Pope John Lions 

June 11, 2023

2022: 

• 4-6 
• Lost to Seton Hall Prep in the opening round of the Non-Public A playoffs 
• Wins included Paramus Catholic, Cardinal Hayes (NY), and Immaculata 
• Losses were to DePaul, Delbarton, Seton Hall Prep, Hudson Catholic, and St. Joe’s (Metuchen)  

Graduation: 

• LB Sean Line – Harvard 
• LB Justin Fontana – Fordham 
• LB Nick Castorina – Shippensburg (Pa.) 
• DL Cardin Madry – Saint Anselm 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 9  

Quarterback: 

• Chris Dietrich, Senior, 6-3, 220 – returning starter; passed for 1,200 yards per nj.com 

Running Back: 

• Tylik Hill, Junior, 5-9, 185 – returning starter; rushed for 1,000 yards per nj.com 
• Joe Rozynski, Junior, 5-9, 175 – part of rotation; returning starter at wide receiver 
• Zac Cusick, Junior, 6-0, 195 – part of rotation; started on defense 

Wide Receiver: 

• Wes Johnston, Junior, 6-3, 195 – 3-year starter 
• Charlie Mulligan, Senior, 5-10, 195 – returning starter; 37 receptions per nj.com 
• Joe Rozynski, Junior, 5-9, 175 – returning starter 
• Prince Joshua, Sophomore, 5-9, 165 – projected starter 
• Christian Vozza, Sophomore, 6-2, 175 – fifth receiver 

Tight End (situational): 

• Johan Bars, Senior, 6-4, 220 – will see action 
• Joe Pallay, Senior, 6-1, 220 – will see action; saw playing time 

Offensive Line: 

• Justin Platt, Senior, 6-4, 275 – 3-year starter at left tackle 
• Vincent Giacchi, Sophomore, 5-10, 275 – competing at left guard 
• Evan Kennedy, Sophomore, 6-2, 285 – competing at left guard 
• Evan Rose, Sophomore, 6-3, 255 – competing at left guard 
• Jarrod Cofrancesco, Junior, 6-1, 260 – returning starter at center 
• Quinn Muli, Junior, 6-3, 285 – returning starter at right guard 
• Dan O’Leary, Junior, 6-4, 280 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Tommy Labrada, Sophomore, 6-2, 275 – key reserve 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 8 

Defensive Line: 

• Joey Smart, Senior, 6-2, 200 – returning starter at end 
• Damen DeFazio, Junior, 6-1, 200 – front-runner at opposite end 
• Brady Glory, Junior, 5-7, 205 – competing at nose guard 
• Shawn Baumann, Sophomore, 5-10, 225 – competing at nose guard 
• Any of the offensive linemen may play here 

Linebacker: 

• Sir Paris Jones, Senior, 6-0, 225 – returning starter on the weak side 
• Tyler Houser, Junior, 6-2, 225 – returning starter on inside 
• Joey Walton, Senior, 6-0, 220 – returning starter in the middle 
• Wes Johnston, Junior, 6-3, 195 – returning starter; could play on the strong side or in the secondary  
• Joe Rozynski, Junior, 5-9, 175 – returning starter; could play on the strong side or in the secondary 
• Danny Platt, Senior, 6-0, 200 – could start on the strong side; returning starter at cornerback 

Secondary: 

• Danny Platt, Senior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter at cornerback; may play outside linebacker 
• Will Flores, Sophomore, 5-9, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Andrew Sanchez, Junior, 5-10, 170 – competing at cornerback 
• Tylik Hill, Junior, competing at cornerback 
• Zac Cusick, Senior, 6-0, 195 – returning starter at free safety 
• Nick Vannetta, Junior, 5-10, 195 – projected starter at strong safety 
• Wes Johnston, Junior, 6-3, 195 – returning starter at outside linebacker; could play here or at outside linebacker 
• Joe Rozynski, Junior, 5-9, 175 – returning starter at outside linebacker; could play here or at outside linebacker 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Jack Morgese returns at kicker and punter 
• Hill, Cusick, Platt, and Joshua are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Saturday, 8/26, Newark Collegiate at home 
• Saturday, 9/2, Seton Hall Prep at home 
• Friday, 9/8, at Paramus Catholic 
• Friday, 9/15, at Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, NY) at SUNY Maritime 
• Saturday, 9/23, at Episcopal Academy (Pa.) 
• Friday, 9/29, at Immaculata 
• Saturday, 10/7, Delbarton at home 
• Friday, 10/13, at DePaul 
• Saturday, 10/21, Hudson Catholic at home 
• Saturday, 10/28, St. Joe’s (Metuchen) at home 

Concerns: 

• Depth 
• Tough schedule, which is 10 games 

Recruiting: 

• Dietrich verballed to Temple  
• Justin Platt has an offer from Sacred Heart 
• Mulligan, Danny Platt, and Walton will be at high-academic schools from 1-AA to D3 
• Sir Paris Jones has interest from Stonehill, Wagner, and Howard 
• Cusick has interest from Stonehill, Wagner, and Sacred Heart 
• Smart will play for a military school 
• Bars is in his first year playing football; he is a hockey player and will probably go that route 
• Underclassmen: 
• Houser holds offers from Duke and UMass 
• Hill has an offer from UMass  
• Johnston is a candidate for a high-academic 1-AA school 
• O’Leary, Cofrancesco, and Muli will be at high-academic schools from the Ivy or Patriot Leagues 
• Rozynski will be at a high-academic school on the D2/D3 level 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We’re set up for a good year and we could make a run. We have a lot of experience and everything we do will be predicated on the play of both lines.” – Head Coach Dom Gaston