Paramus Spartans 

August 19, 2023 

2022: 

• 5-4 
• Lost to West Essex in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Pascack Valley, Bergenfield, and Demarest 
• Losses included Old Tappan, River Dell, and Dumont 
• Scored 167 points for an 18.55 average 
• Allowed 196 points for a 21.78 average 

Graduation: 

• None 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 8  

Quarterback: 

• Cormac O’Hara, Junior, 6-2, 205 – projected starter; started on defense 

Running Back: 

• Adrian Caba, Senior, 5-8, 160 – returning starter
• Chris Aykurt, Senior, 5-11-½, 220 – will split reps 
• Uland Carroll, Sophomore, 5-8, 155 – will split reps 

Wide Receiver: 

• Mason Merkle, Junior, 5-8, 150 – returning starter at slot receiver; rushed for 668 yards  
• Andrew Rennar, Junior, 6-1, 185 – returning starter 
• Marco Giacchi, Senior, 5-6, 150 – projected starter 

Tight End: 

• Liam Jones, Junior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Aidin Xheraj, Senior, 6-4, 275 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Ryan Vene, Senior, 6-2, 215 – projected starter at left guard; started on defense  
• Isaac Moon, Senior, 6-1, 248 – returning starter at center 
• Hansel Asmar, Senior, 6-0, 225 – returning starter at right guard 
• Daniel Elyash, Senior, 6-1, 240 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Giuseppe Monteleone, Junior, 6-1, 205 – sixth man of the line 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 9 

Defensive Line: 

• Daniel Elyash, Senior, 6-1, 240 – returning starter at end 
• Isaac Moon, Senior, 6-1, 248 – returning starter at end 
• Hansel Asmar, Senior, 6-0, 225 – returning starter at tackle 
• Ryan Vene, Senior, 6-2, 215 – returning starter at tackle 

Linebacker: 

• Liam Jones, Junior, 6-0, 200 – 3-year starter on the inside 
• Chris Aykurt, Senior, 5-11-½, 220 – 3-year starter on the inside 
• Giuseppe Monteleone, Junior, 6-1, 205 – projected starter on the outside; started games late in the year 
• Cormac O’Hara, Junior, 6-2, 205 – returning starter on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Adrian Caba, Senior, 5-8, 160 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Mason Merkle, Junior, 5-8, 150 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Andrew Rennar, Junor, 6-1, 185 – returning starter at safety 
• Uland Carroll, Sophomore, 5-8, 155 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Marco Giacchi, Senior, 5-6, 150 – projected nickel back in situations 

Special Teams: 

• Juniors Brandon Durrenberger and Matias Lyndsay are competing at kicker and punter 
• Kaba, Carroll, and Merkle are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/25, at Hackettstown 
• Friday, 9/1, at Old Tappan 
• Friday, 9/8, at Pascack Valley 
• Thursday, 9/14, Demarest at home 
• Friday, 9/22, at DUmont 
• Friday, 9/29, Kennedy at home 
• Saturday, 10/7, at Bergenfield 
• Friday, 10/13, Mahwah at home 
• Friday, 10/20, River Dell at home 

Concerns: 

• Staying healthy 
• The quarterback learning the system quickly 
• Tough schedule 

Recruiting: 

• Elyash verballed to Davidson for wrestling 
• Aykurt has drawn interest from Columbia 
• Xheraj has interest from New Haven, Muhlenberg, and Ithaca 
• Moon and Asmar are D3 recruits 
• Underclassmen: 
• Jones has interest 
• Merkle is smaller, but has very good speed and quickness 
• O’Hara has potential 
• Rennar will probably play lacrosse 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We have experience and we will see how that translates. We expect good leadership from this team and our standards are high. We have had a solid summer and we will take things day-by-day and keep improving.” – Head Coach Joe Sabella