NEW BERLIN – Montrell Dobbs always wanted to attend the University of Connecticut. Playing Division one football was not on Carlos Carvajal’s radar until his junior year in high school. Jevonte Pitts was on a high school team that had seven division one recruits, and was often overlooked. Gerod Holliman was one of the top prep players in Florida last year, but he, like so many other Milford Academy players, needs to bump up his college entrance exam scores to qualify academically.
These four are among the marquee names attending Milford Academy’s prep school this fall. All have collegiate scholarship offers on the table at major colleges, and will likely make immediate impacts at their respective colleges of choice.
Dobbs was the premier high school running back in the state of Connecticut last year, and he finished his career as the fifth all-time leading rusher in state history. He’ll play for former Syracuse University and NFL coach, Paul Pasqualoni, who took over UConn’s head coach this year. “Coach Pasqualoni basically gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” Dobbs said. Dobbs came to Milford’s campus a few weeks earlier than the rest of his teammates, and hopes that extra work pays off. “I wanted to get a head start and be a starter here. A lot of good backs have come through here, and it motivates you to be as good or better than the previous guys.”
Carvajal, a southern Florida native, will move to Indiana to play for Purdue in the Big Ten. He considers the long trip away from home as a lesson in gaining maturity. “(Moving far away from home) shows that I’m growing up and taking the responsibility of a young man,” he said.
Carvajal was looked at by Florida State, but they considered him “too skinny” to play tight end. Plus, the Seminoles snagged the number one rated tight end recruit in the nation last fall. At 6-foot-6 1/2 and 220 pounds, Carvajal is the perfect size for a college receiver, and with 30 more pounds of muscle, will be a devasting force on offense. “(Purdue) can put me on the line or spread me out – to make me a dual threat,” Carvajal said.
Pitts wasn’t even the most highly recruited person in his family this past year. Pitts’ first cousin, Lafayette Pitts, was courted by the most prestigious teams in the nation, and was a four-star recruit. That was okay with Levonte, who now has his time to shine. “I just waited, and my turn finally came,” Pitts said. “I’m just fearless and I push myself every day. I feel that if you work hard enough, almost anyone can play college football.”
Holliman was one of the top players in Florida last year and was named the Old Spice Player of the Year. He originally made a verbal commitment to Mississippi, but decommitted in December last year. He announced his decision to attend Louisville at the U.S. Army High School Football All-American Bowl. “I lot of the guys I played 7-on-7 football with all decided that going to Louisville was the best choice,” Holliman said. “Louisville wants to me to come in and play right away.”
Holliman, Pitts, Carvajal, and Dobbs will all suit up for their Milford Academy opener on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Norwich High School when they meet Atlanta Sports Prep at 6 p.m. The Falcons will also play at home on Aug. 27 when they entertain Hudson Valley at 2 p.m. in New Berlin.