Cedar Creek Pirates 

June 14, 2023

2022: 

• 4-7 
• Lost to Camden in the Central Jersey Group 3 semifinals after beating Timber Creek in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Camden Eastside, Oakcrest, and Absegami 
• Losses were to Delsea, Winslow, St. Joe’s (Hammonton), Salem, Edison, and Ocean City 
• Scored 167 points for a 15.18 average 
• Allowed 237 points for a 21.54 average 

Graduation: 

• RB/DB Mekhi Harvey – Stevenson 
• DL Kahmir Cooper-Brown – Stevenson 
• WR/DB Zaire Pilgrim – East Coast Prep (Mass.) 
• DL Malik Moore-summers – Morehouse (Ga.) 
• LB Dejuan Palmer – Kean 
• TE/LB Mike Sears – St. Bonaventure for rugby 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters:  9 

Quarterback: 

• Billy Smith, Senior, 5-11, 175 – returning starter; passed for over 1,800 yards per nj.com  

Running Back: 

• Aamir Dunbar, Sophomore, 5-11, 190 – projected starter; saw action   
• Kai Stoner, Junior, 5-9, 160 – competing for carries 
• Jamal McClellan, Senior, 5-11, 170 – competing for carries 

H-Back: 

• Justin Castillo, Senior, 5-8, 210 – 4-year starter 

Wide Receiver: 

• Alim Parks, Senior, 5-11, 195 – 3-year starter; 45 receptions, 789 yards per nj.com 
• Darius Benjamin, Junior, 5-9, 165 – returning starter; also caught 45 per nj.com 
• Jahmir Campfield, Sophomore, 5-10, 165 – projected starter 
• Chris McAfee, Senior, 5-9, 165 – projected fourth starting receiver; started on defense 
• Gyan King, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – part of the rotation 
• Aman McLaughlin, Senior, 6-1, 165 – part of the rotation; started on defense 

Offensive Line: 

• Johnathan Martinez, Junior, 6-3, 270 – returning starter at left tackle, moving from the right side 
• Mandel Pettiford, Junior, 6-2, 265 – returning starter at left guard, moving from left tackle 
• Nate Tunnat, Senior, 6-1, 250 – returning starter at center, moving from left guard 
• Randy Beane, Senior, 6-0, 255 – returning starter at right guard 
• Aiden Jinks, Junior, 6-1, 225 – competing at right tackle 
• Cody Harris, Senior, 6-2, 270 – returning starter who is competing at right tackle, moving from center 
• Tyler Cannon, Senior, 6-0, 245 – part of rotation at tackle and guard; saw action 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line: 

• Mandel Pettiford, Junior, 6-2, 265 – returning starter at end 
• Tyler Cannon, Senior, 6-0, 245 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Aiden Jinks, Junior, 6-1, 225 – front-runner at opposite end 
• Shoron Britt, Senior, 6-2, 275 – competing at opposite end 

Linebacker: 

• Justin Castillo, Senior, 5-8, 210 – returning starter on inside; 80 tackles per nj.com  
• Shane Deman, Senior- 5-11, 175 projected starter on inside 
• Aamir Dunbar, Sophomore, 5-11, 190 – projected starter on outside 
• The opposite outside linebacker is undecided 

Secondary: 

• Jamal McClellan, Senior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter at strong safety 
• Aman McLaughlin, Senior, 6-1, 165 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Chris McAfee, Senior, 5-9, 165 – returning starter at cornerback; may play free safety 
• Gyan King, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – projected starter at free safety; may play cornerback; saw action 
• Jahmir Campfield, Sophomore, 5-10, 165 – part of rotation at cornerback and safety 
• Darius Benjamin, Junior, 5-9, 165 – part of rotation at cornerback and safety 
• Alim Parks, Senior, 5-11, 195 – part of rotation at cornerback and safety 

Special Teams: 

• Kicker and punter are undecided 
• Benjamin, Parks, and Campfield will be the return men 

Schedule: 

• Sunday, 8/27, Matawan at Ocean City 
• Saturday, 9/2, Absegami at home 
• Friday, 9/8, at Ocean City 
• Saturday, 9/16, at Camden Eastside 
• Saturday, 9/23, Salem at Rutgers 
• Saturday, 9/30, at St. Joe’s (Hammonton) 
• Saturday, 10/7, Delsea at home 
• Friday, 10/13, at Oakcrest 
• Saturday, 10/21, Winslow at home 

Concerns: 

• Kicking game 
• Starting fast, winning early, and gaining momentum 

Recruiting: 

• Parks has a New Hampshire offer 
• Smith has interest from LIU and several of the D2 schools in Pennsylvania  
• Castillo Has been receiving D2 interest, especially D2 schools in Pennsylvania, along with D3 interest; he is a very good high school football player 
• Tunnat, Beane, McClellan, McAfee, McLaughlin, and Cannon have interest from D3 schools and may end up higher 
• Underclassmen: 
• Pettiford has Patriot and CAA interest 
• Martinez and Benjamin are dependent on having good junior years 
• In the sophomore class, Dunbar, Campfield, and King have very good potential 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We’re excited for this group. We have a lot back and a lot to prove. We’re aiming to get back to where we belong. We’ve put in a lot of work, but more work is required.” – Head Coach James Melody