Post 288 – HS Football Preview 2019: Toms River North

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  

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.