Football Bolsters Signing Class With 15 Newcomers

Head Central Connecticut State football coach Adam Lechtenberg announced the addition of 15 newcomers to the Blue Devils roster. The additions include eight midyear transfers and brings the Blue Devils signing class to 26 for the year, after the signing of 11 during the early period. The Blue Devils won the NEC Championship in 2024, posting seven overall wins, after being picked last in the Northeast Conference coaches preseason poll.

Devon Anderson, Derek Berlitz, Brayden Hall, Mel Jacobs III, Davion Jennings, Dekavis Preston, Shea Terry and Donovan Wadley joined the program at the start of the spring semester. Five signees; Warrick Kyler, Daniel McLees, Romelo Tables, Lazaryus Toombs and George Wiley V will come to New Britain for the fall season.

"I am thrilled to add another group of talented players to our program," said Lechtenberg, the 2024 NEC Coach of the Year. "I am excited about the midyear transfers we have on campus, and we hit some critical needs with a few more talented high school signees this week. Overall, I am very happy with this entire class. I am grateful to all our coaches and support staff who worked so hard to find such great people to join our program.  I continue to be excited about the direction our football program is headed." 

Anderson, a native of Germantown, MD transfers to CCSU after three years at Bryant University. He is an addition to the linebacker room.

Berlitz spent the past three seasons at West Virginia where he appeared in five games with three tackles. He is a native of Catawissa, PA and played at Southern Columbia High School, earning two All-State selections and is joining the d-line.

Gambee is a senior at Watertown High School where he played in 14 games the past two seasons, throwing for 1,147 yards and 17 touchdowns, and will play tight end for the Blue Devils.

Hall comes to Central from Coastal Carolina where he played in two games in 2024, after playing in 10 games at Notre Dame College in 2023. He is expected to play at corner.

Jacobs hails from PG County, MD and comes to CCSU after being a member of the East Carolina football program the past three seasons. He will compete for time at safety.

Jennings spent the past three seasons on the roster at Akron, after playing at Archbishop Hoban in Akron, OH. The Blue Devils have him penciled in at corner back.

Kyler, a native of Salamanca, NY, joins CCSU after a standout career at Salamanca High School. He ws a First-Team selection in 2024 on the defensive line, but helped his team accumulate nearly 5,000 yards of offense while on the o-line, where he is penciled to play for Central. 

Manning played at Windsor High School helped his program to the 2024 Connecticut State championship game, following a four touchdown effort in the state semifinals. He will work in the running back group. 

McClees is a second-team United Gold Division honoree at offensive line for Hillside High School in 2024.

Preston played 26 games over three seasons at University of Charleston, recording 44 tackles and four interceptions in that time. He is a native of Martinsville, VA, where he was named All-State while playing for Magna Vista High School and is going to join the defensive backs group.

Tables is a senior at Malcom X Shabazz High School in Clifton, NJ. He is a two-time First-Team All-Conference honoree and a three-year captain and is a quarterback.

Terry transfers to Central after spending last season at Bryant. The safety will have four years of eligibility remaining. He is from upper Marlboro, MD and played at Quince Orchard

Toombs comes to New Britain out of Philadelpia, where is attends Roman Catholic. He earned First-Team All-Catholic and First-Team 5A All-Eastern PA and joins the defensive line.

Wadley the 2023 NEC Offensive Player of the Year at Merrimack, comes to CCSU with 701 yards of receiving and 275 rushing yards to his resume, along with nine touchdowns. He will play wide receiver for Central.

Wiley comes to CCSU from Lockport, NY and Canisius High School where he was a team captain and earned First-Team All-Catholic and will compete for time on the offensive line.

The Blue Devils announced 11 players in December: Mykhi Davis (Washington, DC). Kyle Greene (Baltimore, MD), Benjamin Howard IV (Roxbury, MA), Jaden Langford (Windsor, CT), E'ryan Lawrence (Buffalo, NY), Jesus Martell (Meriden, CT), David Rivera, Jr. (Waterbury, CT), Dravyn Roberts (East Hartford, CT), Davon Smith, Jr. (Baltimore, MD) Jeremiah Tucker (Rochester, NY)  and Damani Williams (Englewood, NJ).