Toms River North Mariners

2018 in Review:  

• 6-3 record
• Lost to Vineland in first round of South Jersey Group 5 playoffs
• Scored 253 points – 28.11 average
• Allowed 111 points – 12.33 average, two shutouts
• Wins Included: Manalapan, Southern, Toms River South, Toms River East
• Losses: Freehold Township, Middletown South

Departing Seniors: 

• WR Will Marsh – Kean
• T Stavon Drew – Delaware Valley
• C Dan Crow – Delaware Valley

*The bold print is a returning starter. This includes one who had playing time and one who started on the other side of the ball only in 2018, with explanation included after their name.

Offense:

Formation: Multiple Power Spread
Returning Starters: 5 

Quarterback: 

• Jake Kazanowsky, Junior, 6-2-½, 200 – returning starter 

Running Back: 

• Jarrod Pruitt, Senior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter
• Jordan Grey, Junior, 5-9, 165 – will spell Pruitt and played on defense last year

Wide Receiver:  

• Dominick Jacob, Senior, 6-2, 185 – returning starter
• Zach Goodale, Junior, 6-0-½, 165 – will start
• Zach Browne, Junior, 5-11, 160 – will start
• Jaden Frasier, Sophomore, 6-0, 165 – competing and will play in empty backfields
• Genaro Guardascione, Senior, 5-10, 175 – competing and will play in empty backfields

Fullback/H-Back (when used):  

• James Elias, Senior, 6-2, 215
• Vinnie Palmieri, Senior, 5-10, 235 
• CJ Niedzielski, Senior, 5-10, 230

Tight End (when used): 

• John O’Donnell, Junior, 6-3, 240 – started on defense 

Tackle: 

• Najae Hallenbeck, Senior, 6-7, 305 – returning starter at left tackle
• Jaden Schlosser, Junior, 6-3, 240 – will start at right tackle
• Rich Lopez, Sophomore, 6-1, 260 – backup

Guard:

• Cross Conlin, Senior, 6-1, 270 – returning starter at left guard
• Jamie Hans, Junior, 6-1, 255 – frontrunner at right guard
• Michael Dowd, Sophomore, 5-11, 230 – competing at right guard, can play all five line positions
• Mike Gajewski, Senior, 6-1, 265 – competing at right guard 

Center: 

• Frank Davis, Senior, 6-0, 215 – competing 
• John Muller, Senior, 6-0, 215 – competing
• Michael Dowd – competing

Defense:

Formation: 3-4
Returning Starters: 6

End: 

• CJ Niedzielski, Senior – returning starter on weak side
• Myron Ford, Senior, 5-11, 255 – was in last year’s rotation
• Michael Dowd – backup

Nose Guard: 

• Najae Hallenbeck, Senior – part of rotation 
• Mike Gajewski, Senior – part of rotation 
• Jake Szigeti, Junior, 6-1, 285 – part of rotation

Outside Linebacker: 

• John O’Donnell, Junior – returning starter on strong side
• Matt Spalletta, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter, moving from strong safety to weak side linebacker
• James Elias, Senior – backup who may rotate
• Rich Monticello, Senior, 6-0, 205 – backup who may rotate 

Inside Linebacker: 

• Vinnie Palmieri, Senior – returning starter on strong side
• CJ Felton, Junior, 6-1, 195 – will start on weak side
• Frank Davis, Senior – back up 

Cornerback: 

• Ray Carlson, Senior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter
• Jordan Grey, Junior, 5-9, 165 – played often last year
• Jarrod Pruitt, 5-10, 170 – will play as swing cornerback/safety, started on offense

Safety: 

• Sergio Borda, Senior, 5-9, 170 – returning starter at free safety
• Kenny Warner, Junior, 5-10, 165 – will start at strong safety

Special Teams: 

• Borda returns at punter and kicker has not been decided 
• Grey and Pruitt will return kicks; Jacob and Goodale will return punts 

Schedule:

Friday, 9/6, at Cherry Hill West
Friday, 9/13, at Southern Regional
Friday, 9/20, Manalapan at home
Friday, 9/27, at Rumson-Fair Haven
Friday, 10/4, Red Bank Catholic at home
Friday, 10/11, at Middletown South
Saturday, 10/19, at Long Branch
Friday, 10/25, Toms River East at home
Friday, 11/1, Toms River South at home

Concerns: 

• Going through a very tough division that includes Red Bank Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven, Long Branch, Middletown South and Manalapan. Depth will be important, with a high attrition rate from injuries sure to follow.  

Recruiting:   

• Hallenbeck has offers from Rutgers and UMass, plus interest from Pitt, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina
• Pruitt has Ivy and other 1-AA interest
• Jacob will play somewhere
• Carlson can go anywhere from 1-AA to D3
• Conlin, Spalletta, Niedzielski, Ford, Gajewski can go from D2 to D3  
• Palmieri, Borda, and Muller are D3 prospects 
• Junior class: 
• Kazanowsky going 1-AA or 1-A 
• Grey may go 1-AA for football or may run track, anchoring 4 x 100 relay team as a freshman that finished first in state in 2018 
• Goodale (son of Rutgers wrestling coach), and Browne are possible 1-AA prospects
• O’Donnell and Schlosser range from 1-AA to D3

Coach’s Comments:

“We have a blue collar group that has done everything asked of them. We are in a very competitive division and we think we can make a run in the states.” – Head Coach Dave Oizerowitz