to play college football.
| Owen Lyons | New England | 2028 | 6’4 | 296 | OL | Woodstock Academy |
Owen Lyons was one of the more impressive interior/big-man performers at the recent CIAC Showcase. The massive 6’4″, 320-pound offensive lineman consistently flashed the athletic traits and competitive demeanor that college coaches are looking for in today’s evolving offensive line play. For a prospect of his size, Lyons showed noticeably quick and light feet. He moved well laterally and was able to recover and redirect efficiently in pass-pro sets and during combo blocks. He maintained a consistently wide, balanced base, which allowed him to absorb power and stay square against both bull rushers and quick-twitch rushers alike.Lyons won several one-on-one competition reps throughout the day. He was physical at the point of attack, showed active hands, and used his length and body control to neutralize rushers and win the leverage battle. His combination of size, natural athleticism, and competitive toughness stood out in the individual drill periods and the live competition segments. He looked fluid when asked to pull or reach-block and was able to generate movement off the ball in the run game segments.Overall, Lyons has the frame and movement skills to play guard at the next level, with enough length and athleticism to potentially slide out to tackle in certain systems or provide swing value at center.
| Rida Saanon | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’2 | 330 | OL/DL | West haven HS Ct |
Rida Saanon is a massive, high-upside interior lineman who stood out at the recent CIAC Showcase with a compelling combination of raw power, impressive athletic testing, and competitive toughness. Measuring 6’2″ and a legitimate 330 pounds, Saanon possesses the rare size and density that immediately catches the eye of college coaches searching for impact players along the line of scrimmage. For a man his size, he tested exceptionally well, displaying surprising fluidity and change-of-direction ability in position-specific drills. He moved much better than the typical 330-pound prospect, confirming that he is far more than a static space-eater—he possesses legitimate short-area mobility and the ability to redirect with purpose. Throughout the event, Saanon consistently played with heavy hands, active feet, and a relentless willingness to finish blocks or pass-rush moves. He carries his weight extremely well and shows no major conditioning concerns at this stage, while playing with natural leverage and a strong understanding of how to use his mass to his advantage, whether as a run stuffer on defense or a people-mover on offense. Overall, Rida Saanon is a classic “big body with movement skills” prospect that every college program needs on their board. While still raw from a technical standpoint—as most 330-pound high schoolers are—his combination of elite size, tested athleticism, and physical competitiveness makes him a high-priority target for programs that emphasize developing interior linemen. Do not sleep on Rida Saanon. When a 330-pound prospect moves this well in testing and competes with this level of physicality in one-on-ones, you make the call. He has the foundational traits that are very difficult to find and even harder to develop.
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