Hunterdon Central Red Devils 

August 15, 2024

2023: 

• 6-4 
• Lost to Kingsway in the South Jersey Group 5 sectional quarterfinals 
• Wins included Piscataway, Bridgewater-Raritan, and Elizabeth 
• Losses were to Phillipsburg, Hillsborough, and Ridge 
• Scored 224 points for a 22.4 average 
• Allowed 169 points for a 16.9 average 

Graduation: 

• QB RJ Hart – Moravian (Pa.) 
• RB/DB Jakob Saus – Muhlenberg (Pa.) 
• WR Jarrod Koon – Montclair state 
• OL Jack Heide – Hamilton College (NY) 
• OL/DL Matt Brito – FDU (Florham) 
• FB LJ Walther – Norwich (Vt.) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 4   

Quarterback: 

• Drew Cella, Junior, 6-2, 195 – projected starter 

Running Back: 

• Xavier Arteaga, Senior, 5-8, 185 – projected starter; saw action 
• Giovanni Veliz, Junior, 5-10, 185 – will spell Ortega 

Wide Receiver:

• Devin Marrero, Senior, 5-11, 195 – projected starter; saw action 
• Nick Vasquez, Junior, 5-11, 185 – projected starter 
• Alex Kagan, Senior, 5-9, 190 – competing and part of the rotation 
• Ryan White, Junior, 5-10, 165 – competing and part of the rotation 

Tight End/H-Back/Fullback: 

• AJ Melo, Junior, 5-9, 215 – returning starter 
• Jayden Cozze, Sophomore, 6-0, 185 – projected co-starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Kyle Ettere, Senior, 6-4, 230 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Tyler Suk, Senior, 6-0, 265 – returning starter at right guard 
• Quinton Fisher, Senior, 6-0, 280 – 3-year starter at center 
• Preston Shamanski, Junior, 6-0, 230 – competing at left guard 
• Mauricio Aquino, Junior, 6-2, 220 – competing at left guard 
• Declan Joyce, Junior, 6-3, 280 – projected starter at left tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 3 

Defensive Line: 

• AJ Melo, Junior, 5-9, 215 – returning starter at end 
• Preston Shamanski, Junior, 6-0, 230 – projected starter at end 
• Tyler Suk, Senior, 6-0, 265 – returning starter at tackle 
• Edwin Sanchez, Senior, 5-8, 360 (no misprint) – projected starter at nose guard 
• Kyle Ettere, Senior, 6-4, 230 – part of the rotation 
• Quinton Fisher, Senior, 6-0, 280 – part of the rotation 
• Declan Joyce, Junior, 6-3, 280 – part of the rotation 
• Mauricio Aquino, Junior, 6-2, 220 – part of the rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Giovanni Veliz, Junior, 5-10, 185 – projected starter on the strong side 
• Jesus Vargas, Senior, 5-11, 205 – projected starter in the middle 
• Jayden Cozze, Sophomore, 6-0, 185 – projected starter on the weak side  

Secondary: 

• Matt Smith, Senior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter at free safety 
• Nick Vasquez, Junior, 5-11, 185 – projected starter at strong safety 
• Tyler Farley, Senior, 5-9, 175 – part of the strong safety rotation 
• Xavier Arteaga, Senior, 5-8, 185 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Troy Arteaga, Junior, 5-9, 180 – projected starter at cornerback 

Special Teams:  

• Senior Xavier Arteaga will be the kicker and punter 
• Xavier Arteaga is the primary return man 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/30, North Hunterdon at home 
• Friday, 9/6, Monroe at home 
• Friday, 9/13, at Phillipsburg 
• Friday, 9/20, Bridgewater-Raritan at home 
• Friday, 9/27, at Union 
• Saturday, 10/5, East Brunswick at home 
• Thursday, 10/10, Ridge at home 
• Friday, 10/18, at Old Bridge 
• Friday, 10/25, at Hillsborough 

Concerns: 

• Replacing quarterback RJ Hart with a new guy 
• Replacing Jakob Saus, who was very productive 

Recruiting: 

• Suk is an athletic 1-AA prospect with interest from Villanova, Monmouth, and Stony Brook 
• Arteaga has interest from Patriot League schools plus Monmouth and Villanova 
• The sleeper is Ettere who has only been playing football for two years with good measurements and a high ceiling 
• Fisher is a D3 prospect 
• Others may be able to play D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Cozze is an intriguing prospect 
• Others are talented but need to do it on the field 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We have gone from four to six wins in the last two years and need to build on that. We have a good core with three offensive linemen returning plus the tight end. We lost RJ Hart at quarterback, but junior Drew Cella has the ability. Xavier Arteaga replaces Jakob Saus at running back and he saw time, showing good ability.” – Head Coach Casey Ransone