Excitement is buzzing around the Phillips Academy football team.
And with the influx of eye-catching talent in the new crop of postgraduate athletes, it isn’t hard to see why.
The group is led by Eagle-Tribune All-Star tight end/defensive end Jake Saalfrank. The 2024 North Andover High graduate made 71 tackles, seven sacks and had 21 QB pressures last fall. He has Division 1 offers from the likes of Merrimack College.
But he isn’t the only incoming accomplished talent.
Phillips picked up a pair of players from defending Massachusetts Division 1 state champion Xaverian, running back Denzil Pierre and linebacker Roman Perdoni, a former soccer player who went out for football a senior. Receiver/linebacker Logan Umbachis a talented newcomer from Lincoln-Sudbury, and is a promising baseball catcher.
The Big Blue also brought in a key player from New Hampshire Division I state champion Bedford, offensive/defensive lineman Luke Tenn.
Other talented newcomers include linebacker Jayden Franklin (Connecticut), kicker Rex Corkins (Colorado), lineman Billy Brown (Pennsylvania) and receiver Nate Cook (Washington)
They are joined by returning quarterback Nate Parker and receiver Elan Shetty of Andover.
Brooks ready to shine
The Brooks School football team picked up a notable local transfer, in Timberlane running back Liam Corman, who is repeating his sophomore year.
Last fall for the Owls, Corman ran for 770 yards, caught 19 passes for 336 yards and scored 13 touchdowns on his way to All-New Hampshire Division I East first team honors.
Brooks is also thrilled to have quarterback Shane Maguire back. The junior missed last season due to injury.
The Green and White return talented receiver Jagger Carreiro of Methuen, along with fellow wideout Wes Bixby and tight end Manni Babb. Top offensive lineman Colin Howard is from Derry, N.H.
“We had a great start to our preseason and have a really hungry group that has put in a ton of work over the last year,” said coach Pat Foley. “We have a great mix of returners with good experience over the last couple of years along with some kids who are either new to Brooks or who have been here and will be stepping into increased roles this year.
“We have a good offensive line group with some talented skill players on that side of the ball that we should be able to spread the ball around to. We will be young in our front-7 on defense, but I have been impressed with the way that group has been coming together.”
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