Football Completes Signing Class

Central Connecticut State football head coach Adam Lechtenberg announced18 additions to the Blue Devils roster for the coming season. The Blue Devils signing complete signing class is 35 strong, comprised of 14 transfers and 21 high school and prep additions.

The CCSU recruiting class is comprised of players from 11 states or districts, led by 10 players that are staying home or returning to Connecticut. New Blue Devils also hail from Arizona, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas, along with New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, DC.

December Signing Announcement

"I'm incredibly excited about the talent we've added with the start of the spring semester and the February signing period," said Lechtenberg. "This group, combined with our early period signees, blend size, speed and competitive drive that fills in some key positions and adds a ton of depth to our program. I want to thank our coaches for their hard work to identify players who fit our program, as people first and athletes. I can't wait to get these guys on the field. I am excited about these student-athletes and their families choosing to become Blue Devils."

Lechtenberg continued, "I would also like to thank our incredible campus community for their support in our recruiting efforts. There are a lot of people on this campus that invested their time and effort into the recruiting process. Folks from, administration, academic support, CCSU faculty and staff, facilities, admissions, housing, strength and conditioning, training staff and many other areas were an integral part of the process, and we are grateful for their contributions as well."

CCSU has won back-to-back NEC Championships and, for the first-time in program history, have played in the FCS Playoffs in consecutive seasons. CCSU posted an 8-4 record during the 2025 campaign and has 15 wins in the past two seasons. Lechtenberg has earned NEC Coach of the Year honors the past two seasons, and the Blue Devils have won the league's top award on both sides of the ball in 2024 and 2025.

MEET THE BLUE DEVIL SIGNEES 

Thades Crump is an offensive lineman that comes to New Britain from the University of Rhode Island. A native of East Harford, CT he earned All-NEPSAC at Loomis Chaffee School where he was a team captain.

Brandon Delgrosso is a mid-year entry that comes from Milford Academy. An offensive lineman, he is a native of Fleetwood, PA and attended Fleetwood Area High School

Nevin Earl will join the defensive line unit when he joins the program this summer from AIC, where he was a second-team all-conference selection. A native of Paterson, NJ he played at DePaul Catholic.

Isaiah Hopewell joins the roster after appearing in 11 games, with 25 tackles and six pass breakups, at Pace in 2025. Hailing from Schertz, TX, he attended Judson Senior High School where he was First-Team All-District.

Austyn Howe hails from Newington, CT and is at Franklin Pierce University, where he was named to the NE10 First Team in 2024 as a wide receiver. At Newington High School he was an All-State First Team selection by the New Haven Register.

Arturo Johnson, a tight end, comes to New Britain after two seasons at Monmouth. A native of Rutland, MA, he was a state champion in the high jump and shot put at Wachusett Regional High School.

Connor Kenyon is a quarterback that spent the past two seasons at URI. He is a native of Austin, TX, where he played at Bowie High School.

James Mankaka spent two seasons at Western Illinois, playing eight games in 2025. A cornerback, he hails from Rochester, MN, where he attended Rochester Mayo High School.

Everett Michalski transfers from Southern Connecticut State and will join the Blue Devils offensive line. He played 24 games with the Owls, including being an All-NEC 10 Rookie Team member in 2023.

Keith Moko is a cornerback that has three years of college experience, two at Northern Iowa and last season at Western Illinois. A native of Philadelphia, PA, was a First-Team All-State selection at Newton High School.

Joey Montvalo will join the program after completing his time at East Catholic High School. The Hartford native will join the wide receiver room after setting the Connecticut record for high school receiving yards with 3,871 on a state record 226 catches.

Daren Omogregie joins the linebacker room after spending the 2025 campaign at Wagner, where he made 55 tackles in 11 games.  A native of Lynn, MA, he spent two years at the University of Maine, after playing high school ball at Lynn Classical.

Amir Proctor, a corner, spent three seasons at the University of Buffalo, after a season at Marist. A native of Rochester, NY, he played scholastically at East Irondequoit High School, where he was named All-Greater Rochester.

Marcus Simmons is a defensive lineman that transfers from the University of South Dakota. A native of Germantown, MD he attended St. John's College and helped them to a state championship.

Zaire Spellman is a mid-year enrollee from St. Thomas More and Archbishop Stepinac, and will join the wide receiver group. He earned All-State accolades and LOHUD Super 11, as well as offensive player of the year.

Isaac Stopke, who comes for Central after two seasons at Morehead State, will join the running back corps. He was a two-time All-State selection at Lake Havasu High School in his hometown of Kale Havasu City, AZ.

Braswell Thomas was at Penn State in the fall and could see time at numerous positions on both sides of the ball. From Glassboro, NJ he played at Pleasantville High School where he was the No. 10 prospect in New Jersey according to Rivals.

Savion Williams is a senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar (MD) school and will join the Blue Devils defensive line in the fall. He is a two-time All-State and State Champion in high school, as well as being an UnderArmour All-America invitee.