Hunterdon Central Red Devils 

August 9, 2025 

2024: 

• 4-6 
• Lost to Washington Township in the Central Jersey Group 5 sectional quarterfinals 
• Wins included North Hunterdon, Union, and Monroe 
• Losses were to Phillipsburg, Ridge, Old Bridge, Hillsborough, and Bridgewater-Raritan 
• Scored 172 points for a 17.2 average 
• Allowed 268 points for a 26.8 average  

Graduation: 

• OL/DL Tyler Suk – Kean 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 7  

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Drew Cella, Senior, 6-2, 195 – returning starter; passed for 1,352 yards and 14 touchdowns, and rushed for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns 

Running Back:

• Gio Veliz, Senior, 5-10, 185 – returning starter; rushed for 794 yards and 6 touchdowns 
• Reggie Osay-Aye, Junior, 6-0, 180 – will spell Velez 

Wide Receiver: 

• James Mongno, Senior, 5-10, 205 – returning starter47 receptions for 687 yards and 7 touchdowns 
• Nick Vasquez, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter30 receptions for 420 yards and 7 touchdowns 
• Jayden Cozze, Junior, 6-0, 195 – projected starter who will also line up as a tight end; started on defense 
• Kasey Kinsley, Senior, 5-9, 175 – will see action; started on defense  
• Trevor Wallace, Senior, 5-10, 205 – will see action 
• Jason Cebula, Sophomore, 6-3, 180 – will see action 
• Andrew Fisher, Sophomore, 6-3, 180 – will see action 

Offensive Line: 

• Declan Joyce, Senior, 6-2, 270 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Preston Shemanksi, Senior, 6-2, 235 – returning starter at left guard 
• Alex Nobozny, Sophomore, 5-10, 245 – frontrunner at center 
• Jeremy Starks, Junior, 5-10, 215 – projected starter at right guard 
• Mauricio Aquino, Senior, 6-2, 215 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Levi Rhodes, Sophomore, 6-4, 265 – competing at right tackle 
• Xavier Smith, Sophomore, 6-2, 300 – competing at right tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

• Preston Shemanksi, Senior, 6-2, 235 – returning starter at end 
• AJ Melo, Senior, 5-10, 210 – returning starter at end 
• Jaylen Civil, Junior, 6-2, 260 – projected starter at tackle 
• Rylan Dentale, Senior, 6-3, 235 – projected starter at tackle 
• Some of the offensive linemen will rotate here 

Linebacker: 

• Odin Potynsky, Junior, 5-10, 190 – returning starter on the strong side 
• Anthony Lacey. Senior, 5-10, 195 – projected starter in the middle 
• Charlie Miller, Junior, 6-1, 205 – projected starter on the weak side 
• Kelson Brunner, Junior, 5-10, 170 – part of the rotation and may play strong safety 

Secondary: 

• Jayden Cozze, Junior, 6-0, 195 – returning starter at strong safety, moving from linebacker 
• Kasey Kinsley, Senior, 5-9, 175 – returning starter at free safety 
• Gio Veliz, Senior, 5-10, 185 – returning starter at safety, but will rest more on defense 
• Ryan White, Senior, 5-11, 185 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Isaac Wambua, Junior, 5-8, 180 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Reggie Osay-Aye, Junior, 6-0, 180 – competing at cornerback 
• James Mongno, Senior, 5-10, 205 – competing at cornerback 
• Nick Vasquez, Senior, 5-10, 175 – competing at free safety 
• Kelson Brunner, Junior, 5-10, 170 – competing at strong safety and may play linebacker 

Special Teams:

• Senior Gio Velez returns as the punter and Leo Paniagua returns as the kicker 
• Wambua and Kinsley will be the return men 
• Senior AJ Melo returns as the long snapper 

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

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/28, at North Hunterdon 
• Friday, 9/5, at Monroe 
• Friday, 9/12, Phillipsburg at home 
• Friday, 9/19, at Bridgewater-Raritan 
• Friday, 9/26, Union at home 
• Friday, 10/3, at East Brunswick 
• Friday, 10/10, at Ridge 
• Friday, 10/17, Old Bridge at home 
• Friday, 10/24, Hillsborough at home 

Concerns:  

• Filling two offensive line positions and finding the right combination 
• Finding a  second running back 
• New defensive tackles, but they have played well in practice 

Recruiting: 

• Mongno and Joyce are 1-AA/D2 prospects 
• The others can play D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Cozze is a good player who is hard-working, coachable, and picks things up quickly 

Coach’s Comments: 

“I’m excited about the guys returning, but I will have a better idea when the pads are on. We have a touch schedule. We need to take the next step and match the intensity and toughness of our opponents. I believe we have the guys to do it.” – Head Coach Casey Ransome