Yale is up to 12 early commitments with the Bulldogs continued focus on the offensive and defensive lines paying dividends with the addition of linemen Max Fink and Kyle Rouse to previously admitted linemen Ben Carbery, William Chism, Steve Shoemaker, Seth Walker, Chris Coyne and Pat Murray.

Another new name is Choate running back Kahlil Keys although I am not sure "new" is the proper word since Keys was recruited by Yale last year and encouraged to spend a season at Choate. Bergen Catholic defensive back Nick LaTesta and Tyler Hutchison, a quarterback at Huntington (W.V.) High have also been accepted at Yale.

Here is a list of the 12 early admits
OL Ben Carbery, Oak Park HS, River Forest, Ill.: A three-year starter on the offensive line
OL William Chism, Saint Andrews Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Miss.: Leader of offensive line which averaged more than 300 rushing yards per game
DE Chris Coyne, Staples (Westport): 106 tackles, 12 sacks as a senior
DL Max Fink, Gulliver Prep, Miami: 13 sacks as a junior
RB Kahlil Keys, Choate (Wallingford): Ran for 277 yards and three TDs against Taft
DB Nick LaTesta Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J.: 47 tackles, 4 interceptions as a senior
QB Tyler Hutchison, Huntington (W.V.): Had more than 1,400 yards and 18 TDs as senior
RB/LB Everett Johnson Union (N.J.): Sideline to sideline defensive player with 5.65 GPA
DE/LB Pat Murray, Staples (Westport): 107 tackles, 15 sacks as a senior
OL/DL Kyle Rouse, Joliet (Ill.) Catholic: Paved way for two 1,000-yard rushers
OL Stephen Shoemaker, Bronxville (N.Y.): Named outstanding lineman for state championship squad
OL Seth Walker, Pope John II, Nashville, Tenn.: Named to Hendersonville Star News All-County squad as an offensive lineman.

No Yale players were named to Associated Press' Football Championship Subdivision All-American squads but Columbia senior tight end Andrew Kennedy, who starred scholastically at Staples, was a second team selection while Harvard senior defensive lineman Josue Ortiz (who would have received my vote for Ivy League Player of the Year if I had one) was a third team pick.

Richmond senior defensive lineman Martin Parker, who was on Yale's recruiting radar as a senior at Hyde, was a first-team selection.

Yale appears to be adding some talent to its offensive line as four of the eight recruits who have received likely letters from Yale are offensive linemen.

Ben Carbery from Oak Park High in River Forest, Ill., William Chism out of Saint Andrews Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Miss., Seth Walker from Pope John II in Nashville, Tenn. and Steve Shoemaker from Bronxville, N.Y. are the linemen who have had their applications approved by the Yale admissions department.

Staples High teammates Chris Coyne, who projects to be a defensive end, and linebacker Pat Murray, Union (N.J.) linebacker Everett Johnson and Bergen Catholic defensive back Nick LaTesta have also received likely letters.

I'd expect the number of early admits to commit to Yale to be in the 10-12 range which is pretty typical.

Hours before he would step onto the field and help his St. Joseph squad past previously-undefeated Valley Regional/Old Lyme in Saturday's Class S semifinals, L.J. Hunt had some other business to take care of.

Needing to bump up his SAT score by 20 points to fit into one of the recruiting bands, the Yale commit was taking the standardized test so he could be a part of the Bulldogs' incoming freshman class.

"This summer I went to a recruiting camp and they gave me spot on the team," Hunt said after rushing for 90 yards in a 44-7 semifinal victory at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury. "They said I have to get my SATs up a little bit. I took the SATs (Saturday) and hopefully I got the scores I needed.

"That has always been the school I have wanted to go to, it is a blessing. I am really proud of myself. It's a lot of hard work but I got where I want to be. It is real tough. (The day of the) homecoming game we all had to take SATs. It was tough
and this game it was as well but as a team we came through and pulled out a victory."

Hunt, who has run for 872 yards and is averaging nearly seven yards per carry as a senior, is projected to be a cornerback at Yale. Hunt is a key contributor on a rock-solid defense for the Cadets with more than 50 tackles including a season-high nine against fellow state finalist New Canaan.

"I am all over the place here," Hunt said. "I play a little D-end, a little bit of (line)backer, safety, corner, running back so I am all over the field."

Hunt has taken a bigger role on offensive since star running back Tyler Matakevich missed six games with a foot injury.

"He's really turned it on this year as a runner," St. Joseph coach Joe Della Vecchia said. "Last year we didn't use him that much on offense but when Tyler got hurt, he stepped in and has gotten better every week."

Hunt, Matakevich, quarterback Joe Della Vecchia (yes, he's the coach's son), receiver Pat Mulligan and leading tackler Sean Chinova are part of a talented senior class for the Cadets which is going for its second consecutive state title when they play Ansonia in the Class S final Saturday at 7 p.m. at Rentschler Field.

"It is a great senior class," Hunt said. "We have been playing together since we were little kids, since Pop Warner football, I know we won the states when we were younger. We are still together, playing ball together and it is a great feeling having all your brothers together."

After Saturday's game, he will turn his attention to his future - which he hopes includes a spot on the Yale football team.

"They are on an upward spiral," Hunt said. "They did pretty well this year so I am very excited to go and try to help them out and beat Harvard next year."

Hunt talks about the recruiting process as well as the fellow St. Joseph seniors eager to end their high school careers in style. Also, here is a video of some of Hunt's 90 rushing yards against Valley Regional/Old Lyme.