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