Passaic Tech Bulldogs 

August 16, 2023

2023: 

• 13-1 
• Lost to Toms River North in the New Jersey Group 5 final 
• Won the North Jersey regional championship by beating Union City 
• Won the North Jersey Section 1 Group 5 sectional championship by beating Montclair in the final, Union in the semifinals, and Bayonne in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Union City, West Orange, Ridgewood, and Lenape 
• Scored 381 points for a 27.21 average 
• Allowed 110 points for a 7.86 average, including five shutouts 

Graduation: 

• RB/LB Trashon Dye – James Madison  
• RB/DE Travon Dye – Fork Union Academy (Va. prep) 
• TE/DE Kaiden Rex – Pace (NY) 
• WR/DB Jovan Tyrell – Delaware Valley 
• OL/DL Nathan Elony – Charleston (WV) 
• QB Ma’Kao Taylor – Charleston (WV) 
• LB Ahmire Foster – Montclair State 
• DB Damian Rosario – Delaware Valley (Pa.) 
• OL/DL Ladainian Pless – Sussex County Community College 
• LB Jordan Alston – enlisted in the US Air Force 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple 
• Returning Starters: 3   

Quarterback: 

• Gabriel Miles, Junior, 6-0, 190 – projected starter 
• Ian McDuffie, Sophomore, 6-1, 195 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Aarom Mendoza, Senior, 6-2, 220 – competing; started on defense  
• Kadir Younge, Junior, 5-8, 165 – competing 
• Noah Foxworth, Junior, 5-7, 180 – competing 

Wide Receiver:

• Mikael Simon, Senior, 6-3, 175 – projected starter 
• Joel Perez, Senior, 5-11, 170 – projected starter; saw action and started on defense 
• Jose Trinidad, Junior, 5-5, 145 – competing at slot receiver 
• Jayden Santiago, Senior, 5-6, 155 – competing at slot receiver 
• Tyson Watkins, Sophomore, 5-9, 155 – competing 
• Ahmad Williams, Sophomore, 5-8, 150 – competing 
• Anthony D’Agostino, Junior, 5-11, 165 – competing 

H-Back: 

• Brandon Ramirez, Senior, 6-0, 200 – projected starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Positions decided in preseason 
• Zamir Robinson-Jones, Senior, 5-11, 240 – returning starter 
• Abraham Ballesteros, Senior, 5-11, 220 – returning starter 
• Tony DeFeo, Senior, 6-1, 270 – returning starter; missed the last half of the season with an injury 
• Jahmir Joyner, Senior, 6-0, 230 – competing 
• Alex Arrington, Senior, 6-3, 280 – competing 
• Savion Gillyard, Senior, 5-10, 200 – competing 
• Zakk LoConte, Senior, 6-2, 260 – competing 
• Jayden Paulino, Sophomore, 6-3, 275 – competing 
• Jeremiah Rogers, Junior, 5-11, 205 – competing 
• Angel Mendoza, Sophomore, 6-0, 240 – competing 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 2 

Defensive Line: 

• Aarom Mendoza, Senior, 6-2, 220 – returning starter at end 
• Abraham Ballesteros, Senior, 5-11, 220 – competing at end and tackle 
• Brandon Ramirez, Senior, 6-0, 200 – competing at end and tackle 
• Jose Echevarria, Senior, 5-11, 205 – competing at end and tackle 
• Justice Anderson, Senior, 5-11, 230 – competing at end and tackle 
• Rodney Walker, Sophomore, 6-0, 250 – competing at tackle 
• Derek Acevedo, Senior, 6-0, 290 – competing at tackle 

Linebacker: 

• Jaden Johnson, Senior, 5-8, 170 – competing 
• Jaz’maar Graham, Senior, 5-11, 175 – competing 
• Dante Fasoli, Junior, 5-9, 180 – competing 
• Michael Moro, Junior, 6-0, 196 – competing 
• Ian McDuffie, Sophomore, 6-1, 195 – competing 
• Jarell Martin, Senior, 5-8, 165 – competing 

Secondary: 

• Joel Perez, Senior, 5-11, 170 – 3-year starter at cornerback 
• Jose Trinidad, Junior, 5-5, 145 – competing 
• Kadir Younge, Junior, 5-8, 165 – competing 
• Jayden Santiago, Senior, 5-6, 155 – competing 
• Tony Baldwin-Harris, Sophomore, 6-0, 155 – competing 
• Jack Farber, Senior, 5-7, 150 – competing 

Special Teams:  

• Senior Luca Aliano is a 3-year starter as the punter and junior Nick Dragone is the kicker 
• Many of the backs and receivers are in the running to be return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/30, Lenape at home 
• Friday, 9/6, West Orange at home 
• Thursday, 9/12, at Paterson Eastside 
• Friday, 9/20, at Columbia 
• Friday, 9/27, Ridgewood at home 
• Saturday, 10/5, at Ramapo 
• Friday, 10/11, at Irvington 
• Friday, 10/18, Clifton at home 
• Thursday, 10/24, at Passaic 

Concerns: 

• With an early start, are the kids ready for the competition? 

Recruiting: 

• Arrington, Perez, Ramirez, Ballesteros, and Mendoza are the top prospects in the senior class 
• Others have talent in the senior class and the underclassmen 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We had a tremendous group that graduated and we have a tremendous group of kids on the team. They put the time in and have their shot. Competition will be tough and it’s an opportunity for them.” – Head Coach Matt Demarest