Newark Central Blue Devils 

July 30, 2026

2025: 

• 6-5 
• Lost to Phillipsburg in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Cedar Grove, Hudson Catholic, and Verona 
• Losses were to Hoboken, Glen Ridge, and River Dell 
• Scored 245 points for a 22.27 average 
• Allowed 243 points for a 22.09 average 

Graduation: 

• OL/DL Andrew Wheeler – Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) 
• DB Abdoul Traore – Franklin Pierce (NH) 
• DL Mamoudou Kamara – East Coast Prep (Mass.) 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 8 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Zahyir Taylor, Junior, 5-11, 175 – returning starter; passed for 1,562 yards and 15 touchdowns, and rushed for 318 yards and 4 touchdowns 
• Mason Reese, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – provides depth 

Running Back:  

• Ryan Desauguste, Junior, 5-10, 180 – returning co-starter; rushed for 663 yards and 6 touchdowns 
• Symeir Sorey, Junior, 5-10, 175 – returning co-starter; rushed for 409 yards and 2 touchdowns 
• Asiad Council, Sophomore, 5-8, 170 – will see action 
• Dexter Durrant, Sophomore, 5-11, 165 – provides depth 

Wide Receiver: 

• Dishon Jerman, Senior, 5-11, 180 – 3-year starter; 23 receptions for 434 yards and 5 touchdowns, and rushed for 172 yards and 1 touchdown 
• Jahir Grandberry, Senior, 5-9, 155 – returning starter; 34 receptions for 411 yards and 3 touchdowns 
• Noah Holliday-Boone, Senior, 6-1, 195 – returning starter; 12 receptions for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns
• Donovan Grant, Junior, 6-2, 170 – projected starter 
• Isaiah Agyarko, Senior, 5-11, 170 – competing 
• Mohammed Traore, Junior, 5-10, 165 – provides depth 
• Mohammed Kelleh, Senior, 6-3, 160 – provides depth; started on defense 

Tight End (situational): 

• Mari Singleton, Senior, 5-11, 190 – will see action; started on defense  
• Ahmad Williams, Senior, 5-11, 180 – will see action; started on defense  

Offensive Line: 

• Xavier Soto, Sophomore, 6-6, 305 – projected starter at left tackle 
• Ziven Lewis, Senior, 5-11, 240 – returning starter at left guard 
• Demetrius Thompson, Sophomore, 6-2, 290 – projected starter at center 
• Nasir Arrington, Senior, 6-1, 295 – projected starter at right guard 
• Davion Cupitt, Senior, 6-6, 235 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Mari Singleton, Senior, 5-11, 190 – will provide depth 
• Ja’Syd Caldwell, Sophomore, 6-2, 240 – will provide depth 
• Alano Doubuisson, Senior, 6-1, 220 – will provide depth 
• Aziz Kane, Senior, 5-9, 235 – will provide depth 
• Ky’mees Garner, Freshman, 5-10, 235 – will provide depth 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Defensive Line:  

• Mari Singleton, Senior, 5-11, 190 – returning starter at end 
• Ja’Syd Caldwell, Sophomore, 6-2, 240 – projected starter at end 
• Davion Cupitt, Senior, 6-6, 235 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Nasir Arrington, Senior, 6-1, 295 – part of the rotation 
• Ky’mees Garner, Freshman, 5-10, 235 – part of the rotation 
• Demetrius Thompson, Sophomore, 6-2, 290 – part of the rotation 
• Ziven Lewis, Senior, 5-11, 240 – part of the rotation 

Linebacker:  

• Ahmad Williams, Senior, 5-11, 180 – returning starter in the middle 
• Symeir Sorey, Junior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter on the outside 
• Hassan McKenith, Junior, 5-10, 225 – competing on the inside 
• Yasin Diggs, Junior, 6-1, 215 – competing on the outside 
• Safi Smith, Senior, 5-10, 185 – provides depth 
• Jermaine Grace, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – provides depth 
• Dexter Durrant, Sophomore, 5-11, 165 – provides depth 
• Noah Holliday-Boone, Senior, 6-1, 195 – provides depth 

Secondary: 

• Mohammed Kelleh, Senior, 6-3, 160 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Thierno Fall, Senior, 6-2, 160 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Dishon Jerman, Senior, 5-11, 180 – 4-year starter at safety 
• Obe Atiba, Senior, 6-2, 170 – projected starter at safety 
• Mohammed Traore, Junior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter at safety 
• Donovan Grant, Junior, 6-2, 170 – part of the rotation 
• Ahmad Walton, Freshman, 5-11, 155 – part of the rotation 
• Asiad Council, Sophomore, 5-8, 170 – part of the rotation 
• Mason Reese, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – part of the rotation 
• Deon Wills, Junior, 6-0, 180 – part of the rotation 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Juan Vega will be the kicker, and senior Isaiah Agyarko returns as the punter 
• Grandberry and Council are the return men 
• Senior Ahmad Williams is the long snapper 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/28, Bloomfield at home 
• Friday, 9/4, at Weequahic 
• Friday, 9/11, Snyder at home 
• Saturday, 9/19, Orange at home 
• Saturday, 9/26, at Nutley 
• Friday, 10/2, at Union City 
• Thursday, 10/8, West Essex at home 
• 10/14-16, Bye Week 
• Saturday, 10/24, at East Orange  

Concerns:  

• Stay healthy 

Recruiting: 

• Jerman has offers from UConn, Syracuse, Temple, Stony Brook, and others 
• Fall has offers from Stonehill, Sacred Heart, and Stony Brook 
• Kelleh has a Sacred Heart offer 
• Atiba and Williams have 1AA interest 
• Grandberry has an offer from Indiana U of Pa. 
• Cupitt has an offer from North Carolina A&T 
• Holliday-Boone has 1AA/D2 interest 
• Underclassmen: 
• Soto is an intriguing sophomore 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We’re taking it week by week. We aim to be consistent, get over the hump, and not just get to the playoffs.” – Head Coach Mark Ingram