Holy Cross High School standout officially announced on X that he has committed to UConn, giving the Huskies their first commitment in the Class of 2027. The dynamic two-way athlete from Waterbury, Connecticut, selected UConn over an impressive list of programs that included Syracuse, Wake Forest, UMass, Liberty, James Madison, and Buffalo.
Graves has quickly emerged as one of Connecticut’s premier high school football players after two highly productive varsity seasons at Holy Cross. His breakout performances earned him CT Class M Player of the Year honors from the New England Football Journal and established him as one of the top young prospects in the Northeast region.
During the 2024–25 season, Graves delivered a dominant sophomore campaign. In 10 games, he hauled in 74 receptions for 1,215 yards and 18 touchdowns, showcasing elite playmaking ability and consistency as a deep threat. His production ranked him among the top five receivers in Connecticut and inside the top 222 nationally in receiving yards following the season.
Graves continued his impressive rise during the 2025–26 campaign, helping lead Holy Cross to an 8–4 overall record. Across 12 games, the talented wideout recorded 80 catches for 1,149 yards and 20 touchdowns while averaging 14.4 yards per reception. His combination of speed, route-running, and after-the-catch ability made him one of the most difficult offensive weapons for opposing defenses to contain throughout the year.
Although receiver remains his primary position, Graves has also made a significant impact on the defensive side of the ball. Playing free safety, he has accumulated 93 tackles, four interceptions, and one sack over 22 career games. His versatility and instincts have allowed him to excel as a two-way contributor, further increasing his value as a collegiate prospect.
Graves has also proven to be a dangerous special teams weapon. Between his sophomore and junior seasons, he totaled 22 return attempts and consistently flipped field position for Holy Cross. He has accumulated 133 kick return yards and 339 punt return yards during that span. As a junior, he averaged an impressive 31.6 yards per punt return, ranking second in the state of Connecticut.
With his commitment now secured, UConn adds one of the state’s most electrifying athletes to its future recruiting class. Graves’ production across offense, defense, and special teams highlights his all-around ability and gives the Huskies a versatile playmaker with significant upside heading into the next stage of his football career.
