Connecticut 2026 Spring Showday Preview: Choate Rosemary Hall- Top Ranked
The Northeast Showday circuit has emerged as a significant event in New England, attracting numerous NCAA programs from across the country to the region in the week following Mother’s Day to assess promising recruits. In this report, I will focus on the high-ranking players from the Choate Rosemary Hall program that I am familiar with and provide a brief evaluation note for each player. These athletes are expected to draw increased interest from NCAA Division 1 and 2 coaches as the evaluations conclude.
Connecticut 2026 Spring Showday Preview: Choate Rosemary Hall – Top Ranked
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| Bowling Green 4/13/26, 1/31/26 Miami-Ohio, Duke 1/15/26, | Breydon Buddha Evans | Connecticut | 2028 | 5’9″ | 170 | Athlete | Choate Rosemary Hall |
A solid athlete with significant potential who can overcome any height concerns. Plays larger than his actual height and possesses a strong work ethic along with exceptional defensive reaction time. His skills are comparable to those of Mikey Sainstrill, the former Everett, MA, and former Michigan standout who is now in the NFL. If a program can get over height concerns, he is a player to watch closely!!!
| 7/22/25 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE | ZACHARY MANCUSO | Connecticut | 2028 | 6’4 | 280 | OL | CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL |
Sustained a forearm fracture midway through the 2025 season. Exhibits potential to control the line of scrimmage and consistently overpower high school players. Frequently reaches the second level and demonstrates a capacity to shift the line of scrimmage. Maintains excellent balance, seldom falling to the ground. Competently plays with a low pad level, showcasing effective knee bend. Utilizes a naturally wide base. Displays proficiency in pass setting, sliding, and mirroring opponents. Capable of hitting moving targets downfield.
| 2/27/26 New Haven | Alijah Hawkins | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’3 | 160 | DB | Post grad transfer from Broadneck HS Maryland to Choate Rosemay Hall for fall 2026 |
Hawkins is an agile and instinctive defensive back, adept at analyzing the quarterback’s gaze and tracking the football. His exceptional hands and ball-handling skills position him as a natural threat for turnovers, consistently enabling him to create significant plays in the secondary.
He showcases remarkable technique in backpedaling and transitioning into zone coverage, excelling at a high level. With his instincts, range, and play anticipation, he is well-suited to be a free safety at the next level. Although he thrives in zone schemes, gaining more experience in man-to-man coverage would increase his versatility. Hawkins’ blend of size, awareness, and playmaking talent renders him a formidable and dependable asset in the defensive backfield.
| Bucknell 4/28/26 | Jack Brooder | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’2″ | 215 | LB | Choate Rosemary Hall Ct. |
He is an exceptional tackler, demonstrating the ability to cover the entire field from sideline to sideline. He reacts swiftly to offensive plays, enabling him to make crucial stops. His understanding of pursuit angles allows him to close gaps and eliminate time and space rapidly. He has the potential to dominate defensively, consistently creating chaos throughout the field. He can drive back both blockers and ball carriers, thanks to his lower body strength that helps him push the pile. Highly instinctive, he plays aggressively in the run game and sheds blockers efficiently with impressive arm extension. He shows a solid grasp of zone coverage principles. Overall, he is a promising prospect who plays with relentless energy.
| Yale 3/24/26, UNLV 6/13/25 | Sam Schmidt | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’5 | 250 | Edge | Post grade from Okanagan Mission Hs Canada to Choate Reosemary hall for fall 2026 |
40-Yard Dash: 4.9 seconds, Shuttle: 4.32 seconds, Vertical: 28 inches, Bench Press: 335 pounds
Squat (lbs): 445
Strengths: excels in contact situations, effectively uses leverage to disengage from blockers, displays high intensity, possesses an impressive motor as a relentless pursuer, has a solid frame, demonstrates good first-step quickness, and utilizes excellent arm extension to keep blockers at a distance.
| no offers as of 1/27/26 | Luke Tenn | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’3″ | 285 | OL/DL | Choate Rosemary Hall Ct. |
Tenn’s physique and body composition are well-suited for sustained growth. He effectively manages his 280-pound frame, displaying agility and a solid lower-body drive. His mobility and strength enable him to generate displacement at the point of attack and to follow through on contact—a characteristic that distinguishes exceptional blockers from merely average ones.
| 1/27/26 Wake Forrest, 1/15/26 Duke, 10/2/25 LIberty, 5/13/25 Syracuse | Liam Peters (4) | Connecticut | 2029 | 6’6″ | 305 | OL | Choate Rosemary Hall Ct. |
Exerts control over the line of scrimmage, consistently overpowering high school players. Can effortlessly shift the line by five yards whenever desired. Advances to the second level effortlessly and excels in open space. Exhibits exceptional balance, seldom falling to the ground. Maintains an impressive pad level through a significant knee bend. Operates with a naturally wide stance. Demonstrates the ability to pass set, slide, and mirror opponents smoothly. Preserves balance while running and effectively targets moving players downfield.
| 1/28/26 Wake Forest, 1/15/26 Duke, Syracuse | Jacob Reed (3) | Connecticut | 2029 | 6′ 3″ | 305 | OL, DL | Choate Rosemary Hall |
Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 295 pounds, Jacob has already made a notable impact on the football field. He combines exceptional strength with refined technique. His ability to establish a solid stance with both feet firmly planted before the snap sets the stage for his dominance at the line of scrimmage (LOS). Jacob excels at driving high school opponents into the ground and consistently demonstrates his capacity to penetrate to the second level, moving the line with impressive authority. His balance is remarkable; he rarely finds himself on the ground, and his pad level is outstanding, featuring an excellent knee bend and a naturally wide base that provides optimal leverage. He effectively executes pass sets, slides, and mirrors, and he can even locate and target moving players downfield. Although there is still potential for improvement in his first step and lateral agility, Jacob Reed is undoubtedly a prospect to keep an eye on as he continues to develop his skills.
| no offers 1/27/26 | Tucker Larson | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’0 | 165 | DB | Choate Rosemary Hall Ct. |
Tucker is a versatile player who can make an impact across all three phases of the game. Offensively, he runs precise routes and is adept at making catches in traffic as well as along the boundary. Defensively, he has a keen ability to track the ball and competes effectively to intercept passes. Additionally, he plays a significant role on special teams, utilizing his speed and quick agility to evade tacklers in the open field.
| no offers 3/29/26 | Shane Knowlton Simard | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’3 | 200 | WR/DB | Choate Rosemary Hall |
An exceptionally talented athlete with excellent coordination, he needs to have his speed confirmed. He plays both defensive back and wide receiver positions, showcasing remarkable fluidity on the field. He possesses great hands and can make challenging catches appear effortless. Although he didn’t start playing football until his freshman year, having originally focused on basketball, he demonstrates a high football IQ and quickly adapts to new challenges.
| no offers 1/27/26 | Alex Menard | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’1 | 195 | LB | Choate Rosemary Hall Ct. |
Alex is an aggressive linebacker with a keen instinct for locating the football. He approaches the game with both speed and resilience. Alex excels at swiftly filling gaps in the run defense while also having the ability to pursue skill players on the outside. I admire the way he plays the game; he drives through tackles to push ball carriers backward. As a fast decision-maker, Alex consistently makes impactful plays from the outside linebacker position.
| no offers as of 1/27/26 | Colby Loflin | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’4 | 275 | DL | Choate Rosemary Hall Ct. |
Colby adopts a solid stance and demonstrates impressive strength in the trenches. He stands his ground against bigger blockers and exhibits keen vision in locating the ball carrier. He is capable of pursuing plays from the backside and effectively halting the run at the point of attack. Additionally, he has enhanced his pass-rushing skills since last season and displays agile movements during stunts. There’s a lot to appreciate with this evolving lineman.
| JT Gannon | Connecticut | 2027 | 5’11 | 165 | Wr/DB | Choate Rosemary Hall Ct. |
JT navigates precise routes and excels at making challenging catches, whether amid defenders or along the sidelines. He can evade the initial tackle and possesses impressive speed. Additionally, he effectively identifies gaps in the defense, allowing him to gain extra yards with each play. This young receiver displays a strong skill set.
| no offers 1/27/26 | Paul Evans | Connecticut | 2027 | 6’3 | 230 | Edge | Choate Rosemary Hall Ct. |
He possesses dependable hands that allow him to secure all contested passes thrown his way. Capable of playing various positions, including outside wide receiver and in the backfield, he was a focal point in his previous offense where getting the ball to Paul was a top priority. Once he has the ball, he can create significant plays and frequently breaks tackles. Due to his versatility and size,
