Recruiting Update: Star Athlete Kevin Mensah Back in Central Mass

Holy Name running back Kevin Mensah looks for room against Grafton's defense in last season's D4 Central championship.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Ed. Note- Since the writing of this piece, Mensah has transferred to Shepherd Hill. You can find the complete story of his transfer over at ESPN Boston.

Central Mass already has four Division 1 football commitments in this year's senior class, and it will likely be getting one more as star running back and defensive back Kevin Mensah has decided to return to Holy Name for his final year of high school football.

Though it looked like the star back, who gained over 1,500 yards on the ground last year, would transfer to Cheshire Academy in Connecticut, the Naps will get back the centerpiece of their offense for another season.

That's very good news for first-year head coach Jim Romeo, who will have the services of a runner that averaged over 10 yards per carry and helped the Naps shock Central Mass and reach the Division 4 Central title game.

While Mensah's return to Holy Name is highly anticipated by his teammates, college coaches and scout will be watching the Nap athlete with equal interest. After a scintillating junior campaign, Mensah took home our "Show Time" award for the most "must-see" player in Central Mass of 2015, and now he's hoping to catch the eye of some big-name college football programs.

Already with offers in hand from Bryant and Kentucky Christian, Mensah is hearing from UConn, Syracuse, Boston College, Northwestern, UMass, New Hampshire, Maine and Central Connecticut State, with BC, UNH and CCSU recruiting him the hardest at the moment.

Both UConn and Syracuse are currently recruiting Mensah as a cornerback, but all other schools want to put the ball in his hands, recruiting him as a running back/slot receiver. If Mensah does end up at Syracuse, he would join Grafton athlete Ifeatu Melifonwu, who is slated to join the Orange secondary next year, and if he ends up at Boston College he'd join Shepherd Hill lineman Alec Lindstrom in Chestnut Hill next fall. A final destination of UMass would unite two of Central MA's best running backs as Mensah would join West Boylston's Cole McCubrey in Amherst.

(Central MA's other D1 commit is Leominster's Noah Gray, who is headed to Duke)

Wherever he ends up, Mensah has shown the ability to excel at the Division 1 level. With D1 straight line speed (a 4.57 40 yard dash) and elite cutting and stop-and-start quickness, Mensah has the natural ability, but his vision and balance set him apart from the pack.

A patient runner who picks his spots well and explodes through open holes, it's hard to see Mensah doing anything but carrying the ball, but he indeed does have the ability to be a Division 1 corner or receiver as well.

The Nap athlete will begin taking visits in August and continue his recruiting process into the season. Look for Mensah to again excite crowds around the region, and don't be surprised if the scholarship offers roll in over the next few months.