Notre Dame Fighting Irish
July 24, 2024
2023:
- 10-1
- Lost to Paul VI in the Non-Public A first round
- Wins included Hopewell Valley, St. Frances B Team (Md.), Allentown, Wayne Valley, and Nottingham
- Scored 480 points for a 43.64 average
- Allowed 274 points for a 24.91 average
Graduation:
- QB AJ Surace – Rutgers
- RB/LB Gabe Winowich – Rutgers
- H-B/DE Liam Kilcomons – Rutgers
- RB Tyriq Bryant – William Paterson
- OL/DL Jack Beacham – Union College (NY)
- OL Eddie Kuczynski – Norwich (Vt.)
- DB Jordan Scipio – Salisbury (Md.)
- DB Andy Zigbuo – Ursinus (Pa.)
Offense:
- Formation: Multipel Spread
- Returning Starters: 3
Quarterback:
- Jules Matera, Senior, 6-3, 190 – frontrunner
- Matt Rausch, Junior, 6-1, 175 – competing
- Dillon White, Junior, 6-1, 175 – competing
Running Back:
- Anthony Merlino, Junior, 5-10, 180 – part of the rotation
- CJ Woods, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – part of the rotation; started on defense
- Jeylon Billups, Junior, 5-9, 210 – part of the rotation
Wide Receiver:
- Wyatt Moore, Senior, 5-10, 160 – returning starter; 24 receptions in four games before injury and 63 receptions with 11 touchdons in 2022 per nj.com
- Musa Kamara, Senior, 6-2, 195 – competing and part of the rotation
- Max Pelzer, Junior, 6-2, 175 – competing and part of the rotation
- Tyler Stefanisko, Senior, 5-8, 165 – competing and part of the rotation
- Quincy Gibbs, Senior, 6-2, 195 – competing and part of the rotation
- Jayden Davis, Junior, 5-8, 160 – competing and part of the rotation
Tight End:
- Will Renda, Senior, 6-3, 230 – will see action; started on defense
- Cameron Bailey, Senior, 6-2, 215 – will see action; started on defense
Offensive Line:
- Andy Onzik, Senior, 6-1, 260 – returning starter at guard
- Will Napier, Senior, 6-2, 250 – returning starter at guard
- Dom Cuniglio, Junior, 6-0, 240 – projected starter at center
- Graiden Stoy, Senior, 6-2, 250 – competing at tackle; injured in 2023
- Other players are competing at tackle and positions will be decided in camp
Defense:
- Formation: 4-3
- Returning Starters: 5
Defensive Line:
- Will Renda, Senior, 6-3, 230 – returning starter at end
- Will Napier, Senior, 6-2, 250 – returning starter at end
- Others will fill in the positions, which will be decided in camp
Linebacker:
- Cameron Bailey, Senior, 6-2, 215 – 3-year starter
- Anthony Kelly, Senior, 6-0, 185 – projected starter
- Sebastian Jastrzebski, Senior, 6-0, 195 – projected starter
Secondary:
- Ryan Peterson, Senior, 5-11, 175 – returning starter at safety
- CJ Woods, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – returning starter who will play cornerback or safety
- Zamir Jones, Junior, 6-1, 195 – competing at cornerback and safety
- Jayden Davis, Junior, 5-8, 160 – competing at cornerback and safety
- AJ Crawford, Sophomore, 5-11, 190 – competing at cornerback and safety
- Joey Kloc, Sophomore, 5-11, 170 – competing at cornerback and safety
Special Teams:
- Sophomore AJ Crawford and junior Sebastian Swiatek are competing for both the kicker and punter
- Jayden Davis and Crawford are among those who may be the return men
Schedule:
- Friday, 8/30, Bridgewater-Raritan at home
- Friday, 9/6, at Timber Creek
- Friday, 9/13, Hopewell Valley at home
- Friday, 9/20, Hightstown
- Saturday, 9/28, at Steinert
- Friday, 10/4, at Highland
- Friday, 10/11, Paul VI at home
- Saturday, 10/19, at Nottingham
- Friday, 10/25, Allentown at home
- Friday, 11/1, Pennington School at home
Concerns:
- Replacing most of the offense and much of the defense and special teams
- New offensive, defensive, and special teams coordinators
Recruiting:
- Moore has interest from Ivy and Patriot League teams with 4.4 speed
- Renda, Bailey, and Napier have received interest
- Matera is a quarterback who makes good throws ands and has good sense
- Others may go the D3 route
- The underclassmen have talented kids but they have to succeed first
Coach’s Comments:
“The kids are working incredibly hard and we can’t ask for more than that.” – Head Coach Sean Clancy