Video: Khairi Fortt - Stamford CT
See highlights of the 2014 fourth-round pick.Florida. California. Texas. Those are the states that had the most players on NFL rosters at the start of last season.
Connecticut hasn't been as fertile a breeding ground as those states, but it's produced its share of pros. Floyd Little (Hillhouse-New Haven), Steve Young (Greenwich) and Dwight Freeney (Bloomfield) are among the Nutmeggers who've made their mark in the NFL.
The unofficial start to the pro football season happens later this week when the NFL holds its draft. Here are some fun facts about Connecticut trends, followed by more in-depth looks at some draftees - and finally, a comprehensive chart with every Connecticut high school alum drafted since 2006.
* The NFL has drafted 25 players who attended a Connecticut school.
*
The state has produced two first-round picks. New Britain's Byron
Jones, who attended St. Paul (Bristol), was drafted 27th overall by
Dallas last season. Bjoern Werner of Germany played at the Salisbury
School and was taken 24th by Indianapolis in 2013.
* New London's
David and Jordan Reed are the only brothers in the group. Baltimore
drafted David in the fifth round in 2010, and Washington took Jordan in
the third round in 2013. Jordan, now a star tight end, played
quarterback at New London and threw to David, then a receiver.
*
Three state draftees played in the city of Stamford. Vladimir Ducasse
(2010) and Khairi Fortt (2014) both attended Stamford High. Norwalk's
Kevin Pierre-Louis (2014) went to King Low Heywood Thomas. John Jenkins
(2013) was born in Stamford, but went to school at Maloney (Meriden).
*
The Central Connecticut Conference and Fairfield County Interscholastic
Athletic Conference each have four draftees. Marcus Cooper
(Bloomfield), Aaron Hernandez (Bristol Central), Terrance Knighton
(Windsor) and Jenkins played in the CCC. The FCIAC had Trevardo Williams
(Bridgeport Central), John Sullivan (Greenwich), Ducasse and Fortt.
*
Seven NFL teams have drafted two Connecticut players each — Dallas
(Deon Anderson, Jones), New England (Aaron Hernandez, Justise Hairston),
Oakland (Bruce Campbell, Matt Shaughnessy), New Orleans (Jonathan
Jenkins, Khairi Fortt), Washington (Rob Jackson, Jordan Reed),
Indianapolis (Jamey Richard, Werner), and Seattle (John Moffitt,
Pierre-Louis).
* It's no surprise that UConn has had five state
players, the most of any college — (Deon Anderson, Trevardo Williams,
Donald Thomas, Marcus Easley and Jones).
* Six of the players were
drafted in 2010 — Bruce Campbell (Hyde of New Haven), Amari Spievey
(Xavier of Middletown), David Reed, Ducasse, Easley, and Hernandez.
And now more info on some draftees:
Marcus Easley (Buffalo Bills, 2010, fourth round, 107): The former Bunnell (Stratford) receiver-linebacker helped transform Bunnell into a state force. He was a senior when the Bulldogs reached the state tournament for the first time (2004). The program won back-to-back state titles shortly thereafter (2006-07).
Khairi Fortt (New Orleans Saints, 2014, fourth round, 126): The Stamford linebacker had 118 tackles, forced five fumbles and had four interceptions in 10 games as a junior. He played through injuries his senior year and was chosen to play in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Byron Jones (Dallas Cowboys, 2015, first round, 27th pick): The former St. Paul (Bristol) standout helped the Falcons to their first playoff berth in 33 years during his senior season (2009-10). He caught 51 passes for 887 yards and eight touchdowns. That spring, he finished fourth in both the 200 and 400 meters at the CIAC State Open.
Justise Hairston (New England Patriots, 2007, sixth round, 208): Hairston carried New Britain to its second state title as a senior. He ran 23 times for 252 yards and three touchdowns as the Golden Hurricanes beat Greenwich, 26-9, to win the 2001 Class LL championship.
Aaron Hernandez (New England Patriots, 2010, fourth round, 113): Hernandez was one of the most dominant receivers in state history at Bristol Central. He holds the state records for most yards in a game (376 yards), a season (1,807 yards on 67 catches), and a career (3,677). He's also second in career touchdown receptions (47) and 15th in career sacks (25 in three seasons).
Terrance Knighton (Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009, third round, 72): The man they call "Pot Roast" is a 355-pound man mountain who terrifies opponents at defensive tackle. He played center at Windsor — on the basketball team. Longtime boys basketball coach Ken Smith told the Hartford Courant that Knighton was skillful enough to have played point guard.
Jordan Reed (Washington Redskins, 2013, third round, 85): Reed has been a standout tight end at both the University of Florida and Washington. He dominated at a different position at New London — quarterback. He was a four-year starter and threw 62 touchdowns.
Amari Spievey (Detroit Lions, third round, 66): Spievey ran for 1,642 yards and 26 his touchdowns his senior year at Xavier (Middletown). The highlight of that season was when he rushed for three touchdowns in a 45-30 win over Southington in the Class LL final, the first in program history.
John Sullivan (Minnesota Vikings, 2008, sixth round, 187): The standout offensive lineman started his freshman season and was a big reason why Greenwich played in four straight Class LL finals, winning in 1999. He was an easy choice for both the Gatorade and New Haven Register All-State Player of the Year honors as a senior (2002). Sullivan accumulated a 145-14 record as a four-year wrestler at heavyweight and is among a select few to win three state Open championships.
Trevardo Williams (Houston Texans, 2013, fourth round, 124): The former Bridgeport Central defensive end had five sacks in a game his junior year (vs. Norwalk, Sept. 20, 2006), tying him for the fourth-most in a game in state history. He paced the Hilltoppers to just their second playoff berth in 2007. He also placed fifth in the 100 meters and seventh in the 200 meters at the 2008 State Open.
| David
Reed |
New
London |
5 |
156 |
2010 |
Ravens |
| Marcus
Easley |
Bunnell |
4 |
107 |
2010 |
Bills |
| Byron
Jones |
St.
Paul Catholic |
1 |
27 |
2015 |
Cowboys |
| Deon
Anderson |
Avon |
6 |
195 |
2007 |
Cowboys |
| Amari
Spievey |
Xavier |
3 |
66 |
2010 |
Lions |
| Trevardo
Williams |
Bridgeport
Central |
4 |
124 |
2013 |
Texans |
| Bjoern
Werner |
Salisbury
School |
1 |
24 |
2013 |
Colts |
| Jamey
Richard |
Weston |
7 |
236 |
2008 |
Colts |
| Terrance
Knighton |
Windsor |
3 |
72 |
2009 |
Jaguars |
| Shane
Bannon |
Pomperaug |
7 |
223 |
2011 |
Chiefs |
| Donald
Thomas |
Career
Magnet |
6 |
195 |
2008 |
Dolphins |
| John
Sullivan |
Greenwich |
6 |
187 |
2008 |
Vikings |
| Aaron
Hernandez |
Bristol
Central |
4 |
113 |
2010 |
Patriots |
| Justise
Hairston |
New
Britain |
6 |
208 |
2007 |
Patriots |
| Johnathan
Jenkins |
Maloney |
3 |
82 |
2013 |
Saints |
| Khairi
Fortt |
Stamford |
4 |
126 |
2014 |
Saints |
| Michael
Cox |
Avon
Old Farms |
7 |
253 |
2013 |
Giants |
| Vladimir
Ducasse |
Stamford |
2 |
61 |
2010 |
Jets |
| Matt
Shaughnessy |
Norwich
Free Academy |
3 |
71 |
2009 |
Raiders |
| Bruce
Campbell |
Hyde
Leadership |
4 |
106 |
2010 |
Raiders |
| Marcus
Cooper |
Bloomfield |
7 |
252 |
2013 |
49ers |
| John
Moffitt |
Notre
Dame |
3 |
75 |
2011 |
Seahawks |
| Kevin
Pierre-Louis |
King
Low Heywood Thomas |
4 |
132 |
2014 |
Seahawks |
| Jordan
Reed |
New
London |
3 |
85 |
2013 |
Redskins |
| Rob
Jackson |
West
Haven |
7 |
242 |
2008 |
Redskins |
