Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

He flew under the radar Wednesday, in part because Ivy League schools don't require their incoming football players to sign a National Letter of Intent, but add Portsmouth High School's Reed Spiller to the list of New Hampshire residents who will play Division I football next season.

Spiller, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive lineman, confirmed Wednesday that he's headed to Yale.

"I'm very, very pleased," Spiller said. "My family and I did a lot of hard work trying to find a place where I was wanted. Finding a school that wanted me as much as I wanted them is what it came down to."

Spiller said he had some interest in playing for the University of New Hampshire, but that option became less attractive after a conversation with UNH coach Sean McDonnell.

"He called me when I was on my way for my official visit (to Yale)," Spiller said. "He told me their scholarship spots were filled."

Spiller also played fullback and offensive line during his three varsity seasons with Portsmouth, but has been told he's best suited to be an interior defensive lineman in college.

"They told me that's my best shot of any position to get on the field as a freshman," he said.

Former Pinkerton Academy quarterback Bryan Farris is also part of Yale's 2008 recruiting class. Farris, who kicked the game-winning field goal to give New Hampshire a 23-20 victory over Vermont in last year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, is currently attending Phillips Andover Academy.

A shoulder injury forced Spiller to miss several games last season. He had surgery to repair a torn labrum in November, but said he expects to play varsity lacrosse for Portsmouth this spring.