Newark Central Blue Devils 

August 6, 2023

2022: 

• 3-7 
• Lost to Lenape Valley in the North Jersey Group 2 consolations and beat Lyndhurst 
• Wins came against Newark Collegiate and Highland Park 
• Losses included Weequahic, Immaculata, West Side, Shabazz, and Snyder 
• Scored 167 points for a 16.7 average  
• Allowed 301 points for a 30.1 average 

Graduation: 

• WR Taj Roberts – Montclair State 
• OL Abdul Sylla – Kean 
• DE Keion Langley – FDU (Florham Park) 
• OL/DL De’Shon Harris – Curry College (Mass) 
• WR/DB Ibn Hardin – enlisted in US Marines 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 4  

Quarterback: 

• Andrew Wright Jr., Freshman, 5-10, 160 – projected starter 

Running Back: 

• Zahir Wilson, Junior, 6-1, 215 – 3-year starter 
• Nashon Brown, Junior, 5-9, 170 – will spell Wilson 
• Devaughn Jackson, Junior, 5-8, 165 – provides depth 
• Sharrod Terry, Senior, 5-9, 170 – provides depth 

Wide Receiver: 

• Quran McMillan, Senior, 5-9, 165 – 3-year starter; 23 receptions for 503 yards per nj.com  
• Jahsyn Reid, Junior, 6-2, 183 – returning starter 
• Dishon Jerman, Freshman, 5-11, 170 – front-runner 
• Al-Sajade Pray, Junior, 5-11, 170 – front-runner; started on defense  
• Tyshawn Bailey, Freshman, 5-11, 150 – competing 
• Jahir Grandberry, Freshman, 5-8, 140 – competing 
• Armond Mancebo, Senior, 6-3, 160 – competing 
• Jayden Worilds, Sophomore, 5-11, 160 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Andrew Wheeler, Sophomore, 6-4, 235 – projected starter at left tackle 
• Wakeel Balogun, Junior, 5-10, 220 – projected starter at left guard; started on defense  
• Nathan Vega, Sophomore, 5-11, 225 – projected starter at center 
• Mamoudou Kamara, Sophomore, 6-1, 220 – projected starter at right guard 
• Zymir Tutt, Senior, 6-3, 240 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Laquan Clyburn, Junior, 5-11, 230 – top reserve along the line 
• Kudus Lawal, Junior, 5-10, 225 – provides depth along the line 
• Shakur Williams, Senior, 6-2, 235 – provides depth along the line 
• Isaiah Garcia, Senior, 5-10, 240 – provides depth along the line 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Defensive Line: 

• Zymir Tutt, Senior, 6-3, 240 – returning starter at end 
• Andrew Wheeler, Sophomore, 6-4, 235 – projected starter at end 
• Mamoudou Kamara, Sophomore, 6-1, 220 – part of the rotation at end 
• Shakur Williams, Senior, 6-2, 235 – projected part of rotation at nose guard and tackle
• Marqui Thomas, Sophomore, 5-10, 290 – projected part of rotation at nose guard and tackle 
• Isaiah Garcia, Senior, 5-10, 240 – part of rotation at nose guard and tackle 

Linebacker: 

• Koctrell Battle, Senior, 5-11, 215 – returning starter on the inside 
• Zahir Wilson, Junior, 6-1, 215 – returning starter on the inside 
• Wakeel Balogun, Junior, 5-10, 220 – returning starter on the outside and may also play end 
• Jayden Worilds, Sophomore, 5-11, 160 – projected starter on the outside 
• Nathan Vega, Sophomore, 5-11, 225 – part of the rotation on the inside 
• Kudus Lawal, Junior, 5-10, 225 – part of the rotation on the inside 
• Sharrod Terry, Senior, 5-9, 170 – part of the rotation on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Al-Sajade Pray, Junior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Dishon Jerman, Freshman, 5-11, 170 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Quran McMillan, Senior, 5-9, 165 – returning starter at safety 
• Jahsyn Reid, Junior, 6-2, 183 – 3-year starter at safety 
• Taheem Ellis, Junior, 5-10, 165 – part of the rotation at safety 
• Devaughn Jackson, Junior, 5-8, 165 – part of the rotation at cornerback 
• Jahir Grandberry, Freshman, 5-8, 140 – part of the rotation at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Wakeel Balogun will be the kicker and senior Quran McMillan will punt 
• McMillan and Worilds are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Saturday, 9/2, Hoboken at Hinchliffe Stadium (Paterson) 
• Friday, 9/8, at Immaculata 
• Thursday, 9/14, Newark Collegiate at home 
• Friday, 9/22, at Weequahic 
• Saturday, 9/30, West Side at home 
• Thursday, 10/5, Shabazz at home 
• Thursday, 10/12, at Snyder 
• Friday, 10/20, at Highland Park 

Concerns: 

• Can the offensive line come together quick enough? 
• How fast can a young quarterback grow up? 

Recruiting: 

• Tutt is a 1-AA prospect 
• McMillan is a 1-AA/JUCO prospect 
• Battle is 1-AA/D2 material 
• Underclassmen: 
• Reid has offers from Syracuse, Boston College, Duke, West Virginia, Minnesota, Temple, and others 
• Pray is a 1-A/1-AA prospect 
• Wilson and Brown are 1-AA candidates 
• Balogun is a 1-AA/D2 possibility 
• In the sophomore class, Wheeler has drawn 1-A interest 
• Jerman, a freshman, has very good potential 

Coach’s Comments: 

“This is my second full year as head coach and our defense can be very good: they’re the heart and soul of our team.” – Head Coach Mark Ingram