Post 1,179 – Team Preview 2023: Hillside Comets

Hillside Comets  

August 28, 2023

2022: 

  • 9-2 
  • Lost to Old Tappan in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 3 sectional finals, beat River Dell in the semifinals, and Parsippany Hills in the quarterfinals 
  • Wins included Delaware Valley, Bernards, Carteret, and Roselle  
  • Their other loss was to St. Thomas Aquinas 
  • Scored 336 points for a 30.54 average 
  • Allowed 134 points for a 12.18 average 

 Graduation: 

  • DL Zamir Hawk – Iowa State 
  • RB Muwaffaq Parkman – Syracuse 
  • RB Kyon Simonson – St. Thomas More (Ct. prep) 
  • OL Charles Allen – Stony Brook 
  • DB Najah Jordan – Husson (Me.) 
  • QB Caleb Salters – Elizabeth City State (NC) 
  • C DJ Nesmith – American International (Mass.) 
  • DB Sekai Degannes – Mass Maritime 
  • LB Jaydan Anderson – Seton Hill (Pa.) 
  • OL/DL Chris Chery – Kean 
  • LB Jefferson Williame – Caldwell sprint football 
  • LB Woodnel Alphanor – Caldwell sprint football 
  • WR/DB Jared Taylor – Caldwell sprint football 
  • DE Quanir Clark – Sussex County Community College 
  • DB Isaiah Smith – Sussex County Community College 

Offense: 

  • Formation: Multiple Spread 
  • Returning Starters: 7  

Quarterback: 

  • Justin Ashford, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – competing 
  • Zion Risher, Junior, 65-11, 165 – competing 

Running Back: 

  • Chibugo Chigozie-Nwosu, Senior, 5-9, 202 – will alternate 
  • Talibi Kaba, Junior, 6-3, 220 – will alternate 

Wide Receiver: 

  • Marcus White, Senior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter 
  • Al-Jamir Davis, Senior, 6-3, 170 – returning starter 
  • Kendrell Gordon, Senior, 5-7, 155 – returning starter 
  • Darvens Tunis, Senior, 5-10, 160 – returning starter 
  • Kamari Robinson, Sophomore, 5-8, 175 – pushing for time 

H-Back (situational): 

  • Darren Ikinnagbon, Junior, 6-2, 230 – part of rotation 
  • Musa Garnes, Senior, 6-4, 220 – part of rotation 
  • Mehkai Williams, Senior, 6-0, 200 – part of rotation 

Offensive Line: 

  • Diego Rodriguez, Senior, 6-5, 270 – returning starter at left tackle, moving from guard 
  • Jordan Givens, Senior, 6-2, 220 – projected starter at left guard 
  • Christian Valdez, Junior, 5-9, 225 – competing at center 
  • Jorge Rodriguez, Junior, 6-2, 280 – competing at center 
  • Leo Harris, Senior, 6-0, 225 – 3-year starter at right guard 
  • Yani Cajuste, Senior, 6-1, 250 – returning starter at right tackle 

Defense: 

  • Formation: 3-3 Stack  
  • Returning Starters: 5  

Defensive Line: 

  • Darren Ikinnagbon, Junior, 6-2, 230 – projected starter at end 
  • Ibn Muhammad, Senior, 5-9, 225 – projected starter at end 
  • Yani Cajuste, Senior, 6-1, 250 – returning starter at nose guard 
  • Diego Rodriguez, Senior, 6-5, 270 – part of the rotation 
  • Leo Harris, Senior, 6-0, 225 – part of the rotation 
  • Xavier Siddons, Senior, 6-0, 225 – part of the rotation   

Linebacker: 

  • Musa Garnes, Senior, 6-4, 220 – competing  
  • Talibi Kaba, Junior, 6-3, 220 – competing  
  • Jakai Jones, Senior, 6-2, 225 – competing 
  • Ivie Igiehon, Junior, 6-3, 200 – competing 
  • Kavon Hayes, Senior, 5-9, 180 – competing 

Secondary: 

  • McNaully Erminal, Senior, 5-10, 160 – 3-year starter at strong safety 
  • Kendrell Gordon, Senior, 5-7, 155 – projected starter at strong safety 
  • Marcus White, Senior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter at free safety 
  • Darvens Tunis, Senior, 5-10, 160 – returning starter at cornerback 
  • Jaden Shockley, Senior, 6-1, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
  • Kamari Robinson, Sophomore, part of the rotation at strong safety 
  • Shakeam Gatewood, Sophomore, 5-10, 145 – part of rotation at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

  • Kicker and punter are still being decided 
  • Tunis, White, and Davis are the return men 

Schedule: 

  • Saturday, 9/2, Bernards at home 
  • Saturday, 9/9, Metuchen at home 
  • Friday, 9/15, at Roselle 
  • Friday, 9/22, at New Providence 
  • Saturday, 9/30, St. Thomas Aquinas at home 
  • Saturday, 10/7, Johnson at home 
  • Friday, 10/13, at Delaware Valley 
  • Friday, 10/20, at Carteret 

Concerns: 

  • New quarterback 
  • Stack linebackers 
  • Replacing a good run of players the last two years and how soon do they get up to speed? 

Recruiting: 

  • Rodriguez verballed to UConn 
  • White, Tunis, Erminal, and Davis have 1-AA offers 
  • Others may play D3 
  • Underclassmen: 
  • Kaba has interest from UConn and Duke 
  • Ikinnogbun has offers from Wake Forest, Iowa State, and Kent State 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We had a good last two years and now we have to replace some good players, merging experience with inexperience. We need to get off to a fast start and we have a tough opening game.” – Head Coach Barris Grant

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