2024 Signing Class Overview: Cortland Red Dragons
![2024 Signing Class Overview: Cortland Red Dragons](https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/PRZ-NYSigningClass-Cortland.jpg?w=865)
In this article:
The only Division 3 school that I will do this series for and for good reason. The Cortland Red Dragons won the Division III national championship after a very successful first two seasons under current Head Coach Curt Fitzpatrick who…
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Continue ReadingThe only Division 3 school that I will do this series for and for good reason. The Cortland Red Dragons won the Division III national championship after a very successful first two seasons under current Head Coach Curt Fitzpatrick who now over three seasons has amassed on four losses. Fitzpatrick who holds a roster predominately of New Yorkers including multiple prospects who got NFL UDFA contracts – something that not many Division 3 schools have ever done. There is a lot of prospects covered here so some analysis may be limited but check out who the reigning national championship are bringing in from New York this year.
Highest Ranked Recruit
Harris is a GREAT addition for the Cortland Red Dragons and the former DIII national champions are getting a player who has the ability to be a dominant player early in his career. With a lot of ball under his belt and has over 3 years of varsity tape and was a four-year starter at center. Harris plays with leverage consistently and showcases the ability to really maintain and finish blocks. Harris has a really good frame and build at 6’2 285 and has consistently been one of the Rochester’s top offensive lineman for several straight seasons.
Highlights
The Rest of the Class
Lovinsky is a very impressive WR prospect headed to a school that was the only school in NY to have multiple WR prospects move on with opportunities to make NFL teams. All it takes to see how special Lovinsky’s athleticism is are watching him run routes on air. Lovinsky has elite twitch and can separate at any level of the field. He is a smaller WR prospect listed at 5’10 170 but it doesn’t matter what size you are when you consistently create 2+ yards of seperation, something Lovinsky does with the pads on and did throughout the last spring in camps.
Highlights
Kondratenko, another OL prospect from Rochester headed to the Red Dragons Kondratenko is a huge addition literally and figuratively. Listed at 6’5 275lbs the Brighton OL prospect is still new to football playing only a few seasons in High School and the physical mauling OT is a prospect who has special movement ability for a guy his size.
Highlights
Rescigno one of a couple Cortlands QB commits incoming in this class was a huge playmaker for Arlington and was a prospect whose arm flashes on tape even though he primarily ran a run first offense behind center. Rescigno was one of the few QB prospects who hit the 1,000 mark both through the air and on the ground and with only 5 turnovers (INT + Lost Fumbles) all season his ability to protect the ball while consistently being the dual-threat driving force behind Arlington’s offensive success is exactly what cortland is looking for at the position.
Reilly a very effective two-way player for Sachem North can do it on both sides of the ball and the prospect ranks as one of the top two-way performers from Long Island. Reilly is a willing tackler and has good closing speed on the catch point. Reilly has good instincts and is able to trigger downfield quick often getting involved around the LOS.
Bodie Hyde
Bodie
Hyde
5’10” | 185 lbs | ATH
Oakfield-Alabama/Elba | 2024
State
NY
may have played in a lower classification than many of the NY prospects who are playing at the next level but it is just a testament to what he brings to the field. Hyde is one of the top producers ever in Section V and the QB/ATH/LB prospect out of Oakfield Alabama/Elba is athletic enough to end up playing a couple different positions at the next level for Cortland.
Owen Rush Owen Rush 6’1″ | 275 lbs | OL Fredonia | 2024 State NY was one of the best linemen in the Buffalo area this past year and the two-way performer brings a great motor to the Red Dragons. Talented enough to play on either side of the ball Rush could continue to add mass and be a very impactful IOL or utilize the quickness and violence you see on tape on the interior of the defensive line.
Ruffalo is another Section V standout and the Victor prospect was a production machine on both sides of the ball. Ruffalo can play DB or WR for Cortland and his ball skills and athleticism stand out on tape. Ruffalo showcased consistently on tape the athleticism that translates to the next level. Listed as a DB to start his career, Ruffalo’s ball skills is what will help him standout early on in his career.
Bailey out of Fox Lane is a defensive end/EDGE prospect who really flashes the ability to rush the passer. Bailey has good bend and flexibility with quick and violent hands off the snap. Bailey can move all the way inside to 3-tech but also has the athleticism to nearly play the OLB position.
Tyler DeRue Tyler DeRue 6’5″ | 250 lbs | DL Canandaigua | 2024 State NY , the third Section V offensive lineman so far on this list played OT at Canandaigua and although he will need to add some weight and strength to his frame has great tape. He plays with good hands consistency playing inside the shoulders and is strong at the point of attack.
Brown one of the top TE prospects in the entire state has the ability to be that type of hybrid TE/WR prospect who can make plays in space or blocker bigger bodies on the defensive line. Brown has the skills to be a mismatch for defenses when moved around the offense.
Highlights
Bartolone out of Wallkill will add a patience poised passer to Cortlands quarterback room. Bartolone has the ability to make plays with his legs but his confidence in the pocket is what stands out on his tape.
Highlights
Crane out of William Floyd is a LB prospect who not only was a mainstay on one of Long Island’s best programs but a player whose tape shows a player that attacks the LOS and has the ability to finish tackles in space.
Highlights
Mehm who was long in a WR room that featured 2 P4 prospects and multiple other college football players broke out as a Senior as St. Anthony’s WR2 and his performance during the season and some work I saw at camps in spring is good stuff. A well rounded receiver who can separate and has strong hands with the ability to make plays in traffic.
Highlights
Isaiah Ballard
Isaiah
Ballard
6’1″ | 210 lbs | DL
Irondequoit | 2024
State
NY
out of Irondequoit was a top defensive lineman in Section V this past season and although will stick on the DL at Cortland flashes the athleticism to even play the TE position. Athletic with natural strength and good hands at the point of attack.
Feliciotto who played QB and LB in High School is a 6′ 200lb athlete from John Jay East Fishkill who will bring athleticism and the ability to close and finish in space to the Cortland LB group.
Houghton out of Baldwinsville is a big OL over 310+ lbs who will bring size and natural strength to an offensive line room where he immediately will be one of the bigger prospects on the team. Houghton has some juice to his game for a guy who is 300+.
Highlights
Layne Jaworowica is a big-time producer who can play nearly any skill position and played some QB for Alden is a pure athlete whose speed and burst will transition easily to the next level.
Davenport, teammate of Michael Resigcno who is listed above was a big time RB/ATH for Arlington and brings an element of speed and motor to the Red Dragons Roster.
Gilchrist is one of the top kicking prospects and the best hailing from CNY this class. Cortland gets Gilchrist to stay home and he should compete right away to have a role on gameday.
Gecaj a defensive end prospect from Putnam Valley will bring extensive varsity experience and the ability to consistently hold the edge and make plays fighting through the blocks and finshing ball carriers outside of the of the numbers. Gecaj plays with a high motor and physical hands.
Highlights
![Ryan Shannon](https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/themes/prep-network-content/public/images/generic-male.png)
Ryan Shannon
Ryan Shannon
Shannon a player who flew under my radar has a good frame at 6’4 and showcases on film the ability to finish blocks with a strong punch and natural upper body strength.
Boswell may not be the biggest prospect but he will bring good closing speed and the ability to read and react quicly while being able to finish plays with violence on the edge.
Highlights
Robles out of Carmel was a big-time disruptor on the interior of their defensive line this season. Robles is quick and strong a really good combination of skills to have playing on the interior defensive line.
![Andrew Dabulewicz](https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/themes/prep-network-content/public/images/generic-male.png)
Andrew Dabulewicz
Andrew Dabulewicz
Dabulewicz a standout OL from Fayetteville-Manlius who was also an standout heavyweight wrestler brings size and a mauling finisher to the Cortland OL room.
![Tom Jacquays](https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/themes/prep-network-content/public/images/generic-male.png)
Tom Jacquays
Tom Jacquays
Jacquays out of Central Valley Academy is a DB prospect who showcases solid man coverage skills and good closing speed on the catch point, in additional to positional versatility across the defensive backfield.
Navarro a defensive end prospect from Walt-Whitman is an athletic edge prospect who showcases good upfield and burst and should add some athleticism to the edge for Cortland.