CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Football will welcome 30 first-years to the program for the start of the 2024 season as part of the Class of 2028, Andrew Aurich, The Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football, announced on Friday.
 
The class gives the Crimson balance across the field with 16 student-athletes on offense, 12 on defense, and two on special teams. The offensive group includes three quarterbacks, one running back, seven pass catchers, and five offensive linemen while the defensive side includes five defensive linemen, two linebackers, and five defensive backs alongside two kicker/punters as specialists.
 
The group hails from across the continental United States in addition to three student-athletes from Canada. The class includes four student-athletes each from Massachusetts and Texas, three each from California, Florida, and Canada, two each from Georgia, Missouri, and New Jersey, and one each from Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
   

Harvard Football Class of 2028

Enzo Agostini | Offensive Line | Parksville, British Columbia
Ben Alvarez | Linebacker | Yorkville, Ill.
Dorsey Benefield | Linebacker | Fayetteville, Ga.
Xaden Benson | Defensive Back | Atlanta, Ga.
Brady Blackburn | Wide Receiver | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Kieran Corr | Kicker/Punter | Winchester, Mass.
Sanders Daniell | Tight End | Fairhope, Ala.
Logan Demchyk | Offensive Line | West Chester, Pa.
Griffin Egan | Defensive Line | Little Silver, N.J.
Ty Fein | Quarterback | Concord, Mass.
Dylan Fingersh | Kicker/Punter | Ladera Ranch, Calif.
Omari Gayles | Defensive Back | Stockton, Calif.
DJ Gordon | Quarterback | Indianapolis, Ind.
Chris Gorman | Defensive Line | Moorestown, N.J.
Sam Kaiser | Quarterback | Columbia, Mo.
Carter Ladd | Tight End | Jacksonville, Fla.
KJ McGuire | Defensive Back | Sugar Land, Texas
Christian Nwosu | Defensive Line | Houston, Texas
Ryan Parker | Wide Receiver | Ladera Ranch, Calif.
Nihaal Rana | Offensive Line | Toronto, Ontario
Maddux Reid | Running Back | Southlake, Texas
Madden Santiago | Offensive Line | South Daytona, Fla.
Brandon Sullivan | Offensive Line | Woburn, Mass.
Sam Talaga | Tight End | Freeland, Mich.
DJ Thomas | Defensive Back | St. Bernard, La.
Trey Thomas | Defensive Back | Kansas City, Mo.
Luke Travaglini | Wide Receiver | Winchester, Mass.
Cam Walker | Defensive Line | Midlothian, Va.
Max Wang | Defensive Line | Houston, Texas
Camren Ware | Wide Receiver | Windermere, Fla.

Enzo Agostini
Offensive Line | 6-foot-6 | 270 lbs. | Parksville, British Columbia | Berkshire School (Mass.)

Gained First Team All-New England in 2023 … Garnered First Team All-Evergreen League as a junior and senior … Earned Team MVP honors as a senior … Served team as a captain as a senior … Attended Ballenas Secondary before completing prep career at the Berkshire School … Played left tackle and defensive end … Also competed in basketball and track & field … Honor Roll student … Served in Model UN … Enjoys fishing, cars, hunting, and collecting coins … Son of Miranda and Chris Agostini. 

Ben Alvarez
Linebacker | 6-foot-2 | 220 lbs. | Yorkville, Ill. | Yorkville High School

Captained team as a junior and senior … Earned Academic All-State twice (2022, 2023) … Helped team win a conference title … Also competed in wrestling, track & field, and baseball; served as a two-year wrestling team captain … Gained Academic All-State in wrestling twice … Won team and individual state titles in wrestling … Set Yorkville school record for single-season wins in wrestling … Member of Student-Athlete Leadership Team and the Future Business Leaders of America … Enjoys hiking, travels, arts and crafts, spending time with friends and family, and pickleball … Son of Abby and Waldy Alvarez … Grandfather Buck Nesson played football at Michigan State. 

Dorsey Benefield
Linebacker | 6-foot-1 | 220 lbs. | Fayetteville, Ga. | Starr's Mill High School

Gained Region Player of the Year honors … Earned First Team All-State accolades … Garnered First Team All-Region plaudits … Took home County Player of the Year laurels … Gained First Team Academic Team honors … Served team as a captain as a senior … Earned four varsity letters and started three seasons … Played linebacker and running back … National Honor Society student … Son of Laura and Seth Benefield.

Xaden Benson
Defensive Back | 6-foot-0 | 175 lbs. | Atlanta, Ga. | North Atlanta High School

Captured First Team All-Region on both offense and defense as a senior … Claimed Honorable Mention All-State accolades as a senior … Gained First Team All-Region as a junior … Earned Second Team All-Region as a sophomore … Captained team as a senior … Set school's single-season record for interceptions returned for touchdowns (four) … Helped class tally most wins for a single class in school history … Won the Play It Again Scholar-Athlete Award … Also competed in baseball; acted as a senior captain … Gained Second Team All-Region twice in baseball … Member of Grape Roots Non-Profit Gardening and Adopt A Child Foundation … Enjoys video games, skiing, and video editing … Son of Charlie and Malcolm Benson; Malcolm played football at Hampton University. 

Brady Blackburn
Wide Receiver | 6-foot-0 | 175 lbs. | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Aden Bowman High School

Earned Team MVP honors as a junior and senior … Selected as Saskatchewan's top wide receiver in 2022 … Gained Aden Bowman Athlete of the Year accolades in 2022 and 2023 … Captained team as a junior and senior … Helped team win Saskatoon city championship in 2023 … Played on the club level for Team Saskatchewan … Also competed in basketball and track & field; served as a captain for basketball … Ranked as top student in class … Enjoys reading and spending time with friends … Son of Lariene and David Blackburn. 

Kieran Corr
Kicker/Punter | 6-foot-3 | 180 lbs. | Winchester, Mass. | Winchester High School

Earned First Team Under Armour All-America honors as a kicker in 2024 … Gained Prep Redzone Preseason First Team All-New England and MassHSSports1 Preseason First Team All-MIAA in 2023 … Captured Boston Herald All-Scholastic, Boston Herald EMass Top-12, and Boston Herald Preseason First Team All-EMass in 2023 … Claimed spots on the Boston Globe and Boston Herald's EMass "Players to Watch" Lists in 2023 … Garnered Middlesex League All-Conference honors in 2023 … Gained Middlesex-Liberty League All-Star laurels in 2022 and 2023 … Earned New England Football Journal Preseason Second Team All-State in 2023 … Set the MIAA state record for longest field goal at 53 yards … Spent time as a kicker, punter, and wide receiver … Also competed in soccer and basketball … Played club soccer for SFC New England Soccer … National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society student … Won the College Board national Hispanic Recognition Award … Served as president of school's Finance Club … Enjoys video editing and graphic design … Plays the tenor saxophone … Son of Rosa Taveras and Robert Corr. 

Sanders Daniell
Tight End | 6-foot-3 | 230 lbs. | Fairhope, Ala. | Fairhope High School

Earned All-County honors as a junior and senior … Served team as a senior captain … Started for three seasons … Also competed in basketball and track & field … Gained All-County in basketball in 2021-22 … Garnered Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors … An AP Scholar with Distinction and National Merit Commended Scholar … Earned the University of Virginia Junior Book Award … National Honor Society student … Senior Class President … Enjoys fishing, spending time with family, the beach, and hiking … Son of Lauren and Michael Daniell. 

Logan Demchyk
Offensive Line | 6-foot-3 | 285 lbs. | West Chester, Pa. | Malvern Prep

Gained First Team All-Inter Academic Athletic League as a senior … Served team as a senior captain … Helped team win league titles in 2021 and 2023 … Played on the offensive and defensive lines … Also competed in rugby … Honor Roll student … Participated in a five-day service trip to New Orleans in spring 2023 … Enjoys fishing and snowboarding … Son of Nichole Demchyk and Stephen Demchyk Jr. 

Griffin Egan
Defensive Line | 6-foot-5 | 265 lbs. | Little Silver, N.J. | Red Bank Regional High School

Earned Second Team All-Shore as a junior and senior … Served team as a senior captain … Played on the offensive and defensive lines … Also competed in track & field … High Honor Roll and Honor Roll student … Wrote for the Red Bank Regional Buccaneer Newspaper … Enjoys reading, snowboarding, scuba diving, cooking, and weightlifting … Son of Dawn McAvoy and Jeff Egan. 

Ty Fein
Quarterback | 6-foot-1 | 195 lbs. | Concord, Mass. | The Middlesex School

Earned All-NEPSAC Team honors in 2023 … Gained Honorable Mention All-Independent School League as a junior and senior … Captained team as a senior … Started for two seasons at quarterback for The Middlesex School … Also played basketball and lacrosse … Won school's Junior Athletic Bowl in 2022-23 … Honors student … Served as student body president, a DEI officer, member of Small Chorus, an REP performer, school senate member, and tour guide … Began prep career at Concord-Carlisle High School (2019-20) … Son of Mickey and Courtney Fein; Mickey serves as Harvard's Assistant Head Coach - Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks … Sister, Jacklyn Fein, played women's lacrosse at Lafayette College in the Class of 2021.

Dylan Fingersh
Kicker/Punter | 5-foot-10 | 170 lbs. | Ladera Ranch, Calif. | Capistrano Valley High School

Earned California All-State honors as a sophomore, junior, and senior … Gained All-Orange County in 2022 and 2023 … Selected for the Orange County All-Star Game as a senior … Gained All-South Coast League in 2023 … Captured All-Sea View League honors in 2021 … Claimed Special Teams MVP laurels as a sophomore, junior, and senior … Served team as a senior captain … Totaled 205 career points … Hit a walk-off, game-winning 42-yard field goal in the playoffs as a senior … Started all four seasons as a kicker and punter … Also played soccer … School valedictorian … Four-time Scholar-Athlete winner … Finished as a two-time finalist in the International Bridge Building Competition in 2022 and 2023 … Drafter and researcher for Rotunda, a structural engineering startup … Member of the Lion's Heart Community Volunteering Organization … Enjoys surfing, mountain biking, off-roading, snowboarding, 3D printing, and traveling … Son of Julie and Adam Fingersh; Julie competed in swimming at the University of Redlands.

Omari Gayles
Defensive Back | 5-foot-9 | 175 lbs. | Stockton, Calif. | St. Mary's High School

Earned First Team All-Tri City Athletic League honors as a senior … Gained a spot on Black Hat Football's All-209 All-Star Team in 2023 … Garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Tri City Athletic League and Black Hat as a junior … Collected All-State laurels from Cal High Sports and Max Preps in 2022 … Earned All-Nor Cal from Sports Stars Magazine and First Team All-Sac Joaquin Section from Max Preps as a junior … Selected as a Preseason top-20 rated Class of 2024 player in the Sac-Joaquin Section from Max Preps, to the Preseason All-State Team from Cal High Sports, to the Preseason All-Nor Cal Team from Sports Stars Magazine, and as a top Nor Cal Player to Watch from West Coast Preps ahead of the 2023 season … Ranked as a three-star defensive back per 247 Sports … Won the Frank Alustiza Award from the Stockton Hall of Fame … Served team as a senior captain … Started for three seasons … Also competed in track & field … Honor Roll student … Member of the National Society of High School Scholars … Son of Angela and Eddie Gayles.

DJ Gordon
Quarterback | 6-foot-0 | 200 lbs. | Indianapolis, Ind. | Park Tudor High School

Earned IFCA All-State honors as a junior and senior … Earned All-County accolades as a sophomore, junior, and senior … Selected to the Indiana Superteam in 2023 … Gained a spot on the Indiana Preseason Superteam in 2023 … Led the state of Indiana in total yards in 2023 … Acted as a three-year captain … Started all four seasons … Helped team win back-to-back sectional titles … Also competed in track & field and basketball … Served track team as a captain … Cum Laude student … Enjoys the theatrical arts, singing, and psychology … Son of Evelyn Gordon and Darrell Gordon Sr.; Darrell played football at Notre Dame from 1984-89 … Sister Justis Gordon is a member of the Harvard Class of 2024. 

Chris Gorman
Defensive Line | 6-foot-4 | 255 lbs. | Moorestown, N.J. | Moorestown High School

Earned All-State Group 3 Team honors as a junior and senior … Gained First Team All-Conference in 2022 and 2023 ... Garnered First Team All-Burlington County as a junior and senior ... Won the Mini Maxwell Award, Most Outstanding Lineman Award and John B. Wolgamot Award as a senior … Served team as a two-year captain … Started all four seasons as a defensive end and offensive tackle … Also played lacrosse and basketball; acted as a captain for lacrosse team … Four-year Scholar-Athlete … An AP Scholar with Honor … Completed over 100 hours of community service; won the President's Volunteer Service Award in 2021 … Won the American Legion Jersey Boys State Senator's Award in 2023 … A Boys Nation Senator and Boys State Delegate in 2023 … An Honor and Service Society member … Son of Denise Salerno Gorman and Bob Gorman. 

Sam Kaiser
Quarterback | 6-foot-5 |205 lbs. | Columbia, Mo. | Rock Bridge High School

Earned All-Conference honors … Gained All-District accolades … Captained team as a junior and senior … Started for three seasons … Also played basketball … Collected Academic All-State laurels … National Honor Society student … Son of Amy and Shannon Kaiser. 

Carter Ladd
Tight End | 6-foot-4 | 220 lbs. | Jacksonville, Fla. | Atlantic Coast High School

Earned All-Conference accolades in 2022 and 2023 … Served team as a captain … Started on the defensive and offensive lines all four years … Spent three years at Atlantic Coast High School (2020-21, 2022-24) and one year at Episcopal School of Jacksonville (2021-22) … Enjoys yoga, weightlifting, running, reading, hiking, and traveling … Son of Claire Bell-Irving. 

KJ McGuire
Defensive Back | 5-foot-10 | 165 lbs. | Sugar Land, Texas | George Ranch High School

Won the Leadership Award in 2023 … Gained Newcomer of the Year honors in 2022 … Collected All-State Academic Team and All-District Academic Team accolades … Served team as a captain … Also competed in track & field … National Honor Society student … Volunteered with River Point Church and My Brother's Keeper … Son of Dawn and Kennard McGuire; Kennard played for the New England Patriots … Uncles Vince Wilfork and Stanley Morgan also played for the Patriots.

Christian Nwosu
Defensive Line | 6-foot-1 | 240 lbs. | Houston, Texas | Andy Dekaney High School

Earned Texas All-State 6A honors in 2022 … Gained First Team All-District as a junior and senior … Garnered Second Team All-District as a sophomore … Nominated for the Dave Campbell Whataburger Super Team in 2022 … Won team's Defensive Player of the Year Award three times … Set school's career sack record … Set the Texas 6A single-season sack record in 2022 … Served team as a three-year captain from 2021-23 … Played as a defensive end, halfback, and left guard … Also competed in track & field … Earned First Team Academic All-District three times … Gained Texas All-State 6A All-Academic as a junior … Graduated in top one percent of class … Served as Class President for all four years … Acted as Spring ISD Student Advisory Committee President as a senior … Garnered the Texas UIL OAP Acting Award as a junior and senior … Gained the Texas UIL OAP Technical Award three times … Earned school's Best Actor Award as a senior … Enjoys playing the piano, philosophy, yoga, meditation, nature, and acting. 

Ryan Parker
Wide Receiver | 6-foot-1 | 185 lbs. | Ladera Ranch, Calif. | Milton Academy (Mass.)

Concluded prep career at Milton Academy (2021-24) after attending St. Margert's (2018-19) and Santa Margarita (2019-21) … Enjoys spending time with friends and family and exercising … Son of Kelly and Chad Parker. 

Nihaal Rana
Offensive Line | 6-foot-4 | 275 lbs. | Toronto, Ontario | Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.)

Served team as a senior captain … Started for three seasons … Helped team win league title and reach the NEPSAC finals in 2023 … Concluded prep career at Phillips Exeter Academy (2021-24) after attending St. Andrew's College (2019-21) … Also played basketball … Highest Honors student … Member of the Exeter Student Service Organization, Chess Club, and Athletes for Racial Justice … Enjoys weightlifting, science, and sports … Son of Gurbir Mahl and Deep Rana. 

Maddux Reid
Running Back | 5-foot-9 | 195 lbs. | Southlake, Texas | Parish Episcopal School

Earned First Team All-State as a junior and senior … Captured First Team All-District in 2022 and 2023 … Gained Team Offensive MVP honors as a senior … Collected Academic All-State laurels in 2022 and 2023 … Served team as a senior captain … Helped team win state championships in 2022 and 2023 … Set single-game school record with six touchdowns … Concluded prep career at Parish Episcopal (2022-24) after attending Southlake Carroll (2020-22) … Also competed in track & field … Garnered First Team All-State and Academic All-State in track in 2023 … Volunteered with Austin Street Shelter, the Mozel Sanders Foundation, and the Angel Tree Program … Son of Letissa and Michael Reid. 

Madden Santiago
Offensive Line | 6-foot-5 | 320 lbs. | South Daytona, Fla. | Mainland High School

Gained All-State honors in 2022 … Garnered All-Area accolades in 2022 … Earned Most Improved Offensive Lineman honors in 2022 … Started for three seasons … Helped team win Class 3S state championship in 2023 … Concluded prep career at Mainland High School (2022-24) after attending Spruce Creek High School (2021-22) … Also competed in track & field … Enjoys reading about psychology and playing other sports … Son of Cassie and John Santiago; John played football at Bethune-Cookman University. 

Brandon Sullivan
Offensive Line | 6-foot-2 | 290 lbs. | Woburn, Mass. | Catholic Memorial High School

Earned Catholic Conference All-Star three times in 2021, 2022, and 2023 … Gained First Team All-State from the New England Football Journal in 2022 and 2023 … Collected First Team All-State from the Boston Herald in 2023 and Second Team All-State from the Herald in 2022 … Took home Boston Herald All-Scholastic plaudits in 2023 and Honorable Mention All-Scholastic in 2022 … Garnered First Team All-MIAA from Mass High School Sports … Served team as a captain … Helped team win two Division 2 MIAA state titles and four Catholic Conference championships … Aided team to 30-game win streak as a starter; posted 38-3 record as a starter … Started for three seasons … Student Body President … National Honor Society student … Manager of Theater Stage Crew … Involved in Peer Ministry as a retreat leader … Enjoys Legos … Son of Tara Cardile and Robert Sullivan. 

Sam Talaga
Tight End | 6-foot-3 | 215 lbs. | Freeland, Mich. | Freeland High School

Earned All-State accolades … Gained Academic All-State honors … Served team as a captain as a junior and senior … Also competed in track & field … Gained All-State and Academic All-State laurels in track … Set school records in the shot put and discus … National Honor Society student … Son of Beth and Jeffrey Talaga; Jeffrey played football at Northwood University. 

DJ Thomas
Defensive Back | 5-foot-11 | 175 lbs. | St. Bernard, La. | Isidore Newman School

Earned All-District honors as a senior … Gained All-Metro accolades in 2023 …  Earned four varsity letters and started for two seasons … Also competed in basketball and track & field … Selected as Ford Dealers Scholar -Athlete of the Week … Volunteered with the Special Olympics … Enjoys riding bikes, reading, traveling, and photography … Son of Yolanda and Darvon Thomas; Yoland played basketball at Northwestern State University from 1982-86, earning induction into the school's athletic hall of fame.

Trey Thomas
Defensive Back | 6-foot-1 | 170 lbs. | Kansas City, Mo. | Blue Valley Southwest High School

Earned First Team All-State as a junior and senior … Gained First Team All-Eastern Kansas League as a junior and senior … Led state in interceptions as a junior … Selected as a Defensive Player of the Year finalist in 2022 and 2023 … Set school records for most interceptions in a single season (seven) and interceptions in a career (13) … Also competed in track & field … Served track team as a captain … National Honor Society and Honor Roll student … Son of Ann and Robert Thomas; Robert holds the school record in the long jump at the University of Nebraska … Cousin Jah'Quan Jackson was picked by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft … Cousin Abbie Squier played softball at Nebraska.

Luke Travaglini
Wide Receiver | 5-foot-10 | 170 lbs. | Winchester, Mass. | Belmont Hill School

Earned Team MVP honors as a senior … Served team as a senior captain … Earned three varsity letters … Helped team win Independent School League title in 2023 … Gained the Boston Globe Scholar-Athlete Award … Also competed in track & field and baseball … Student Body President … Peer mentor with the Belmont Hill Peer Leadership Program … Son of Brenda Travaglini and Michael Travaglini '85 … Brother Matthew Travaglini is a member of the Harvard Class of 2025 … Brother Zachary Travaglini is a member of the Boston University men's lacrosse Class of 2025. 

Cam Walker
Defensive Line | 6-foot-1 | 220 lbs. | Midlothian, Va. | Trinity Episcopal School

Earned First Team All-State honors as a defensive end … Served team as a senior captain … Started for two seasons … Also competed in track & field … Class Valedictorian … Served as the lead trumpet in the Trinity Episcopal Jazz Band … A Richmond Forum Scholar … Founder and president of the Trinity Episcopal Student Athletic Leadership Team and the Trinity Episcopal Black Alliance Initiative … Son of Tia and Marcus Walker; Marcus played football at Michigan from 1990-94. 

Max Wang
Defensive Line | 6-foot-4 | 320 lbs. | Houston, Texas | Houston Memorial High School

Earned First Team All-District honors in 2021, 2022, and 2023 … Served team as a captain … Earned four varsity letters and started for three seasons … Also competed in track & field … Gained All-District in the shotput … Set school records in the squat (610 lbs.) and front squat (430 lbs.) … Collected Academic All-District laurels in 2021, 2022, and 2023 … Counselor at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church Vacation Bible School … Enjoys cooking, weightlifting, Legos, spending time with family, sightseeing, and learning about history … Son of Sara and Alan Wang. 

Camren Ware
Wide Receiver | 5-foot-8 | 170 lbs. | Windermere, Fla. | Olympia High School

Earned Orlando Super 60 accolades in 2023 … Gained All-State honors in 2022 … Served team as a captain … Helped team win back-to-back state titles with a 21-0 record over two undefeated seasons … Spent three years at Lake Highland Prep (2020-23) before finishing prep career at Olympic High School (2023-24) … Also competed in track & field … Set school records in the 4x100m and 4x400m … Finished as a state finalist in the 100m and 60m … Enjoys reading and chess … Son of Warren Ware and Yuclemia Ware.