Top 10 Connecticut high school football players from the Class of 2021

Video: Kechaun Bennett highlights
Watch one of the country's Top 25 strongside defensive end prospects in action as a junior.

In keeping true with a recent pattern, the University of Michigan has again snagged the top prospect in Connecticut. The Wolverines have now received a commitment from the Constitution State’s No. 1 recruit in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Overall six of the Top 10 Connecticut prospects remain undecided.

Michigan has commitments from two of the state’s top three players. In 2019, the Wolverines signed three of the state’s top six prospects. In 2017, Michigan inked three of the top four prospects.



For the fourth year in a row, Penn State has pulled a Top 10 commit from Connecticut. That’s the longest active streak for any college.

See the complete Top 10 as compiled by 247Sports composite below. 1. Kechaun Bennett, Suffield Academy
6-4 | 220 | SDE | Michigan
Country’s No. 21 strongside defensive end prospect. Holds 18 offers, including suitors from the Southeastern Conference (Mississippi and Tennessee), Atlantic Coast Conference (Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, Pitt, Virginia Tech and Syracuse), Pac-12 Conference (California), Big 12 Conference (Kansas State and West Virginia), Big Ten Conference (Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue and Rutgers) and Notre Dame. Says 247sports recruiting analyst Brian Dohn: “Accomplished wrestler. Fires off ball quickly with low pad level. Gets up field. Disruptive against the pass. Uses speed to slip inside but flourishes getting around edge.”

2. Jeffrey Davis Jr., Kingswood Oxford (West Hartford)
6-0 | 170 | CB | Penn State
Top 50 cornerback prospect nationally. Also excels in track (100 and 200 meters). Holds 11 offers, including Michigan, Boston College, Connecticut, Princeton, Purdue, Syracuse, Rutgers, Tennessee, Wake Forest and Yale.

3. Tristan Bounds, Choate Rosemary Hall School (Wallingford)
6-7.5 | 285 | OT | Michigan
Nation’s No. 56 tackle prospect. Holds 25 offers, including Notre Dame, Texas, UCLA, Nebraska, Virginia, California, Vanderbilt, Duke and Indiana. Committed to Michigan on June 1. Also plays basketball.

4. James Wilborn Jr., Avon Old Farms (Avon)
6-3 | 235 | OLB | Undecided
Top 50 outside linebacker prospect nationally. Holds five offers, including Boston College, Michigan, Buffalo, Rutgers and Temple. Says Dohn: “Multi-year starter at Top 20 program. Should develop into a Day 3 NFL draft pick.”

5. Josh Baka, St. Thomas More (Oakdale)
6-1 | 185 | CB | Undecided
Top 75 cornerback prospect nationally has camped at Penn State the last two years and has unofficially visited Syracuse and Massachusetts. Holds offers from the Orange and Indiana.



6. Matt Gulbin, Wilton
6-4 | 290 | OG | Wake Forest
A Top 40 guard prospect nationally. Committed to the Demon Deacons on May 20. Holds 12 offers, including Rutgers, Pitt, Vanderbilt, Colorado State and Connecticut.

7. Skyler Bell, Taft School (Watertown)
6-1 | 185 | WR | Undecided
Top 150 receiver prospect nationally. Caught 36 passes for 549 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Holds 14 offers, including Northwestern, Wisconsin, Virginia, West Virginia, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. Iowa is the heavy favorite.  

8.  Xavier Copening, Avon Old Farms (Avon)
5-11 | 180 | Dual QB | Undecided
A Top 40 dual-threat quarterback prospect nationally. Owns a blistering 4.55-second 40-yard dash and 38.5-inch vertical leap. Syracuse and Connecticut have offered.

9. Jack Brandon, Cheshire Academy (Cheshire)
6-3 | 192 | Pro QB | Undecided
Country’s 56th ranked pro-style quarterback prospect. Holds an offer from Ohio State.

10. Luke Foster, Choate Rosemary Hall School (Wallingford)
6-4 | 230 | TE | Undecided
Top 100 tight end prospect nationally holds 11 offers, including Rutgers, Temple, Toledo, Colorado State, Central Michigan, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Yale and Fordham.