2024 Pre-Season Team Preview: The Taft School

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this report, we will review the top prospects and additional notable prospects who will attend Taft School In Connecticut heading into the fall season of 2024.&nbsp;Head Coach Tyler Whitley will lead the Taft School football program in the fall of 2024. Tyler is a former student-athlete at Taft School. After graduating from Taft, where he was an accomplished student, athlete, and community member (three-sport varsity captain in football, basketball, and track and the winner of the Lawrence Hunter Stone Award at graduation), Tyler went on to Wesleyan University, where he was a four-year letter winner at safety on the football team. While there, he earned a spot on the New England Small College Athletic Conference All-Academic Team his senior year and was a Cardinal Club Scholar-Athlete award winner for having the highest GPA on the team. He studied in Rome for a semester, and upon earning a bachelor's degree in government with a certificate in international relations, Tyler moved to the Salisbury School, where he worked as a tutor in the school's learning center, served as a dormitory parent, assisted the varsity basketball team, and coached varsity football. After two years at Salisbury, he studied business at Sacred Heart University and was a graduate assistant coach for the Division I football team. As an assistant, Tyler led the running backs, managed the scout defense and special teams, and recruited student-athletes nationwide. Tyler took over the head football coach position at Taft in 2012. In 2016, he earned a Master's in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University. Tyler works in admissions and coaches varsity football and boys' varsity basketball. Tyler, his wife, Randi Lawlor Whitley '04, and their daughters, Emma and Fae,&nbsp;live near campus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">TOP PROSPECTS TO KNOW: </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1253341"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e30d31996b7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He is currently ranked as the #21 offensive lineman in the class of 2025 in New England. He announced recent offers from Maine, UNH, URI, and Bryant. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/sillberg1/status/1832864303483076686","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/sillberg1/status/1832864303483076686 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["839981"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e30d319973e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He is currently ranked as the #11 linebacker in the class of 2025 in New England. He is committed to Georgtown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ozzydiallo/status/1816178801535074797","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ozzydiallo/status/1816178801535074797 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["437026"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e30d319978a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He is presently ranked as the #3 defensive lineman in the class of 2025 in New England. He has known offers from Dartmouth, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Texas State, West Virginia, Minnesota, Duke, and Connecticut.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JudeOkeleke1/status/1728161237953925229","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JudeOkeleke1/status/1728161237953925229 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["421065"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e30d31997cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He is presently ranked as the #3 quarterback in the class of 2026 in New England. On June 21, 2024, he announced his first division 1 offer from Sacred Heart.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GKimrin/status/1804113729702830379","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GKimrin/status/1804113729702830379 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["840096"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e30d3199809"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He is presently ranked as the #5 athlete ion the class of 2026 in New England. On May 9, 2024 he announced an offer from Howard University. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jonah___20/status/1788611393303806135","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jonah___20/status/1788611393303806135 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["801239"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e30d3199844"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He is presently ranked as the #24 offensive lineman in the class of 2026 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/will72palmer/status/1726703671197757784","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/will72palmer/status/1726703671197757784 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283711"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e30d319987e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He is presently ranked as the # 3 running back in the class of 2027 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Damon2Hibbert/status/1833904563835027836","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Damon2Hibbert/status/1833904563835027836 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["851271"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e30d31998b7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He is presently ranked as the #2 defensive back in the class of 2027 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MichaelVotto11/status/1729581210769174598","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MichaelVotto11/status/1729581210769174598 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">ADDITIONAL IMPACT PROSPECTS:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1263028' first='Josiah' last='Aidoo'] - He is presently ranked as the #18 linebacker in the class of 2025 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='840040' first='James' last='Penkett'] - He is presently ranked as the #29 offensive lineman in the class of 2025 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1263039' first='EJ' last='Rochester'] - He is presently ranked as the #17 defensive back in the class of 2025 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1253337' first='Evan' last='Anderson'] - He is presently ranked as the #27 wide receiver in the class of 2025 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='806903' first='Calvin' last='Kulik'] - He is presently ranked as the #28 wide receiver in the class of 2025 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='404249' first='Ben' last='Bazarian'] - He is currently ranked as the #28 linebacker in the class of 2025 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1237958' first='Matthew' last='Olsen'] - He is presently ranked as the # 32 linebacker in the class of 2025 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1253336' first='Brady' last='Winter'] - He is presently ranked as the #44 linebacker in the class of 2025 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='721360' first='Chip' last='Furman'] - He is committed to Middlebury College. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='721437' first='Austin' last='Tucker'] - He is presently ranked as the #65 running back in the class of 2025 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1257859' first='Charlie' last='Garnett'] - He is presently ranked as the #22 athlete in the class of 2026 in New England. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">WATCH LIST PROSPECTS:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='840043' first='George' last='Sullivan'] P</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1216180' first='Alyan' last='Hussein'] WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1253343' first='Logan' last='Reed'] WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1253349' first='Jaiden' last='Allen'] DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1253344' first='JP' last='Antonino'] DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='790504' first='Chris' last='Pangaro'] DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1253347' first='Myles' last='Petitjean']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1253350' first='Marco' last='Watson'] QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1257690' first='Stephen' last='Soares Jr.'] LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1432968' first='Foster' last='Friess'] OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->