There are several players with local ties that began their football careers on fields around Central Mass. that are starting training camp with NFL teams this week. Jennifer Toland took a look at 13 former local high school and college stars giving it their all for a shot on living the ultimate dream.
Updated with Grafton’s Iffy Melifonwu signing with Buccaneers on July 29.
Liam Anderson, Holy Cross
Linebacker
Cincinnati Bengals
Anderson, who helped lead Holy Cross to four straight Patriot League championships, joined the Bengals’ practice squad in October 2025. He spent most of his first two pro seasons (2023, 2024) on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad. Anderson played in four games for the Colts, primarily as a special teams contributor. Anderson was a two-time All-Patriot League first-team honoree.
Jalen Coker, Holy Cross
Wide receiver
Carolina Panthers
Coker, who signed a three-year contract extension with the Panthers in June, emerged as a vital part of the Panthers’ offense his first two seasons in the NFL. Coker missed the first six games of 2025 with a quadriceps injury before coming back to make 33 catches for 394 yards and 3 touchdowns and help Carolina win the NFC South title for the first time in a decade. In the Panthers’ wild-card playoff game loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Coker had nine receptions for 134 yards and a TD. Coker is Holy Cross’ all-time leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Greg Crippen, Northborough
Offensive lineman
Pittsburgh Steelers
Crippen, who grew up in Northborough and attended Milton Academy and IMG Academy, was a member of the University of Michigan’s 2024 national title team. As a graduate student in 2025, Crippen started all 13 games at center and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. The Steelers signed the 6-foot-4, 309-pound Crippen as an undrafted free agent after his successful tryout at the team’s rookie minicamp in May.
Noah Gray, Gardner/Leominster High
Tight end
Kansas City Chiefs
Gray, a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, enters his sixth season with the Chiefs. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion. Gray, who had 21 receptions for 178 yards last season, is expected to continue in his backup role to Travis Kelce in 2026. Gray had his most productive season in 2024, when he caught 40 passes for 437 yards and 5 touchdowns, all career highs.
C.J. Hanson, Holy Cross
Offensive lineman
Kansas City Chiefs
Hanson, a seventh-round Chiefs’ pick in 2024, was the first Holy Cross player drafted in 35 years. Hanson was part of five Patriot League championship teams at HC and in 2023 captained one of the top offensive lines in the country. Hanson spent most of the 2024 season on Kansas City’s practice squad before making his NFL debut in the regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos. He played in three games last season.
Chris Lindstrom, Dudley/Shepherd Hill Regional
Guard
Atlanta Falcons
Lindstrom, who has started all 105 games he has appeared since entering the NFL as a first-round draft pick in 2019, continued to dominate at right guard in 2025. Lindstrom allowed only one sack in 1,086 offensive snaps and earned his fourth consecutive AP All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Additionally, Lindstrom blocked for an offensive line that had the fifth-lowest sack percentage (4.6%) and ranked fourth in sacks allowed (26) last season.
Sean McKeon, Dudley/Shepherd Hill Regional
Tight end
Indianapolis Colts
From 2020-23, McKeon played in 45 games for the Dallas Cowboys. He scored his first career touchdown in 2021 on a 10-yard pass from Dak Prescott. In 2024, McKeon spent training camp with the Detroit Lions before being signed to the Colts’ practice squad, where he has spent most of the last two seasons. Last year, McKeon played in Indy’s Week 18 game at the Houston Texans.
Ifeatu Melifonwu, Grafton
Safety
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Melifonwu, who played in eight games for the Miami Dolphins last season, signed with the Bucs on July 29. Melifonwu made 53 tackles in 2025 while also contributing on special teams. Melifonwu was a third-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2021. Injuries plagued Melifonwu during his four years in Detroit, but in 2023, he played in 17 games and set career highs with 33 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions.
Luke Newman, Holy Cross
Offensive lineman
Chicago Bears
After four seasons at Holy Cross, where he was part of a dominant offensive line, Newman was a sixth-round draft pick out of Michigan State in 2025. As an NFL rookie, Newman was a backup guard and played in nine regular-season games and one postseason game. Newman, a two-time FCS All-American at Holy Cross, started at left tackle in each of his final three seasons for the Crusaders before transitioning to left guard at Michigan State.
Kalif Raymond, Holy Cross
Wide receiver/Return specialist
Chicago Bears
Since entering the NFL in 2016, Raymond, who played the last five seasons with the Detroit Lions, has the most punt returns (188) and punt return yards (1,948) and is tied for the fourth-most punt return touchdowns (four) in the league. Raymond earned AP Second-Team All-Pro honors as a punt returner in 2022 and 2024. Last year, Raymond caught 24 passes for 289 yards and a touchdown. He signed with the Bears in March.
Patrick Ricard, Spencer/David Prouty
Fullback
New York Giants
In nine seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Ricard earned six Pro Bowl selections and two NFL All-Pro accolades. The last two seasons in Baltimore, Ricard cleared the way for running back Derrick Henry to average more than 1,700 rushing yards. In March, Ricard signed a two-year deal with the Giants, making him the highest paid fullback in the league and reuniting him with first-year Giants coach John Harbaugh, who was his coach in Baltimore.
Benton Whitley, Holy Cross
Defensive end
Cleveland Browns
Whitley, who began his NFL career on the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad in 2022, joins his seventh NFL team. The Browns signed Whitley in June. Whitley has appeared in six career games with the Minnesota Vikings (2023) and New York Giants (2023-24). Whitley was a three-time All-Patriot League first-team selection at Holy Cross.
Isaac Yiadom, Worcester/Doherty High
Cornerback
New Orleans Saints
After a year with the San Francisco Giants, Yiadom returned to New Orleans, where he played from 2022-23, last season and contributed to the secondary and special teams units. He made a career-high 10 coverage stops. The Saints signed Yiadom to a three-year contract before the 2025 season. Yiadom has played in 118 career games for the Denver Broncos, who drafted him in the third round in 2018, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, 49ers and Saints. Yiadom helped lead Doherty to the 2013 Division 4 state championship.
–Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
