NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Joel E. Smilow '54 head coach of football Tony Reno has announced the 24-member Class of 2025 that will join Team 148 this fall. The diverse group is set to aid the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball as the Elis look to defend their Ivy League Championship title.
 
Damian Anderson
DB – 6-0 – 175
Miramar, Fla. – Saint Thomas Aquinas
Economics
 
High School: Two-sport athlete at Saint Thomas Aquinas in football and track & field … helped his team to a perfect 15-0 record and a state and national championship in 2019.
 
Personal: Son of Torri and Damian Anderson … has an older sister, Erica.
 

 

Inumidun Ayo-Durojaiye
DB – 6-2 – 200
Baltimore, Md. – Damascus
Computer Science
 
High School: Three-sport athlete at Damascus, participating in football, basketball and track & field … helped the Hornets to a Maryland 3A Football State Championship in 2019 … ran the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes and did the long jump.
 
Personal: Son of Biodun Ayo-Durojaiye and Ayodeji Durojaiye … has two older brothers, Ibukun and TD, who plays football at Villanova, and a younger sister, Itunu.
 

 

Jacob Biggs
WR – 6-2 – 205
Provo, Utah – Timpview (Utah)
Economics
 
Before Yale: Walked on to the football team at the University of Utah … saw action in one game, playing special teams against the University of Southern California (USC).
 
High School: Played quarterback and wide receiver at Timpview … second-team all-region and all-Utah Valley as a senior … went 30-of-55 passing for 367 yards (3 TD) as a senior, adding 73 rushing yards on 18 carries (5 TD) … 48-of-90 passing for 673 yards (7 TD) with 316 rushing yards on 46 carries (6 TD) his junior year … also competed in track and field … began his high school career at Prosper High School in Texas.
 
Personal: Son of Tricia and Adam Biggs … has one older sister, Allie and two younger siblings, Evie and Nielie.
 

 

Jay Brunelle
WR – 6-1 – 200
Paxton, Mass. – St. John's (Notre Dame)
Finance
 
Before Yale: Transfer from the University of Notre Dame. 
 
High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN.com ... No. 81 player regionally, No. 106 wide receiver nationally and No. 5 player from Massachusetts by ESPN.com (78 Scout Grade) ... set a Central Massachusetts record with 2,666 career receiving yards ... in 2019, racked up 52 catches for 1,071 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping Saint John's to a MIAA Division 3 state semifinal appearance. 

Personal: Son of Jodi and Dave Brunelle … has a younger brother, Matt.




Nathan Denney
RB – 5-10 – 205
Georgetown, Texas - Georgetown
Mathematics
 
High School: Two-sport athlete at Georgetown High School as a running back and a wrestler … earned all-district MVP honors … all-state honorable mention selection in his final season at Georgetown.
 
Personal: Son of Ty Denney, who played outside linebacker at Baylor University … has an older sister, Malia and a younger brother, Isaac.

 
 

Luke Foster
TE – 6-4 – 245
Fort McMurray, Alberta – Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.)
Mechanical Engineering
 
High School: Played football and track & field at Choate, throwing the javelin and running the 400-meter event … earned Dean's List honors in three years at Choate … 3-star recruit by 247sports.
 
Personal: Son of Monica and John Foster … has one younger brother, Eric.
 


 
Alvin Gulley, Jr.
DL – 6-2 – 295
Belleville, Illinois – Belleville West Township
Earth & Planetary Sciences
 
High School: All-area honorable mention selection as an offensive and defensive lineman in 2020 … first team all-conference (OL/DL) as a senior and second team honoree as a junior ... two-time first team all-city offensive and defensive line selection … American Cancer Society All-Star Game in 2019.
 
Personal: Son of Denise Hunt … has an older brother, Kenny Walls.
 

 

Sean Guyton
DB – 6-0 – 190
Los Angeles, Calif. – Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.)
Data Science
 
High School: Played at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks before transferring to Choate … earned team MVP and Honor Bowl MVP honors in 2019 … Cal-Hi Sports All-State selection as a cornerback … also ran track at Choate.
 
Personal: Son of Cheronda and Andrew Guyton … has one older brother, Stephen.
 
 


Kevin Jourdain
DL – 6-4 – 270
Holyoke, Mass. - Holyoke
Economics
 
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Holyoke as a defensive and offensive lineman … helped his team to 17 victories … racked up over 25 sacks and 30 tackles for loss … two-time All-Western Mass team and two-time Super7 selection … served as team captain for two seasons.
 
Personal: Son of Shari and Kevin Jourdain … has two younger siblings, Jackie and Allison.
 

 

Tamatoa McDonough
DL – 6-5 – 230
Asheville, N.C. - Asheville
Economics
 
High School: Played offensive and defensive line for Asheville while also competing for the track & field teams as a discus and shot put thrower in addition to the 110-meter hurdles … registered 14 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 36 quarterback hurries, 41 tackles and two fumbles recovered.
 
Personal: Full name, Tamatoamanaia McDonough or Tama for short … Son of Molly McDonough-Leota and Petelo Leota … father played in the Samoan Rugby League … older brother Pika Leota played football at Benedictine, older brother Eku Leota graduated from Northwestern and now plays football at Auburn … has two younger siblings, Osofa'i Leota and Malieta Leota.
 


 
Jack Michalik
LB – 6-4 – 205
Rye, N.Y. – Brunswick School
Economics
 
High School: Three-sport athlete at Brunswick in football, basketball and track & field … helped Brunswick to a conference championship and reached Fairfield County scholar athlete honors … captained the track team in his senior season and set school records in the 200, 400 and 4x400.
 
Personal: Son of Angela and Robert Michalik '91 … father played football at Yale … has an older brother, Henry who rows at Yale, and two younger brothers, Luke and Matt.
 


 
David Pantelis
WR – 6-0 – 185
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Upper St. Clair
Economics
 
High School: Played both football and basketball at Upper St. Clair … all-state first team wide receiver … single season record holder with 77 catches and 1,169 yards … single game record holder with 273 yard and career best 2,207 yards for the Panthers … played wideout and defensive back in three seasons with 148 catches, 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions … won a conference title with football and two conference championships in basketball and league title.
 
Personal: Son of Rochelle and Chris Pantelis … older brother Christopher plays football at Johns Hopkins University and sister Alexandra attended Lynn University.
 


 
Declan Savage
OL – 6-5 – 285
Chapel Hill, N.C. – Chapel Hill
Economics
 
High School: Two-sport athlete at Chapel Hill, playing football and lacrosse … earned Big Eight All-Conference as an offensive lineman … picked up all-state, all-region and all-conference as a lacrosse player.
 
Personal: Son of Bre and Jim Savage … dad played football at Rutgers … has one older brother, Conor, and one younger sibling, Aedan … volunteers with the Ronald McDonald House.

 
 

Aaron Session
OL – 6-6 – 323
Katy, Texas – Morton Ranch
Molecular Biology
 
High School: Two-sport athlete at Morton Ranch for both football and throws for track & field … made regionals in the shot put … two-time academic all-district selection … academic all-state … two-time all-district selection.
 
Personal: Son of Latoya and Nate Session … has two young siblings, Zachary and Kimi.
 


 
Mason Shipp
WR – 6-0 – 187
Monroe Township, N.J. – The Hun School
Undeclared
 
High School: Started his career at Monroe Township where he earned Offensive MVP honors and first team all-conference honors in his second season ... transferred to the Peddie School where helped the team to its first undefeated season in 40 years, along with First Team All-MAPL and all-area honors … played his final season at the Hun School where he again earned first team all-conference and all-area accolades.
 
Personal: Son of Michele and Michael Shipp … has two older brothers, Miles and Marcus … student senator for the Hun School.
 



Connor Smith
OL – 6-4 – 280
Medfield, Mass. – Noble & Greenough
Economics
 
High School: Four-year letterwinner on the offensive line at Noble & Greenough … prioritized community service with tutoring and mentoring young children.
 
Personal: Son of Beth and Matthew Smith … dad wrestled at Syracuse … has two older siblings, Cameron, who played football and Lafayette and New Hampshire and Caroline … developed an architectural blog and plays piano.
 


 
Kelvin Smith
WR – 6-4 – 225
White Plains, N.Y. – The Hun School
Economics
 
High School: Three-sport athlete at Hun playing football, basketball and track … second team all-league and all-prep selection in football, winning a league championship in 2018 … first team all-league and basketball captain.
 
Personal: Son of Jennifer and Kelvin Smith … father played football at SUNY Albany … has an older sister, Jazmine, who rows at Princeton.
 


 
Sean Sullivan
OL – 6-5 – 300
Westborough, Mass. – Saint John's Shrewsbury
Ethics, Politics & Economics
 
High School: Three-sport athlete at Saint John's, playing football, basketball and lacrosse … three-year starter on the offensive line, playing in every game ... helped the Pioneers to the state semifinals and central region championship in 2018 and 2019 … two-time captain … all-state selection, all-star game honoree and conference lineman of the year … Boston Globe All-Scholastic team.
 
Personal: Son of Erin and Darren Sullivan … has one younger brother, Colin.
 


 
Austin Tutas
QB – 6-1 – 200
Tampa, Fla. – Foster (Texas)
Cognitive Science
 
High School: Played three seasons at Archbishop Spalding (Md.) before transferring to Foster, outside of Houston, for his senior year … ranked a 3-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … earned first team all-county and first team All-Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association honors as a junior … three-year captain.
 
Personal: Son of Melissa and Christopher Tutas … father played baseball at Jacksonville University and University of Maryland … mother played lacrosse at Ithaca … has three younger siblings, Ashley, Ava and Alyssa.
 

 

Ikenna Ugbaja
DL – 6-3 – 291
Boston, Mass. – Belmont Hill
Criminal Justice
 
High School: Two-year letterwinner and varsity captain in his senior year at Belmont Hill … also participated in track & field … two-time (2019 and 2020) first team all-league, all-conference, all-scholastic all-star, Boston Globe All-Star and Boston Herald All-Star … Nike 'The Opening' invitee … Rivals 3-Star Camp, Under Armour All-American Camp and World Bowl National Combine invitee … Offense-Defense Bowl All-American … top defensive line performer at BC Football camp (2019) … 3-star defensive tackle by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … No. 1-ranked defensive tackle in Massachusetts (247Sports) … top-30 defensive tackle in the country (247Sports).

Personal: Son of Mary Onwuama … has one older brother, Frederick Ifebuzo … Yale Book Award recipient.
 
 


Ruben Valenzuela
DB – 6-2 – 181
Canoga Park, Calif. - Calabasas
Economics
 
High School: Two-sport athlete for Calabasas, also competing in relay sprints for the track & field team … four-year letterwinner as a defensive back for the football team … earned Southern California and Marmonte League championships as a relay team.
 
Personal: Son of Vanessa Torres and Ruben Valenzuela … has one young sibling, Navaeh … awarded Calabasas' Faculty Prize which is awarded to the student who shows strength of character and impact on the community. 
 


 
Walker Warncke
DB – 5-11 – 200
Needville, Texas - Needville
Economics
 
High School: Played wide receiver, running back, defensive back and linebacker while racking up first team all-district, DI Utility Player of the Year (2019) and DI District Most Valuable Plyer (2020) honors in three seasons with Needville … also earned team captaincy, first team all-state running back and second team all-state linebacker honors as a senior … ran varsity track
 
Personal: Son of Shawn and Kenneth Warncke … has two older sisters, Margo and Kate … cousin Jake Voskuhl won an NCAA basketball title with UConn in 1999 and played in the NBA for nine years.


 
 
Andrew Weisz
OL – 6-6 – 305
West Palm Beach, Fla. – The Benjamin School
Molecular Biology
 
High School: Three-sport athlete at Benjamin in football, basketball and wrestling … number 14 on ESPN West Palm Beach's top-63 list … tabbed as a Palm Beach Post Top Prospect and Sun Sentinel Super 11 selections … also earned a coach's award in basketball … 3-star recruit by 247Sports.
 
Personal: Son of Alla and Peter Weisz … has two older brothers, Max and Martin who played football at the University of Virginia … medical intern for the Solomon Leadership program.
 


 
Dominic Zepherin
DB – 5-11 – 185
Lafayette, La. – Saint Thomas More
Economics
 
High School: Led Saint Thomas More to two Division State Championships … earned two all-state recognitions … two-time all-Acadiana and two-time all-district selection.
 
Personal: Son of Catherine and Dr. Corwin Thomas, Willie Zepherin … has two younger siblings, Ashton and Madelyn.