Hightstown Rams
June 21, 2023
2022:
- 5-4
- Lost to Hammonton in the South Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals
- Wins included Steinert, Allentown, and West Windsor-Plainsboro
- Losses were to Seneca, Hopewell Valley, and Robbinsville
- Scored 138 points for a 15.33 average
- Allowed 169 points for an 18.78 average
Graduation:
- RB/LB Joseph Opoku – Salisbury (Md.)
Offense:
- Formation: Multiple Spread
- Returning Starters: 7
Quarterback:
- Cole Vinson, Junior, 6-1, 170 – competing; started 3 games
- Aidan Schendingler, Sophomore, 5-11, 170 – competing
- Ryan Walsh, Sophomore, 6-2, 180 – competing
Running Back:
- Chase Montgomery, Senior, 5-8, 180 – projected co-starter; saw action
- Daniel Young, Sophomore, 5-8, 160 – projected co-starter
Wide Receiver:
- Devron Lewis, Senior, 5-9, 170 – 3-year starter
- Yasin Elhossieni, Senior, 6-0, 180 – 3-year starter
- Jordan Klim, Junior, 5-10, 160 – projected starter
- Trevor McCarthy, Junior, 5-8, 150 – part of the rotation
Tight End:
- Josh Clites, Junior, 6-1, 200 – competing
- Jack Walsh, Sophomore, 6-2, 180 – competing
Offensive Line:
- Sterling Newlin, Junior, 6-3, 280 – returning starter at left tackle
- Pablo Serrano, Senior, 6-0, 220 – 3-year starter at left guard
- Ryan Sexton, Junior, 6-0, 250 – returning starter at center
- Michael Fowler, Junior, 5-9, 240 – returning co-starter at right guard; competing
- Hector Torres, Junior, 5-9, 240 – returning co-starter at right guard; competing
- Adrian Santiago, Junior, 6-0, 240 – returning starter at right tackle
- Jamell Duncan, Junior, 6-6, 320 – provides depth; started on defense
- Christian Houbig, Sophomore, 6-0, 240 – provides depth
Defense:
- Formation: 3-4
- Returning Starters: 6
Defensive Line:
- Jamell Duncan, Junior, 6-6, 320 – returning starter at nose guard
- Sterling Newlin, Junior, 6-3, 280 – returning starter at end; will be part of rotation and also play nose guard
- Adrian Santiago, Junior, 6-0, 240 – returning starter at end; will be part of rotation
- Pablo Serrano, Senior, 6-0, 220 – part of rotation at end
- Michael Fowler, Junior, 5-9, 240 – part of rotation at end
- Hector Torres, Junior, 5-9, 240 – part of rotation at end
- Christian Houbig, Sophomore, 6-0, 240 – part of rotation at end
- Dylan Arias, Senior, 6-2, 230 – part of rotation at end
- Shakeer Felizor, Senior, 6-1, 190 – part of rotation at end
Linebacker:
- Aidan Carter, Senior, 6-0, 185 – returning starter on inside
- Frank Garcia, Senior, 5-9, 180 – projected starter on inside; saw action
- Emmanuel Olaiya, Senior, 6-0, 240 – part of rotation on inside
- Josh Clites, Junior, 6-1, 200 – projected starter on outside
- Darien Newlin, Sophomore, 6-1, 190 – front-runner at opposite outside position
- Trevor McCarthy, Junior, 5-8, 150 – competing on outside
- Chase Montgomery, Senior, 5-8, 180 – competing on outside
Secondary:
- Yasin Elhossieni, Senior, 6-0, 180 – 3-year starter at safety
- Yusif Elhossieni, Senior, 6-0, 170 – competing at other safety
- Chase Deutsch, Junior, 6-1, 180 – competing at other safety; missed much of last year with injury
- Brett Unger, Senior, 5-9, 170 – part of rotation at safety
- Devron Lewis, Senior, 5-9, 170 – returning starter at cornerback
- Daniel Young, Sophomore, 5-8, 160 – projected starter at opposite corner
- Jordan Klim, Junior, 5-10, 160 – part of rotation at cornerback
- Jason Smith, Sophomore, 6-3, 180 – part of rotation at cornerback
Special Teams:
- Senior Chase Montgomery returns at punter and junior Chase Deutsch will be the kicker
- Lewis, Young, and Yasin Elhossieni are the return men
Schedule:
- Saturday, 8/26, West Deptford at Ocean City
- Friday, 9/1, Trenton at home
- Friday, 9/8, at Robbinsville
- Thursday, 9/14, Lawrence at home
- Friday, 9/22, at Seneca
- Friday, 9/29, West Windsor-Plainsboro at home
- Friday, 10/6, Steinert at home
- Friday, 10/13, at Hopewell Valley
- Friday, 10/20, at Allentown
Concerns:
- Sophomores who have not played varsity football
- Tough schedule
Recruiting:
- Lewis has run well at some camps and has 1-AA interest
- Yasin Elhossieni has 1-AA interest, D2 interest from New Haven, and some D3 interest
- Serrano and Montgomery have been drawing D3 interest
- Underclassmen:
- Newlin, Duncan, and Santiago are juniors who have drawn interest from all levels
- In the sophomore class, Young has a chance to play in college
Coach’s Comments:
“We return a lot of players, but lost a couple of key pieces. This is the deepest we have been since I have been coaching here and also the biggest up front. Our numbers are very good with 16-17 seniors, and the juniors and sophomores have 30 players each, with a total of 120 kids in the program. The schedule is difficult and we will play it one game at a time. The kids have hit the weight room hard, so we won’t be pushed around.” – Head Coach Ryan Fullen