St. Thomas Aquinas Trojans 

August 26, 2024

2023: 

• 10-1 
• Lost to DePaul in the Non-Public B semifinals 
• Wins included Paul VI, Immaculata, Summit, Cranford, and Hillside 
• Scored 397 points for a 36.09 average 
• Allowed 69 points for a 6.27 average, including five shutouts 

Graduation: 

• LB Christian Magliacono – Colgate 
• K Jack Joyce VMI 
• OL/LS Tom Schwegler – East Stroudsburg (Pa.) 
• LB Tyler Negres – Alvernia (Pa.) 
• WR/DB Zacai Manigo – Alvernia (Pa.) 
• DE Davon Grant – Alvernia (Pa.) 
• LB Shawn Young – 
• DE Khalil Stubbs – Montclair State 
• RB Elijah Abass-Sharif – Trinity-Pawling (NY prep) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 8   

Quarterback: 

• Roman Blanks, Senior, 6-4, 205 – returning starter; 1,253 yards passing, 14 touchdowns with 1 interception per nj.com 
• Cole Watkins, Senior, 6-0, 180 – provides depth 
• Zymere Weaver, Freshman, 6-3, 175 – provides depth 

Running Back: 

• Chase Young, Senior, 5-11, 205 – returning co-starter; rushed for 1,038 yards, 16 touchdowns plus 19 receptions per nj.com 
• Chukwuma Odoh, Sophomore, 6-0, 200 – projected co-starter 
• Ka’si Thomas, Freshman, 5-10, 170 – provides depth 
• Cole Sternlieb, Freshman, 5-9, 165 – provides depth 

Wide Receiver:

• Josiah Zayas, Junior, 6-2, 190 – returning starter; 27 receptions, 353 yards, 4 touchdowns per nj.com 
• Tyler Montgomery, Junior, 6-1, 170 – projected starter 
• Anthony Perez, Jr., Junior, 5-7, 160 – returning starter at slot receiver 
• Michael Teague, Senior, 5-11, 175 – part of the rotation 
• Mickeye Simmons, Junior, 5-11, 175 – part of the rotation 
• Jahkai Dabney, Senior, 5-11, 175 – part of the rotation 

Tight End: 

• Anwar Witherspoon, Junior, 6-3, 205 – returning starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Elijah Thomas, Senior, 6-4, 315 – 3-year starter at right tackle 
• Channon Johnson, Junior, 6-1, 310 – projected starter at right guard 
• Matthew Chuffo, Sophomore, 5-10, 280 – projected starter at center 
• Caden Sternlieb, Junior, 6-0, 305 – 3-year starter at right guard 
• Sebastian Azofeifa, Sophomore, 5-11, 270 – competing at left tackle 
• Aden Seawright, Junior, 6-7, 330 – competing at left tackle 
• John Howarth, Senior, 6-0, 215 – returning starter at guard who is currently out injured with hopes to return at midseason 

Defense: 

• Formation: 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Defensive Line: 

• Channon Johnson, Junior, 6-1, 310 – projected starter at tackle 
• Samuel Hightower, Sophomore, 5-10, 255 – projected starter at tackle 
• Caden Sternlieb, Junior, 6-0, 305 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Elijah Thomas, Senior, 6-4, 315 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Wayne Wakefield, Senior, 6-4, 230 – projected starter at end 
• Jose Tejeiro, Senior, 6-1, 215 – projected starter at end 
• Omar McFarlane, Sophomore, 6-1, 200 – part of the end rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Anwar Witherspoon, Junior, 6-3, 205 – returning starter in the middle 
• Chase Young, Senior, 5-11, 205 – returning starter on the outside 
• Chukwuma Odoh, Sophomore, 6-0, 200 – returning starter on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Josiah Zayas, Junior, 6-2, 190 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Michael Teague, Senior, 5-11, 175 – competing at cornerback 
• Khalyd Goodman, Freshman, 5-9, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Ian Roberts, Junior, 5-11, 185 – competing at strong safety 
• Jahkai Dabney, Senior, 5-11, 175 – competing at strong safety 
• Mickeye Simmons, Junior, 5-11, 175 – competing at free safety 
• Tyler Montgomery, Junior, 6-1, 170 – competing at free safety 

Special Teams:  

• Junior Brandon Falke will be the kicker and the punter 
• Cole Sternlieb and Perez will be the return men  

Schedule: 

• Saturday, 8/31, Mount St. Joseph’s (Md.) at Salesianum, Del.
• Saturday, 9/7, at Lincoln (Brooklyn) 
• Friday, 9/13, at North Brunswick 
• Friday, 9/20, Franklin at home 
• Friday, 9/27, at Elizabeth 
• Friday, 10/4, at Paramus Catholic 
• Friday, 10/11, Edison at home 
• Friday, 10/18, at St. Joe’s (Metuchen) 
• Friday, 10/25, Sayreville at home 
• Saturday, 11/2, at Riverdale Baptist (Md.) 

Concerns: 

• Replacing players on defense 

Recruiting: 

• Thomas has offers from Maine, Sacred Heart, and Delaware State 
• Chase Young, Tejeiro, and Wakefield have 1-AA interest 
• Blanks has 1-AA/D2 interest 
• The others might be D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Witherspoon has drawn interest with his size and movement skills 
• Sternlieb has interest 
• Odoh is a sophomore with a Syracuse offer 

Coach’s Comments: 

We’re looking forward to taking the next step. We did not finish where we wanted, losing by three points to DePaul. We want to finish and Met Life stadium is our goal.” – Assistant Coach Justin Hill