Four local football players made their college commitments on Wednesday during National Signing Day.
Holy Cross standout running back Alex Ward is heading to Southern Connecticut State University. Ward was an All-NVL selection as a senior and an absolute beast of a running back. It often took several defenders to bring Ward down, and he will bring that power ground game to SCSU. Ward was all-state as a senior.
“First and foremost thank you to my family, coaches, and everyone else who supported me the past 4 years!” Ward tweeted on Tuesday. “I’m excited to announce my commitment to further my football and academic careers at Southern Connecticut State University!”
American International College is getting a terrific athletic threat in Bristol Central stud Justus Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick took over at quarterback as a senior after the graduation of Yale’s Dathan Hickey, and he filled in well at the position. Fitzpatrick could hurt defenses with his legs and his arm, and he used both methods effectively. He was also a terrific defender, which is what he was recognized for when he was named all-state by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association.
“Excited and blessed to say I will be continuing my academics and athletics career at AIC,” Fitzpatrick tweeted on Wednesday.Fitzpatrick was all-state as a senior.
Two former area standouts, Ethan Miner and Kyren Petteway, shared their signing ceremony together at Kingswood-Oxford in West Hartford. Miner went to Wolcott High School before transferring to Kingswood-Oxford. Petteway played at Waterbury Career Academy before transferring.
Miner was the lone local Football Bowl Subdivision signee on Wednesday. He was announced as an Arkansas State commit on the early signing day last December, but he had his signing ceremony with Petteway at Kingswood-Oxford on Wednesday. Miner was Lineman of the Year as a senior in both his team’s division and the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council overall. He was also a two-time First Team All-New England selection (junior and senior seasons).
Petteway signed his letter of intent to Central Connecticut State University on Wednesday. He was Kingswood-Oxford’s offensive player of the year as a senior and a two-time First Team All-New England selection.
“Kyren is a young man that we had on our radar since his time at both Waterbury Career Academy and Kingswood-Oxford,” CCSU head coach Ryan McCarthy said in a press release. “He is an excellent all-around football player that players bigger than his size [5-foot-9, 160 pounds] and possesses a high level of football intellect. Kyren plays the game the way it should be played, as his motor never stops.”
Jason Martinez, former Crosby coach and current Kingswood-Oxford head man, had this to say about Miner and Petteway in a press release:
“I am very happy for Kyren and Ethan. Scholarships are hard to come by these days. What an honor it is to have two of our players earn scholarships.”
