Walter Camp Football Foundation Enters New Era; Names Paddle Agency as Agency of Record
The Walter Camp Football Foundation, caretaker of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious college football All-America team, today announced it is entering a bold new chapter with the appointment of Paddle Agency as its exclusive Agency of Record.
This strategic partnership marks a renewed focus on growth, innovation, and expanding the Foundation’s impact across the evolving college football landscape. With a legacy dating back to Walter Camp, long considered the “Father of the American Football,” the Foundation is positioning itself for the future—reimagining how its platform engages fans, partners, and the broader football community.
Paddle Agency, a boutique sponsorship and partnerships firm founded by Johnathan Fisher, will lead all corporate partnership development and strategic brand initiatives on behalf of the Foundation.
“Walter Camp has always represented the very best of college football,” said John Barbarotta, President of the Walter Camp Football Foundation. “As we look ahead, we see tremendous opportunity to elevate our awards platform and connect with partners in new and meaningful ways. Paddle Agency brings the experience, relationships, and strategic vision to help guide us into this next era.”
The partnership will be led on behalf of Paddle Agency by founder Johnathan Fisher and veteran sports marketing executive Ralph Ockenfels, who bring decades of experience in building high-impact sponsorship platforms across sports and entertainment.
“The Walter Camp Football Foundation is the custodian of one of the most iconic and respected brands in all of sports,” said Johnathan Fisher, Founder of Paddle Agency. “To help shape its next chapter is both an honor and an incredible opportunity. There is meaningful momentum ahead, and we’re excited to build partnerships that reflect the legacy of Walter Camp while positioning it for the future.”
Walter Camp’s legacy in the game is unmatched, particularly through the tradition of the Walter Camp All-America Team,” said Ralph Ockenfels, a 35-year NFL veteran. “We see tremendous opportunity to build on that foundation in a way that resonates across the entire football community.”
As part of this new chapter, the Foundation and Paddle Agency will work collaboratively to introduce forward-thinking partnerships, enhance year-round engagement, and create new platforms for brands to align with one of the most trusted names in college football.
Additional announcements and initiatives are expected in the coming months.
About the Walter Camp Football Foundation
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
About Paddle Agency
Paddle Agency is a boutique sponsorship and partnership development firm specializing in helping properties unlock revenue and build meaningful brand relationships. Founded by Johnathan Fisher, Paddle Agency brings a nimble, relationship-driven approach to partnership strategy and execution.
For more information, please contact:
Johnathan Fisher, Paddle Agency (310) 221-2612 fisher@paddleagency.com
Al Carbone, Walter Camp Foundation (203) 671-4421 publicity@waltercamp.org
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Sixteen 2025 Walter Camp All-Americans Selected in First Round of 2026 NFL Draft; 30 Drafted Overall
Sixteen former Walter Camp All-Americans were selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, led by 2025 Walter Camp Player of the Year Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana), who was the first overall selection by the Las Vegas Raiders.
All told, 30 All-Americans were selected in the three-day, seven-round draft, which was held in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mendoza becomes the 12th Walter Camp Player of the Year winner (first awarded in 1967) to also be selected as the first pick in the NFL Draft. Current Chicago Bear quarterback and 2022 Walter Camp Player of the Year Caleb Williams (USC) was selected first in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Other Walter Camp Players of Year who were drafted first — Joe Burrow, USC, 2020; Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, 2018; Jameis Winston, Florida State, 2015; Andrew Luck, Stanford, 2012; Cam Newton, Auburn, 2011; Vinny Testaverde, Miami, 1987; Bo Jackson, Auburn, 1986; Billy Sims, Oklahoma, 1980; Jim Plunkett, Stanford, 1971; O.J. Simpson, USC, 1969
The Walter Camp All-America Teams, first selected by the “Father of American Football” Walter Camp in 1889, is the nation’s oldest All-America team. The 2025 team was the 136th edition.
First Team All-America
Fernando Mendoza, QB Indiana – 1st round, 1st pick, Las Vegas Raiders
David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech – 1st round, 2nd pick, New York Jets
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame – 1st round, 3rd pick, Arizona Cardinals
Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State – 1st round, 5th pick, New York Giants
Mansoor Delane, DB, LSU – 1st round, 6th pick, Kansas City Chiefs
Spencer Fano, OL, Utah – 1st round, 9th pick, Cleveland Browns
Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami – 1st round, 10th pick, New York Giants
Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State – 1st round, 11th pick, Dallas Cowboys
Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama – 1st round, 12th pick, Miami Dolphins
Rueben Bain, Jr., DL, Miami – 1st round, 15th pick, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Makai Lemon, WR, USC – 1st round, 20th pick, Philadelphia Eagles
Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M, 2nd round, 41st pick, Cincinnati Bengals
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech, 2nd round, 43rd pick, Miami Dolphins
Eli Stowers, T, Vanderbilt, 2nd round, 54th pick, Philadelphia Eagles
Kaden Wetjen, KR/WR, Iowa, 4th round, 121st pick, Pittsburgh Steelers
Second Team All-Americans
Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State – 1st round, 14th pick, Baltimore Ravens
Kenyon Sadiq, DL, Oregon – 1st round, 16th pick, New York Jets
Dillon Thieneman, DB, Oregon – 1st round, 25th pick, Chicago Bears
Keylan Rutledge, OL, Georgia Tech – 1st round, 26th pick, Houston Texans
Jadarian Price, KR/RB, Notre Dame – 1st round, 32nd pick, Seattle Seahawks
D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana – 2nd round, 50th pick, New York Jets
CJ Allen, LB, Georgia – 2nd round, 53rd pick, Indianapolis Colts
Keagan Trost, OL, Missouri – 3rd round, 93rd pick, Los Angeles Rams
Skyler Bell, WR, Connecticut – 4th round, 125th pick, Buffalo Bills
Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska, 5th round, 161st pick, Kansas City Chiefs
Hezekiah Masses, CB, California, 5th round, 175th pick, Las Vegas Raiders
Brian Parker II, C, Duke, 6th round, 189th pick, Cincinnati Bengals
Caden Curry, Edge, Ohio State, 6th round, 214th pick, Indianapolis Colts
Landon Robinson, OL, Navy, 7th round, 226th pick, Cincinnati Bengals
Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo, 7th round, 257th pick, Denver Broncos
Recapping a Great Year in College Football – 2025
Walter Camp Announces 2025 All-Connecticut High School Team; Breakfast of Champions held on March 14 at Mohegan Sun
The Walter Camp Football Foundation hosted its 18th Connecticut High School “Breakfast of Champions,” presented by NFP Sports, on Saturday, March 14 in the Earth Ballroom at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville.
The members of the 2025 All-Connecticut First and Second Teams were recognized as will the six 2025 Connecticut high school state champions – Greenwich (Class LL), New Canaan (Class L), Windsor (Class MM), Berlin (Class M), Daniel Hand (Class SS) and Sheehan (Class S).
New Canaan, which finished as the number one team in the state’s final polls, was recognized as the Joseph W. Kelly Award winner for the second straight season. The Rams, under the direction of head coach Lou Marinelli, won the Class L state title after defeating Cheshire, 34-13, on December 14 to finish 13-0.
Coach of the Year finalists, presented by Stadium System
Erik Becker (Daniel Hand), John Ferrazzi (Sheehan), Lou Marinelli (New Canaan) – WINNER: Marinelli
Player of the Year finalists, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings
Hayden Allard (Killingly), Andrew Esposito (New Canaan), AJ Robinson (Windsor) – WINNER: Robinson
Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by NFP Sports
Paul Sponheimer, former Seymour High School coach
Inspiration Award, presented by NFP Sports
Jonathan Cheung, Nonnewaug co-op
2025 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Teams
The Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team is voted on by a Selection Committee, which is comprised of 10 high school head coaches that represent the eight conferences around the state. It is the 16th year that Walter Camp has presented its All-Connecticut Teams.
2025 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team
First Team Offense
Quarterback: AJ Robinson (Windsor)
Running Back: Hayden Allard (Killingly)*, Cristian Luciano (Amity Regional)
Wide Receiver: Jayden Compton (Windsor), Andrew Esposito (New Canaan)*
Tight End: Hunter Allard (Killingly)#
Offensive Line: Michael Allen (Killingly), Adrian Delicata (New Canaan), Colin Falla (Greenwich), Tim O’Malley (Daniel Hand)#, AJ Tatro (Sheehan)#
First Team Defense
Linebacker: Thad Balzi (Brookfield)#, Ryan Brooks (New Canaan), Conor Casagrande (Daniel Hand)#
Defensive Back: Missoni Brown (Windsor), Kayden Davis (Northwest Catholic), Will J. Davis (Rockville), Jack Kelly (Greenwich)
Defensive Line: Sean Granger (Berlin), Rickie Miller (Bunnell)#, Nick Pavia (Newtown), Will Zaccagnino (St. Joseph)
First Team Special Teams
Punter: Jackson Favry (Ledyard)
Placekicker: Ben Conelius (Fairfield Prep)#
Kick Returner: Joey Montalvo (East Catholic)#
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Charlie Calabrese (Wilton)
Running Back: Jayden Allen (New Britain), Josh Durant (Sheehan), Hector Lopez (Greenwich)
Wide Receiver: Dae’Sean Graves (Holy Cross), Rody Ricketts (Bunnell)
Tight End: Michael Golden (Greenwich)
Offensive Line: Cameron Bell-Snow (Norwich Free Academy), Anthony Bowe (Daniel Hand), Jamil Ortiz (Bunnell), Jacob Romanowski (Ansonia)*, Michael Talley (Maloney)
Second Team Defense
Linebacker: Trent Burkowsky (Woodland), Aiden Gregorich (Cheshire), Heath Weeden (Newington)
Defensive Back: Luis Garcia (Wethersfield), Jake Rios (St. Joseph), Graham Spencer (Newtown), Javon West (Platt)
Defensive Line: Jordan Louis (Fairfield Prep), Josiah Sims (Newington), Corey Smith (Wethersfield), Richard Van Dyke (Sheehan)
Second Team Special Teams
Punter: Esten Ryan (Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic)
Placekicker: Molly Wilson (Rockville)
Kick Returner: Dennis Dustin (Wilton)
* – 2024 Walter Camp First Team All-Connecticut honoree
# – 2024 Walter Camp Second Team All-Connecticut honoree
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
Norwalk’s Cam Edwards and Trumbull’s Kenny Soares, Jr. named 2025 Walter Camp Connecticut Players of the Year
Running back Cam Edwards (Connecticut) and linebacker Kenny Soares, Jr. (North Carolina State) have been selected as Walter Camp’s 2025 Connecticut Players of the Year. The awards are presented to the top college football players who are residents and/or played scholastically in the state of Connecticut. The award is voted on by the Walter Camp Football Foundation all-volunteer membership.
Offense: Cam Edwards, Connecticut (Norwalk/Norwalk HS)
A redshirt junior, Cam Edwards led the Huskies with 1,240 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025. He also caught 19 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown as the Huskies finished 9-4 and earned a berth to the Wasabi Fenway Bowl against Army. In the bowl game, Edwards eclipsed 100 rushing yards for the fifth time on the season, finishing with 108 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown.
A resident of Norwalk, Edwards was a three-year starter at Norwalk High School when he totaled 2,349 career rushing yards. In his senior season, Edwards led the Bears to a 7-3 record and was named to the Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team.
Defense: Kenny Soares, Jr., North Carolina State (Trumbull, CT/Avon Old Farms)
A graduate student, Kenny Soares, Jr. finished second on the Wolfpack with 80 tackles in 2025 from his linebacker position.
Soares, Jr. recorded 4.0 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries and two pass breakups as North Carolina State recorded an 8-5 final record, including a 31-7 victory over Memphis in Gasparilla Bowl on December 19. In that bowl victory, Soares, Jr. recorded 12 tackles (5 solo), including one for a loss, and one quarterback hurry.
Soares, Jr. previously played three seasons at Northwestern. Soares, Jr. played scholastically at Avon Old Farms where he led the Winged Beavers to a New England Championship in 2021 and was named First-team All-New England and First team All-Founders League.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
Connecticut Player of the Year
Presented to the top college football player who is a resident and/or played scholastically in the state of Connecticut. The award is voted on by the Walter Camp Football Foundation membership.
2025 – Kenny Soars, Jr., LB, North Carolina State; Cam Edwards, RB, Connecticut
2024 – Justin Barron, LB, Syracuse; Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
2023 – Justin Barron, LB, Syracuse; Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami (Wisconsin)
2022 – Drew Pyne, QB, Notre Dame (Arizona State)
2021 – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky; Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami
2020 – Andrew Stueber, OL, Michigan
2019 – Christian Montano, C, Tulane
2018 – Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
2017 – Ervin Philips, WR, Syracuse
2016 – Noel Thomas, WR, Connecticut
2015 – Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
2014 – Tyler Murphy, QB, Boston College
2013 – Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB, Boston College
2012 – Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
2011 – Silas Redd, RB, Penn State
2010 – John Moffitt, OL, Wisconsin
2009 – Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
2008 – Kory Sheets, RB, Purdue
2007 – Mike McLeod, RB, Yale
2006 – Kory Sheets, RB, Purdue
2005 – John Sullivan, C, Notre Dame
2004 – Anttaj Hawthorne, DT, Wisconsin; Dan Orlovsky, QB, Connecticut
2003 – Dan Orlovsky, QB, Connecticut
2002 – Niko Koutouvides, LB, Purdue
2001 – Dwight Freeney, DE, Syracuse
2000 – Peter Mazza, LB, Yale
1999 – Bobby Myers, DB, Wisconsin
1998 – Carl Bond, RB, Connecticut
1997 – Kyle McIntosh, RB, Syracuse
1996 – Tarek Salah, LB, Wisconsin
1995 – Tarek Salah, LB, Wisconsin
1994 – Jason Miska, LB, Auburn
1993 – Chris Zingo, LB, Cornell
1992 – Curtis Eller, LB, Villanova
1991 – Corey Vincent, DL, Holy Cross
1990 – Rob Thomson, DB, Syracuse
1989 – Terry Wooden, LB, Syracuse
1988 – Glenn Antrum, WR, Connecticut
1987 – Bill Romanowski, LB, Boston College
1986 – Richard Comizio, RB, Pennsylvania
1985 – Tom Patton, DE, Holy Cross
1984 – No recipient
1983 – Steve Young, QB, Brigham Young
1982 – Mike Marshall, DB, Southern Conn.
1981 – Richard Diana, RB, Yale
Walter Camp, the Father of American football, named 2nd most influential person in high school football
Walter Camp, the Father of American football, was named among top 25 most influential people in high school football by Max Preps. Camp was picked second, just behind former U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt.
Father of American Football
Known as the “Father of American Football”, Camp played football at Yale in the 1870s and was responsible for many of the innovations in the game that helped transform it from the sport of rugby to the game of football. Among those innovations included the creation of the “line of scrimmage” and the “system of downs”. He also came up with the names of the positions of the players and determined that each side should play with 11 players.
