Post 549 – Team Preview 2020: Union Farmers

Union Farmers  

2019: 

  • 12-1 record 
  • Lost to Ridgewood in the North Jersey group 5 final 
  • Beat Clifton in the North Jersey Section 2 final 
  • Beat West Orange in the semi-finals and Kennedy in the first round 
  • Scored 439 points for a 33.77 average 
  • Allowed 196 points for a 15.08 average, including two shutouts
  • Wins included Westfield, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sayreville, and Curtis (NY) 

Graduation: 

  • WR Ahmirr Robinson – Rutgers 
  • QB Andrew Sanborn – American International 
  • WR/DB Kayir McBride – American International 
  • OL/DL Jared Durand – American International 
  • LB Aaron Myrick – American International 
  • DL JaQuan Robinson – American International 
  • OL Malachi Pierre-Louis – Montclair State 

*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 explanations included after their name.  

Offense: 

Formation: Multiple Spread
Returning Starters: 7 

Quarterback: 

  • Shawn Smith, Senior, 5-11, 175 – competing 
  • Jaden Stewart, Junior, 6-1, 190 – competing; Hudson Catholic transfer and saw time  

Running Back: 

  • Diante Wilson, Senior, 5-11, 195 – shared position; gained 1,114 yards on less than 100 carries
  • Trent Hutchins, Senior, 5-8, 180 – will receive reps, but will not share the position 

Wide Receiver: 

  • Desmond Igbinosun, Senior, 6-3, 205 – returning starter 
  • Elijah White, Senior, 5-8, 165 – returning starter 
  • Jalen Carter, Senior, 6-1, 185 – saw action and started on defense 
  • Davison Igbinosun, Junior, 6-3-½, 185 – projected starter; started on defense 
  • Louikenzy Jules, Junior, 5-11, 175 – will spell the starters 

Offensive Line: 

  • Terrell Cannon, Senior, 6-3, 255 – returning starter at right tackle 
  • Warren Francis, Senior, 6-0, 255 – returning starter at center; may play guard 
  • Nick Rua-Broadnax, Junior, 6-2, 255 – returning starter at guard – moving from fullback 
  • Najee Bowe-Pinckney, Junior, 5-11, 325 – projected starter at guard 
  • Chris Williams, Senior, 6-4, 260 – projected starter at left tackle 
  • Chris Ejekwu, Junior, 6-1, 315 – competing at center 

Defense: 

Formation: 4-3
Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line:  

  • Terrell Cannon, Senior, 6-3, 255 – returning starter at end 
  • Chris Williams, Senior, 6-4, 260 – projected starter at end 
  • Jalen Jones, Senior, 6-2, 305 – projected starter at tackle 
  • Mehkai Winston, Junior, 6-2, 315 – projected starter at tackle 
  • Warren Francis, Senior, 6-0, 255 – part of tackle rotation 
  • Najee Bowe-Pinckney, Junior, 5-11, 325 – part of tackle rotation 

Linebacker:  

  • Diante Wilson, Senior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter on the strong side 
  • Jalen Carter, Senior, 6-1, 185 – returning starter on the weak side 
  • Nick Rua-Broadnax, Junior, 6-2, 255 – projected starter in the middle 
  • Quamir Brown, Sophomore, 6-1, 255 – competing on the inside  

Secondary: 

  • Davison Igbinosun, Junior, 6-3-1/2, 185 – returning starter at cornerback 
  • Desmond Igbinosun, Senior, 6-3, 205 – returning starter at strong safety 
  • Elijah White, Senior, 5-8, 165 – projected starter at free safety 
  • Louikenzy Jules, Junior, 5-11, 175 – projected starter at cornerback 
  • Kendall Bournes, Junior, 5-10, 175 – part of the cornerback rotation  

Special Teams: 

  • The kicker will be senior Nasseem Sanchez 
  • Elijah White will be the punter 
  • Desmond Igbinosun, Elijah White, and Davison Igbinosun will be the return men 

Schedule: 

  • Friday, 10/2, Westfield at home 
  • Friday, 10/9, at Bridgewater-Raritan  
  • Friday, 10/16, Elizabeth at home 
  • Saturday, 10/24, at St. Joe’s (Metuchen)  
  • Friday, 10/30, Ridge at home 
  • Friday, 11/6, at Watchung Hills

Concerns: 

  • Replacing a 3-year starter at quarterback in Andrew Sanborn, Union’s best ever statistically  
  • Inexperience up front 
  • COVID issues 

Recruiting: 

  • Desmond Igbinosun verballed to Rutgers 
  • Cannon offers: Monmouth, UMass, C. Michigan, Kent, among others 
  • Wilson offers: LIU and has 1-AA interest 
  • Carter has 1-AA interest 
  • Chris Williams will play somewhere 
  • White has D3 offers 
  • Others will need a good senior year
  • Underclassmen: 
  • Davison Igbinosun offers: Rutgers, Boston College, Temple, Pitt, Syracuse, and others 
  • Rua-Broadnax has Ivy/Patriot interest 
  • Others have to prove it on the field  

Coach’s Comments: 

  • “We have very good size along both lines. We have experience at each position group, which will help some of our new starters. Our skill players have some game changers. This is a talented, hard working group that plays together.” – Head Coach Lou Grasso Jr. 
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