New Britain, CT — Third-year head coach Adam Lechtenberg has announced the Central Connecticut football early signee period class. The Blue Devils inked 16 high school seniors to the recruiting class of 2026. The group will join the roster of the two-time defending NEC Champions for the Fall 2026 campaign.

"I am very excited about the talent we signed in the December signing period," said Lechtenberg. "Our coaches have done an outstanding job of identifying really good players who have the chance to develop and become great players here at CCSU. Acquiring players with size, speed and athleticism will always be a focal point of our recruiting philosophy and I am excited that we were able to do that. I am thrilled about the potential of this class, and I can't wait for the opportunity to get to work with them. I would like to thank them and their families for choosing to become Blue Devils!" 

Central Connecticut, which won at least a share of the NEC regular season title for the second-straight year, captured the league's AQ to the FCS Playoffs in 2024 and 2025, marking the first time in program history that the Blue Devils made consecutive postseason appearances. Central Connecticut posted an 8-4 record during the 2025 campaign and has accumulated 15 wins in the past two seasons, the most of any NEC squad during that stretch. Lechtenberg has earned NEC Coach of the Year honors in each of the past two seasons, and the Blue Devils have won the league's top award on both sides of the ball (NEC Offensive Player of the Year and NEC Defensive Player of the Year) in 2024 and 2025.

MEET THE BLUE DEVIL SIGNEES 

Matthew Alvarez is an offensive lineman from Elizabeth, NJ who attends DePaul Catholic High School, where he was a team captain.

Offensive lineman Ronell Armstrong hails from Hyannis MA and played at Barnstable High School. He was a team captain.

Nick Chomko a Newington, CT native, is an offensive lineman from Kingswood-Oxford. He was named NEPSAC Class C Lineman of the Year and was a two-time All-New England First Team selection.

Anthony Dinapoli is an offensive lineman who currently attends Iona Prep and hails from Eastchester, NY. He helped the squad to a state championship and was a two-time All-League selection.

Nathan Eggerling is a tight end from North Haven, CT, who played at North Haven High School, where he won two state championships. He was a team captain and earned First Team All-Conference honors.

Kyion Greenwood is a cornerback from Edgewood High School that resides in Edgewood, MD. An 2025 BTC All-Star Selection at corner, he was named All-Chesapeake in 2024 and was an All-State honoree in the 55m during the indoor track and field season.

Jeffrey Logan, who attended Aquinas Institute of Rochester in New York, will play running back for Central Connecticut.

A conference player of the year and two-time First-Team All-District and All-Conference selection at Liberty High School in Liberty, OH, Jaylen Mack will be a running back for the Blue Devils. 

Nick Pavia, a Newtown, CT native and senior at Newtown High School, will be an outside linebacker for the Blue Devils. He was a 2024 First-Team All-State selection and an All Walter Camp First Team honoree.

Ona Pela, who hails from Cherry Hill, NJ, is an offensive lineman. He has twice been named All-Conference and earned All-South Jersey on the defensive line as a member of the football team at Cherry Hill East.

A local product from Windsor, CT, AJ Robinson played quarterback at Windsor High School. He was a two-time New Haven Register All-State selection and has earned three All-Conference honors.

Jarrett Serate played defensive tackle Curtis High School and is a native of Staten Island, NY. He iswasa three-time All-City First Team defensive selection.

Risan Smith joins the Blue Devils from Flowers High School as an offensive lineman.

A'zeem Spicer will play inside linebacker after graduating from Upper Darby High School in Pennsylvania. He was First-Team All-Central League as a wide receiver and on the defensive line.

Javon Tyler, an East Side High School player, is an offensive lineman from Newark, NJ. He was twice named Second-Team All-Conference.

Gabriel Wiggins, a running back that played at Phelps ACE High School, comes to Central Connecticut from Washington, D.C. He earned DC IAA Player of the Year honors, was a Second-Team All-State defensive selection and was twice named First-Team All-League on both sides of the ball.