Cornell Football Announces Incoming Class for 2025
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell football continues to build momentum under The Roger J. Weiss '61 Head Coach of Cornell Football, Dan Swanstrom, as the Big Red announces its incoming class for the 2025 season. The group features a diverse collection of talented student-athletes from across the United States and internationally, bringing size, speed, and versatility to the Big Red.

"We're incredibly excited about this incoming class. It's a group that reflects our core values of tough, smart, and disciplined," commented Swanstrom. "These young men are high-character competitors who bring energy and versatility to every position group. They've embraced the challenge of Ivy League football, and we're confident they'll make an immediate impact on our program, both on and off the field."

The incoming class includes players from multiple states and features student-athletes who have excelled both on the field and in the classroom. Many come to Cornell with impressive high school accolades, including all-state honors, conference championships, and academic distinctions.

Meet the Class:

Alex Ahaghotu

DB • 6-3 • 195 • Washington, D.C. • Maret School
Second-team all-state selection and Washington Post first-team All-Met squad member (2024) at the Maret School ... first-team all-conference honoree as a junior and senior ... part of a state title-winning team as a junior ... played defensive back and wide receiver.

Seyi Akinbola

OL • 6-5 • 310 • Waterdown, Ontario • Taft School
Two-time all-league selection and Senior Lineman of the Year (2023) at the Taft School ... second-team all-league in his final season while attending Taft School and graduating from St. Andrew's College ... part of two championship teams ... two-year member of the varsity basketball team.

Josiah Allen

RB • 5-10 • Marietta, Ga • Wheeler HS
Earned GACA all-state honors as a senior running back at Wheeler HS … rushed for 1,751 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior … piled up 4,703 yards and 42 touchdowns on the ground in his four-year varsity career … had 5,497 all-purpose yards and 45 career touchdowns
 

Will Bagby

OL • 6-4 • 280 • Baltimore, Md. • Boys Latin School
2025 Scholar Athlete of Baltimore for the National Football Foundation as a senior at Boys Latin School ... named to the Baltimore Touchdown Club (BTC) Super 22 Team in 2024 ... four-year member of the football team ... served as team captain in 2024.

Will Belleville

WR • 6-2 • 200 • Rye, N.Y. • Hackley School
First-team all-state wide receiver and all-league honoree in both football and wrestling at Hackley School ... senior year football captain who helped lead team to an undefeated season ... placed second in NYSAIS in wrestling … four-year member of varsity golf team, serving as team captain as a senior.

Xavier Bowman

WR • 6-0 • 200 • Macomb, Mich. • Choate Rosemary Hall
Three-time all-league selection and two-time first-team all-conference honoree (2023, 2024)  at Choate Rosemary Hall ... second-team all-conference pick in 2022 ... recorded 1,000 yards receiving and helped the team to a Division I State Championship in 2024 ... also played at University High School Academy and Brother Rice HS in Michigan ... four-year varsity starter who recorded over 3,000 career receiving yards.

Caleb Bowman

OL • 6-4 • 270 • Toledo, Ohio • St. John's Jesuit
All-Catholic CHSL first team as a senior and second team as a junior at St. John's Jesuit HS ... two-time all-conference pick on the offensive line ... third place at OHSAA state tournament as a senior wrestler ... three-time academic all-conference honoree ... four-year member of varsity football playing both sides of the ball ... served as team captain as a senior ... four-year heavyweight wrestler and team captain in his final season.

Ja'von Broussard

WR • 6-2 • 185 • Marietta, Ga. • Wheeler HS 
Named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year as a senior at Wheeler HS ... two-time all-region selection as a wide receiver, including first-team in his final season ... two-year team captain ... named a Georgia High School Football Scholastic All-American ... competed in track and field where he was part of a 4x200 relay team that set a state record and earned New Balance All-America honors ... two-time state qualifier in the sprints ... regional champion and second at sectionals in the 100 meters ... New Balance All-American in the event as a senior.
 

Will Buck

SPEC (P/K) • 6-5 • 225 • Emmaus, Pa. • Emmaus HS
Blue-Grey All American and two-time Pennsylvania 6A all-state (2023, 2024) at Emmaus HS ... two-time All EPC (2023, 2024) and two-time all-area (2023, 2024) ... National Football Foundation Lehigh Valley chapter scholar athlete ... National Football Foundation Lehigh Valley Scholar-Athlete ... special teams player of the year (2023, 2024) ... helped his team to Pennsylvania District XI 6A runner-up (2021, 2024) and East Penn Conference Lehigh Division championship (2024) ... holds multiple school records.

Jacob Carter

DB • 6-0 • 190 • Phoenix, Ariz. • Mountain Pointe HS
Three-time all-region defensive back and academic all-state pick at Mountain Pointe HS ... four-year letter winner and three-year starter who played both wide receiver and defensive back ... totaled 115 total tackles and three interceptions ... track & field state qualifier (2024 and 2025).

Darryl Davis

RUSH LB • 6-4 • 250 • Culver City HS
CIF Bay League All-Defense second team (2023) and CIF Bay League first team (2024) at Culver City HS ... Defensive Lineman of the Year (2021) and Linebacker of the Year (2023, 2024) ... Jerry Chabola Award for Character recipient (2025) ... rated as a three-star prospect … three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track ... three-year starter in football.

Ryan Downes

QB • 6-4 • 220 • Sarasota, Fla. • Booker HS
First-team all-area (2023, 2024) and first-team all-state (2024) at Booker HS ... 2024 Sports Illustrated Comeback Player of the Year and Herald Tribune Courage Award winner ... four-year captain of the football team ... two-time district champion (2023, 2024) ... finished his senior season with 3,082 yards passing with 35 touchdowns and three interceptions ... also a member of the lacrosse team.

Bo Draheim

LB • 6-2 • 225 • Maple Grove, Minn. • Maple Grove HS
All-Conference (NWSC) selection in 2023 and 2024...All-District in 2023 and 2024...Helped lead his team to an undefeated season and state championship in 2022 and 2024...Played in 11 games as a senior on both sides of the ball at Maple Grove HS ... collected 34 tackles, including 10 for a loss, while forcing two fumbles on defense ... carried the ball 42 times for 260 yards and two touchdowns on offense ... caught 12 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns.

Brandon Dunn

DL • 6-1 • 265 • Berkeley Heights, N.J. • Hotchkiss School
Played a prep season at the Hotchkiss School in 2024 after beginning his career at Seton Hall Prep ... also competed on the track and field team in the shot put and discus.

Brandon Gilbert

TE • 6-4 • 250 • Murrieta, Calif. • Murrieta Valley HS
All-state nominee as a senior and four-time all-league pick at tight end, including three-time first-team selection at Murrieta Valley HS ... served as captain as a senior ... caught 43 passes for 647 yards and four touchdowns in his four-year varsity career ... three-year letter winner in track and field as a thrower, setting school freshman records in the shot put and discus.

Mason Grabowski

LB • 6-3 • 240 • Medford, N.J. • Shawnee HS
NJFCA Super 100 all-state team selection and Mini Maxwell Football Club Award finalist for state Player of the Year at Shawnee HS ... first-team all-league and all-county pick ... county Defensive Player of the Year (2024) ... senior captain who recorded 111 tackles with a pair of sacks, an interception, three forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries ... anchored a school-record 4x100 relay team in track and field ... captain of the volleyball team as an outside hitter.

Sam Greenspan

DL • 6-2 • 271 • Washington, D.C. • Wake Forest University
Member of the Wake Forest football team in 2024 … two-time all-state and first-team all-conference pick at Maret School and Sidwell Friends School... first-team all-league honoree as a junior and senior ... track and field district championship silver medalist ... played defensive end and tight end ... helped Maret to a 12-1 record and a Class A state title in 2023 ... three-year team captain who also served as team captain in track and field as a senior.

Elliot Hampton

DL • 6-4 • 225 • Brentwood, Tenn. • Ravenwood HS
Two-time first-team all-region selection on the defensive line at Ravenwood HS ... credited with 57 tackles with 10.0 for a loss and 5.0 sacks as a senior ... helped team to state semifinals and a 13-1 record overall and a 22-5 mark in his final two seasons.

Avery Huggins

OL • 6-4 • 280 • Westfield, Ind. • Westfield
Two-time all-state selection and first-team all-state by Indiana Preps as a senior captain at Westfield HS ... first-team all-conference honoree and named to the state's all-championship team ... IndyStar high school football Super Team member ... Indiana Football Coaches academic all-state team selection as a senior ... team's Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior ... academic all-state selection as a member of the lacrosse team ... helped his team to the state finals.

Braylon James

DB • 5-9 • 170 • St. Augustine, Fla. • St. Augustine HS
All-state honors and first-team all-area, all-district and all-county pick as a senior captain at St. Augustine HS ... Florida Times Union All-First Coast team selection ... team's Defensive MVP and honorable mention all-region selection ... recorded 94 tackles with two interceptions, six tackles for loss and a sack in his final season at St. Augustine HS ... tallied 87 tackles with four for a loss, a sack and four interceptions in his junior campaign ... registered 198 tackles with 10.0 for a loss, two sacks, seven interceptions and eight pass breakups in his three-year varsity career ... helped the team to three district titles and a pair of regional championships.

Cole Keith

LB • 6-4 • 220 • Las Vegas, Nev. • Faith Lutheran HS
Two-time all-state selection and first-team all-league as a junior and senior at Faith Lutheran HS ... second-team All-Southern honors from the Las Vegas Review-Journal ... two-time all-state honoree (second-team in 2023) ... registered 101 tackles with 14.0 for a loss and 8.0 sacks as a senior ... led the league in sacks as a junior (9.0, second in the state) ... posted 142 tackles with 13 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and 23.0 tackles for loss in 2023 ... also lettered three times in basketball.

Connor Klein

LB • 6-0 • 220 • Los Angeles, Calif. • Loyola HS
Three-time first-team all-league selection and two-time league MVP at Milken Community School ... senior year first-team all-league at Loyola HS ... recorded 150 tackles with 30 for a loss, four interceptions and four forced fumbles as a junior ... also rushed for 1,070 yards, caught passes for an additional 430 yards and scored 31 total touchdowns that season ... two-year team captain.

Kyle Lenhart

OL • 6-4 • 301 • New Castle, Pa. • James Madison University
Spent the 2024 season at James Madison … 2022 first-team All-WPIAL pick on both the offensive and defensive lines at Shenango HS ... 2021 All-WPIAL selection ... Dean's List (2024 & 2025) and JMU Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete for Spring '24, Fall '24 and Spring '25 ... SBC Commissioner's List in 2023 ... transfer who appeared in two games for James Madison in 2024 as a freshman ... redshirted in 2023 ... helped team to 2022 WPIAL semifinals and 2021 quarterfinals ... three-year starter and team captain ... dual sport athlete who captained playoff basketball team ... honor roll student.

John Maccarella

SPEC (LS) • 5-11 • 200 • Mullica Hill, N.J. • Clearview Regional HS
Ranked among the top 20 nationally as a long snapper by Kohl's Kicking as a senior at Clearview Regional HS ... Scholar-Athlete by the Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey ... three-year starter who posted 26 tackles with three stops for a loss and two sacks as a senior captain ... also competed on the varsity swimming and diving team.

Ryan Matulevich

WR • 6-0 • 185 • Sarasota, Fla. • Venice HS
Three-time all-state selection and four-time all-league, all-county and all-district pick at Venice HS ... Sports Illustrated's Florida 2024 All-South Suncoast Football Team member ... Sarasota Tribune all-area selection as a senior ... three-star recruit by 247sports.com ... honorable mention all-state honors as a sophomore ... part of two state championship and two state runner-up squads ... averaged 17.2 yards on 48 catches in his final campaign, registering 827 yards and 11 scores en route to winning a state title ... hauled in 60 passes for 652 yards and six touchdowns as a junior in helping his team to a state runner-up finish ... had 50 receptions for 673 yards and five scores as a sophomore ... had 41 catches and 733 total yards with eight touchdowns as a freshman ... compiled 179 career catches for 2,711 yards and 30 touchdowns in four varsity seasons ... also lettered in track and field.

John McAuliffe

RB • 6-0 • 205 • Orland Park, Ill. • Marist HS
All-state selection and league MVP as a senior at Marist HS ... two-time all-conference pick ... two-star recruit by 247sports.com ... piled up more than 3,000 yards from scrimmage in his final two seasons ... compiled 1,650 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior ... honorable mention all-state and all-league selection in baseball.

Noah McDuffie

DB • 5-11 • 175 • Buffalo, N.Y. • Buffalo Bennett HS
Two-time first-team all-Western New York and all-conference selection at Bennett HS ... second-team all-area honoree as a sophomore ... made 76 tackles with an interception and nine pass breakups as a senior ... piled up 106 stops with eight interceptions and six pass breakups as a junior ... helped his team to a state title as a sophomore, earning second-team all-area accolades ... made 73 tackles with three interceptions and five pass breakups ... posted 270 career tackles with 13 interceptions, 22 pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles on defense ... rushed for 1,916 yards and 17 touchdowns over his three-year starting career while piling up 2,349 all-purpose yards on offense ... helped team to three league championships, two sectional and regional titles and two appearances in the state semifinals or beyond.

Saeed Moghaddam Adames

DL • 6-6 • 250 • Miami, Fla. • American Heritage Schools
Honorable mention all-county selection as a junior at American Heritage School  ...2024 Regional, District and 4A State Champions…2023 Regional and District Champion… two-year starter on the basketball team, averaging 12.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

Dalten Phelan

LB • 6-2 • 230 • Charlotte, N.C. • Lake Nona HS
First-team all-state selection as a senior linebacker and three-star recruit by 247sports and Rivals at Lake Nona HS... four-time all-district selection, including three-time first-team pick ... three-time all-region pick ... team defensive MVP as a junior ... Elite 100 Prospects All-Star Game selection ... regional qualifier and team MVP in wrestling ... registered 80 tackles with 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss as a senior ... made 65 tackles with three tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions as a junior ... posted 316 tackles with 40.0 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles in his four-year varsity career ... three-year varsity captain.

Manan Raina

OL • 6-3 • 285 • Brecksville, Ohio • Hawken School
Two-star prospect ranked 310th in his position group by 247sports.com at Hawken School ... three-year starter on the offensive and defensive lines ... served as team captain as a senior.

Duke Rich

DB • 5-11 • 180 • St. Petersburg, Fla. • Clearwater Central Catholic
Two-time all-county selection in the defensive backfield and all-district honoree as a senior at Clearwater Central Catholic HS ... Senior All-Star Game selection (2024) ... saw playing time at safety, corner, running back, wide receiver and both punt and kick returner during his career ... played two seasons of varsity soccer.

Jonathan Roost

SPEC (P/K) • 5-11 • 180 • Perth, Western Australia • Christ Church Grammar School
Three-sport athlete while attending Christ Church Grammar School ... Best and Fairest in 12th grade  … played for Collegians AFC for three seasons in Australian Rules Football at midfield ... spent six years on the soccer team, serving as captain as a senior ... also competed three seasons in lacrosse ... worked with Prokick Australia in his transition to American football.

Joe Safar

TE • 6-6 • 250 • Wexford, Pa. • North Catholic HS
Joined the football team as a senior at North Catholic HS but missed a majority of the season due to injury ... four-year member of the baseball team who hit .410 as a senior with a 1.205 OPS ... WPIAL Class 4A Championship game MVP in 2024 ...led team to four sectional titles.

Bubba Shelton

DB • 6-0 • 180 • Providence, R.I. • St. George's School
Two-time all-league selection as a two-way player at St. George's School ... ranked among the top 250 prep football players in New England by Prep Redzone ... Boston Herald all-ISL honorable mention team selection ... five-time national champion in boxing ... also played varsity lacrosse.

Michael Taylor

RUSH LB • 6-2 • 220 • Bronx, N.Y. • Salisbury School
First-team all-league honors as a senior linebacker and honorable mention all-NEPSAC at Salisbury School ... voted best athlete at Salisbury in his final season ... Edward R. Childs Award recipient for hard work, devotion, and courage as a senior ... Coaches Award recipient as a junior ... three-time captain and team MVP of the wrestling team ... team's Coaches Award recipient in lacrosse ... three-year football team captain ... four-year member of the lacrosse team.

Maximus Tomaszewski

DL • 6-4 • 240 • Rochester, N.Y. • Churchville-Chili HS
Two-time first-team all-county selection and two-time all-Greater Rochester honorable mention pick at Churchville-Chili HS ... 2025 senior All-Star selection ... two-time first-team all-league ... honorable mention all-state as a junior ... three-time all-county selection and two-time All-Greater Rochester pick in track and field ... two-time second-team all-county pick and sectional champion (2023) in wrestling ... owns the school record in the weight throw and discus on the track and field team.

Jordan Triplett

RB • 5-10 • 205 • St. Simons Island, Ga. • Air Force Academy
Transfer from Air Force after spending his freshman season as a redshirt … four-time all-state selection and two-time regional Player of the Year at Frederica Academy … state Player of the Year honors in AAA division as a senior ... runner-up for state Player of the Year as a junior (2022) ... MaxPreps Freshman All-American (2020) ... all-region honors in basketball ... graduated as the all-time leading rusher in the history of the state of Georgia (9,028 yards) ... 126 career touchdowns and more than 10,000 all-purpose yards (10,491) ... only player in Georgia high school history with multiple 400-yard games (three) ... posted 34 100-yard rushing games ... owns the single-season Georgia rushing record with 3,172 yards as a senior ... scored 26 touchdowns and ran for 2,305 yards as a junior ... scored 26 touchdowns as a sophomore to go along with his 1,699 yards ... had three receiving touchdowns in both his sophomore and junior years ... rushed for 1,852 yards and 22 touchdowns as a freshman and passed for an additional six touchdowns at quarterback ... as a two-way player, posted 136 tackles with 11.0 for a loss and six interceptions ... four-year varsity basketball player who helped the team to a regional title in 2021 ... four-time varsity letter winner in baseball.

Jared Vilcina-Brown

DL • 6-2 • 280 • Cambridge, Mass. • St. Mark's School
Three-time all-league selection and Prep School All-Star first team member as a senior at St. Mark's School ... Boston Herald and Boston Globe All-Scholastic teams selection ... Aleppo Shriners All-Star Football Classic participant ... honorable mention all-league as a sophomore (2022) ... team's most improved player as a freshman ... three-time team captain ... also competed on the wrestling team