Stonehill Lands 2026 OL/DL Chuck Crisera
Stonehill has their first Class of 2026 football commit, and he’s bringing size, edge, and a championship mindset from Long Island up north to the Bay State.
Chuck Crisera, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound offensive and defensive lineman from Bayport-Blue Point High School (NY), announced his commitment to the Skyhawks on June 16. He’s the third known NEC football commit in the 2026 cycle and the first to pledge to Stonehill.
The relationship came together quickly. Stonehill defensive line coach Dan Walsh visited Crisera at Bayport-Blue Point on May 7. From there, it didn’t take long. Crisera made it to Easton, Mass., for a visit on June 11th and knew it was the right fit.
“Coach Walsh came to visit me at my high school,” Crisera said. “He loved my length, athleticism, and aggressiveness on film.”
That physical presence is a big part of what makes Crisera an intriguing get for the Skyhawks. Stonehill has built a reputation in the NEC as a program with a niche for player development over the long haul. Clearly, Crisera sees himself thriving in that environment. He spoke to the Stonehill staff about how he fit in with what the Skyhawks do and what they’re building. The answers he heard about what he does were the right ones.
“When I came up for a visit it was about the work I put in, being aggressive, finishing the job and always finding work in the field,” he said. “We talked about being fast off the ball and coming from a championship team with the work ethic and mindset. I was coachable and I love to eat and have a lot of growing physically still left to go.”
On film, you do see a player with a penchant for running through opposing defensive linemen. Without a doubt, that 6’5” frame is the first thing that jumps out, but he’s consistently moving a defender off of the ball. The Phantoms seem to trust his ability to do this- he’s often the guy they’re counting on to create a running lane. Bayport-Blue Point won their league last season and scored 418 points in 12 games (11-1), so leaning on Crisera seems to be working for them.
Crisera describes Stonehill as a place where the energy felt aligned from day one.
“I chose Stonehill because it’s the right place for me to grow,” he said. “The coaches are hungry like me. I feel as if everyone has the same mentality and work ethic as coaches as I do as a player. It’s getting 1% better every day together. It felt like a family and it felt like home. I will be getting a great education.”
He also enters the program with a familiar connection. Tight end Derek Varley, another Bayport-Blue Point product and former teammate, is already on the roster.
“Derek taught me how to be aggressive with heavy hands and an attitude,” Crisera said. “I model my game after my older teammates in high school. I took a little bit of what they all did best and added it to my game.”
From Long Island to Shovel Town (just under 200 miles) Crisera is making that jump as the Skyhawks’ first building block in the 2026 class. Stonehill’s known for taking high-upside prospects and developing them into contributors. Crisera’s already got the frame. Now it’s time to see what the future holds. Until then, he’ll just have to keep digging.
