NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Will Connecticut football players take their athletic careers to the next level this spring? There several prospects with local ties to keep your eye on for this year’s NFL Draft.
The players range from hometown heroes to athletes who have proven their skills at local universities. The group includes those who compete for Yale University, the University of Connecticut and the University of New Haven.
While none of the players have the same national expectations behind them that Madison native Will Levis had last year, you may see them picked on night two or three.
Levis went on to be chosen by the Tennessee Titans as the draft’s No. 33 pick, being selected in the second round.
The first round of the draft will start at 8 p.m. Thursday on ABC. Each team will have 10 minutes to make their pick.
The second and third rounds air on Friday. Rounds four through seven will be Saturday.
The following players from Connecticut have entered their name in the NFL Draft:
Jaden Shirden
Position: Running back
Hometown: West Haven
High school: St. Joseph’s/ Cheshire Academy
College: Monmouth
Cornelius Johnson
Position: Wide receiver
Hometown: Greenwich
High school: Brunswick
College: Michigan
Kiran Amegadjie
Position: Offensive tackle
Hometown: Hinsdale, Illinois
High school: Hinsdale Central
College: Yale
Christian Haynes
Position: Guard
Hometown: Bowie, Maryland
High school: Bowie
College: UConn
Mason Tipton
Position: Wide receiver
Hometown: Akron, Ohio
High school: Archbishop Hoban
College: Yale
Eric Watts
Position: Defensive end
Hometown: Sumter, South Carolina
High school: Sumter
College: UConn
Jackson Mitchell
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Ridgefield
High school: Ridgefield
College: UConn
Dev Holmes
Position: Wide receiver
Hometown: Troy, New York
High school: Troy
College: University of New Haven