Newark Central Blue Devils 

July 26, 2025

2024: 

• 6-3 
• Lost to Mount Olive in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Snyder, Glen Ridge, and Hoboken 
• Losses were to Cedar Grove and Verona 
• Scored 161 points for a 20.12 average (does not include forfeit win)
• Allowed 184 points for a 23.0 average (does not include forfeit win)

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Jahsyn Reid – Monmouth 
• RB/LB Nahshon Brown – Kean 
• LB Wakeel Balogun – Kean 
• OL/DL Yusef Beale – Kean 
• OL/DL Kudus Lawal – Lincoln U (PA) 
• RB/LB Zahir Wilson – Monroe College (NY JUCO) 
• WR/DB Alsajade Pray – Monroe College (NY JUCO) 
• DL Malcolm Toure – Hudson Valley Community College (NY) 
• DE Lyquan Clyburn – Hudson Valley Community College (NY) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread
• Returning Starters: 5 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Zahyir Taylor, Sophomore, 5-11, 175 – competing 
• Zyon Riley, Sophomore, 6-2, 180 – competing 

Running Back:

• Symeir Sorey, Sophomore, 5-0, 175 – projected starter 
• Ryan Desauguste, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – projected starter 
• Dexter Durrant, Freshman, 5-11, 165 – may spell the starters 
• Ahmad Williams, Junior, 5-11, 165 – may spell the starters 

Wide Receiver: 

• Dishon Jerman, Junior, 5-11, 178 – returning starter; 11 receptions for 159 yards 
• Tyshawn Bailey Jr., Junior, 6-2, 170 – returning starter 
• Jahir Grandberry, Junior, 5-9, 155 – projected starter at slot receiver 
• Noah Holliday-Boone, Junior, 6-1, 195 – projected starter at slot receiver 
• Zamar Carr, Senior, 5-7, 140 – part of the rotation 
• Samin Henderson, Junior, 5-9, 150 – part of the rotation 
• Donovan Grant, Sophomore, 5-11, 160 – part of the rotation 
• Isaiah Agyarko, Junior, 5-11, 170 – part of the rotation  

Tight End (situational): 

• Mari Singleton, Junior, 5-11, 190 – will see action 

Offensive Line: 

• Andrew Wheeler, Senior, 6-4, 235 – 3-year starter at left tackle 
• Mamoudou Kamara, Senior, 6-1, 230 – returning starter at left guard 
• Louikenson Jean-Baptiste, Senior, 6-0, 260 – returning starter at center 
• Zieven Lewis, Junior, 5-11, 240 – projected starter at right guard 
• Davion Cupitt, Junior, 6-6, 235 – projected starter at right tackle 
• Aziz Kane, Junior, 5-9, 235 – sixth man along the line 
• Alijah Wheeler, Freshman, 5-11, 220 – competing 
• Messiah Stapleton, Freshman, 5-11, 230 – competing 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Defensive Line: 

• Andrew Wheeler, Senior, 6-4, 235 – 3-year starter at end 
• Davion Cupitt, Junior, 6-6, 235 – projected starter at end; played often 
• Ja-syd Caldwell, Freshman, 6-2, 220 – provides depth at end 
• Brian Holt, Senior, 5-10, 230 – provides depth at end 
• Mamoudou Kamara, Senior, 6-1, 230 – 3-year starter at nose guard 
• Louikenson Jean-Baptiste, Senior, 6-0, 260 – part of the nose guard rotation 
• Zieven Lewis, Junior, 5-11, 240 – part of the nose guard rotation 
• Marqui Thomas, Senior, 5-10, 305 – part of the nose guard rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Ryan Desauguste, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – projected starter on the inside; saw action 
• Mari Singleton, Junior, 5-11, 190 – projected starter on the inside 
• Symeir Sorey, Sophomore, 5-0, 175 – projected starter on the outside 
• Noah Holliday-Boone, Junior, 6-1, 195 – projected starter on the outside 
• Safi Smith, Junior, 5-10, 185 – part of the inside rotation 
• Ahmad Williams, Junior, 5-11, 165 – part of the outside rotation 
• Jermain Grace, Freshman, 5-10, 170 – part of the outside rotation 
• Isaiah Agyarko, Junior, 5-11, 170 – part of the outside rotation 

Secondary: 

• Dishon Jerman, Junior, 5-11, 178 – 3-year starter at cornerback 
• Abdoul Troare, Senior, 6-1, 165 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Mohamed Kelleh, Junior, 6-2, 160 – part of the cornerback rotation 
• Samin Henderson, Junior, 5-9, 150 – part of the cornerback rotation 
• Tyshawn Bailey Jr., Junior, 6-2, 170 – returning starter at safety 
• Zamar Carr, Senior, 5-7, 140 – projected starter at safety 
• Mohammed Traore, Sophomore, 5-10, 165 – part of the safety rotation 

Special Teams:

• Junior Isaiah Agyarko will do the kicking and punting duties 
• Grandberry, Jerman, and Bailey are the return men 

*Offense, defense, and special teams positions are subject to change 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/28, at Bloomfield 
• Thursday, 9/4, Snyder at home 
• Saturday, 9/13, at Glen Ridge 
• Friday, 9/19, Hudson Catholic at home 
• Friday, 9/26, at Verona 
• Friday, 10/3, at Orange 
• Friday, 10/10, Hoboken at home 
• Friday, 10/17, at Cedar Grove 
• Friday, 10/24, Newark Collegiate at home 

Concerns:  

• Youth 
• Leadership 

Recruiting: 

• Wheeler is receiving 1-AA looks 
• Traore has an offer from Howard 
• Underclassmen: 
• Jerman has several offers, including Syracuse, Duke, James Madison, and Temple 
• Bailey has offers from Temple, Memphis, Delaware State, Howard, and Wofford 
• Kelleh may play somewhere with a good year 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We need to overcome the loss of 14 seniors and a loss of leadership. We have guys who played a lot, but they need to grow up: now they have to do it. We kept raising the standard off what last year’s seniors did.” – Head Coach Mark Ingram