Colonia Patriots 

August 1, 2025

2024: 

• 4-6 
• Lost to Morris Knolls in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Linden, Sayreville, and North Hunterdon 
• Losses were to Woodbridge, Cranford, Old Bridge, Plainfield, and Edison 
• Scored 218 points for a 21.8 average 
• Allowed 255 points for a 25.5 average 

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Nygel Hill – Fork Union Military Academy (VA) 
• C/DL Gianni Scaturo – King’s (PA) 
• OL/DL Derrick Pettus – FDU (Florham) 
• OL/DL Roger Reyes – FDU (Florham) 
• LB Nick Straile – FDU (Florham) 
• DB Anthony Garofalo – FDU (Florham) 
• OL/DL John Bekheet – FDU (Florham) 

Offense: 

• Formation:  Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 4  

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Dylan Chiera, Senior, 6-3, 185 – returning starter; passed for 1,935 yards and 19 touchdowns 

Running Back:

• Kyle Bell, Junior, 5-8, 170 – returning starter; rushed for 532 yards and 4 touchdowns, and also had 17 receptions for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns 

H-Back: 

• Yisrael Custodio, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter who saw action

Wide Receiver: 

• RJ Wortman, Senior, 6-4, 208 – 3-year starter; 21 receptions for 341 yards and 3 touchdowns 
• Jaylen McCrae, Senior, 5-8, 155 – projected starter who saw action and started on defense 
• Tyler Herman, senior, 6-2, 185 – projected starter 
• Tyler Chiola, Senior, 6-0, 175 – part of the rotation  

Tight End: 

• Julien Jones, Senior, 6-2, 220 – returning starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Jayson Eyetan, Junior, 6-3, 230 – projected starter at right tackle 
• Khaden Canty, Sophomore, 6-0, 220 – projected starter at right guard 
• Joe Batista, Senior, 6-2, 285 – projected starter at center 
• Johnathan Nadella, Sophomore, 6-0, 215 – frontrunner at left guard 
• Oluwatomisin Tinubu, Sophomore, 6-4, 215 – frontrunner at left tackle 
• Matt Roy, Sophomore, 6-3, 235 – sixth man along the line 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-3 Stack 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Defensive Line: 

• Harsimran Mann, Senior, 6-3, 195 – projected starter at end 
• Jayson Eyetan, Junior, 6-3, 230 – projected starter at end 
• Elijah Graciani, Junior, 6-2, 295 – projected starter at nose guard 

Linebacker: 

• Julien Jones, Senior, 6-2, 220 – returning starter at the middle stack backer 
• Anthony Reinoso, Junior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter at the strong stack backer 
• Yisrael Custodio, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter at the weak stack backer 
• Kyle Bell, Junior, 5-8, 170 – part of the stack rotation 
• George Simpson, Senior, 5-8, 165 – returning starter on the outside 
• Tyler Herman, Senior, 6-2, 185 – projected starter on the outside 
• Teron Byrd, Junior, 5-9, 170 – part of the outside and safety rotation 

Secondary: 

• Jaylen McCrae, Senior, 5-8, 155 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Aaron Gonzalez, Junior, 5-9, 175 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Tyler Chiola, Senior, 6-0, 175 – projected starter at free safety 
• RJ Wortman, Senior, 6-4, 208 – part of the cornerback and safety rotation 
• Teron Byrd, Junior, 5-9, 170 – part of the safety and outside linebacker rotation 

Special Teams:

• Senior Dylan Chiera will be the kicker and the punter 
• The return men will be Bell, Gonzalez, and McCrae 

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

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/28, Sayreville at home 
• Friday, 9/5, North Hunterdon at home 
• Friday, 9/12, Linden at home 
• Friday, 9/19, at Woodbridge 
• Friday, 9/26, at Perth Amboy 
• Friday, 10/3, Edison at home 
• Friday, 10/10, at Plainfield 
• Friday, 10/17, Cranford at home 
• Friday, 10/24, at Old Bridge 

Concerns:  

• Inexperienced offensive line, with nobody having played varsity 
• Depth 
• Change in the defensive scheme, from a 4-3 to a 3-3 stack 

Recruiting: 

• Wortmann has a verbal commitment to Maine
• Chiera has interest from Marist 
• Jones has 1-AA interest 
• Herman, Simpson, Custodio, and McCrae can play D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• To be determined 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We have a good group that is senior-heavy with leadership. We need to get the younger guys going to be successful. Our skill kids are good, but how do our young linemen come together?” – Head Coach Tom Roarty