Connecticut is usually not a major hotbed for football prospects. You will get the occasional prospect that will go to college and have to overcome adversity to show their talents. Even Dan Orlovsky, the most popular NFL player out of the state of Connecticut, was only a 3-star recruit.
However the 2019 recruiting class is staking it’s claim to be one of the best state recruiting classes in recent memory. The 2010 class was the last time that Connecticut has produced multiple highly graded recruits. The most notable being Bjorne Werner out of Salisbury, CT who would play for Florida State and would also play in the NFL as a 1st round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2013, was also a 3-star recruit. The upcoming class is putting in a strong case to unseat them as “best ever” with as many as possibly 4 4-star recruits.
In the coming weeks this blog will spotlight the top recruits in the state and where they are committing, if they have already done so. We’ll also speculate as to where the undecided might go. The first of these recruits: Tyler Rudolph
Tyler Rudolph
6’1” 205lbs
Hometown: Oakdale, CT
School: Thomas More
College Interests: Boston College, Clemson, UConn, Penn State among others
Committed: Penn State
Strengths: Versatility, Footwork, Physicality
Opportunities: Tall, but needs more size. Strength improvement
Scouting Report: According to Adam Friedman of Rivals.com, Rudolph’s attribute is the capability of playing anywhere in the secondary. He has great footwork, and he has the physicality to function in different defensive schemes. With his early commitment to Penn State, look for Rudolph to take the opportunity to improve his size and strength. He figures to make an immediate impact in the Nittany Lions’ Secondary.