Hackensack Comets  

2018 in Review:  

• 5-5 record
• Lost to North Bergen in the first round of the North Jersey Section 1 Group 5 playoffs
• Scored 287 points – 28.7 average
• Allowed 223 points – 22.3 average
• Wins Included: Passaic Tech, Kennedy, Teaneck
• Losses: Paramus Catholic, Ridgewood, Clifton, Hudson Catholic

Departing Seniors: 

• QB Zion Frazier – American International
• OL Mark Brown – Delaware Valley  
• DB Anthony Charlier – Delaware Valley 
• OL Tori DuPree – Castleton (Vt.) 
• DE Dylan Powell – St. Peter’s (NJ) for track  

*The bold print below 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 Pro
Returning Starters: 8 

Quarterback:  

• Jayden Robertson, Junior, 6-0-½, 210 – returning starter, moving from WR/RB and had 900 all-purpose yards

Running Back:  

• Tymere Robinson, Senior, 5-11, 205 – returning starter who rushed for 1,200 yards
• Giovanni Payne, Sophomore, 5-8, 185 – reserve role

Fullback/h-back:   

• Isaiah Spain, Senior, 6-0, 230 – returning starter
• Devin Manning, Senior, 5-11, 230 – started on defense 
• Danny Mai, Senior, Senior, 6-3, 225 – returning starter at tight end

Wide Receiver:  

• Jordan Wimberly, Senior, 5-9, 165 – 3-year starter
• Isaiah Buster, Senior, 6-1, 170 – 3-year starter 
• Jaden Wimberly, Sophomore, 5-11, 160 – saw action and will start   
• Bryce Pitts, Junior, 5-10, 150 – will start 
• MJ Ramirez, Senior, 6-0, 165 – 3-year starter who will play utility role

Tight End:  

• Bryan Barnes, Senior, 6-2, 230 – will start

Tackles: 

• Gideon Adu, Senior, 6-1, 240 – 3-year starter at left tackle, although he missed all but one game with an injury last year
• Trey Taylor, Senior, 6-3, 220 – competing at right tackle
• Shalik Hubbard, Sophomore, 6-3, 220 – competing at right tackle

Guard:  

• Robert Walker, Senior, 6-0, 250 – 3-year starter at left guard
• Colin Hutchinson, Senior, 5-11, 240 – will start at right guard

Center:  

• Aubyn Bryan, Senior, 6-0, 250 – competing
• Clifton Thompson, Junior, 6-0, 290 – competing 

Defense:  

Formation: 4-4/4-3
Returning Starters: 6 

End: 

• Bryan Barnes, Senior – will start 
• Devin Manning, Senior – returning starter who moves from linebacker 
• Michael Grant, Sophomore, 6-1, 195 – will rotate 

Tackle: 

• Jason Zapata, Junior, 6-0, 320 – will start
• Clifton Thompson, Junior – will start
• Gideon Adu, Senior – will rotate 
• Robert Walker, Senior – will rotate 
• Ryan Riccardi, Senior, 5-8, 190 – will rotate 
• Colin Hutchinson, Junior – will rotate

Outside Linebacker: 

• Tymere Robinson, Senior – 3-year starter
• Giovanni Payne, Sophomore – competing at other linebacker 
• Herwin Tejada, Junior, 5-11, 175 – competing at other linebacker 

Inside Linebacker:  

• Danny Mai, Senior – 3-year starter  
• Isaiah Spain, Senior – 3-year starter

Cornerback:  

• Curtis Whiting, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – returning starter  
• Jayden Smith, Senior, 5-10, 165 – played often 
• Angel Mena, Senior, 6-0, 170 – third cornerback  

Safety: 

• Isaiah Buster, Senior – 3-year starter at free safety
• Walter King Jr., Sophomore, 6-1, 175 – competing at strong safety
• Jayden Robertson, Junior – competing at strong safety
• MJ Ramirez, Senior – possible 3rd-year starter competing at strong safety

Special Teams: 

• Kicker will be senior Joseph Mora and sophomore Kayjoir Franklin will punt 
• Jordan Wimberly, Jaden Wimberly, and Robertson will be the return men

Schedule: 

• Friday, 9/6, Eastside at home  
• Friday, 9/13, at Passaic Tech
• Friday, 9/20, Paramus Catholic at home
• Friday, 9/27, at Clifton
• Saturday, 10/5, at Hudson Catholic, night game
• Thursday, 10/10, at Bergen Tech 
• Friday, 10/18, Kennedy at home 
• Bye Week 
• Friday, 11/1, Ridgewood at home 
• Thursday, 11/28, at Teaneck

Concerns:  

• Stay healthy
• Improve depth; having 35 sophomores may solve the problem

Recruiting:   

• Robinson has an offer from New Mexico Highlands with interest from Monmouth, Wagner, UMAss, LIU Post, and others 
• Jordan Wimberly has interest from Navy, Monmouth, Fordham, Lafayette, Lehigh, and Stony Brook
• Spain has looks from numerous schools
• Walker has interest from Albright, Merrimac, and D2/D3 schools
• Buster has interest from the service academies, Columbia, Lafayette, and Lehigh
• Manning is a sleeper who could work his way up to 1-AA 
• Adu may go D2/D3 route
• Mai will not pursue football and is president of the senior class  

• Underclassmen: 
• Robertson is receiving interest for 1-A, specifically Power-5 
• Smith had good Rutgers camp and may rise as a prospect
• Thompson may develop into a scholarship player  
• Pitts needs a good year and could go D2/D3 
• Zapata has D3 potential 
• Sophomores – Whiting has Power-5 ability and is strong, academically 
• Sophomores – Jaden Wimberly has Power-5 ability and is strong, academically
• Sophomores – King has raw ability who can develop into a 1-A candidate and is the son of former Hackensack/Rutgers player Walter King    

Coach’s Comments: 

“This will be one of the better teams we have had in recent years. This is an unselfish bunch who do the little things. This could be a break-through year for division and sectional championships.” – Head Coach Benjie Wimberly