DePaul Spartans
2020:
- 3-3
- 147 points scored; 24.5 average
- 117 points allowed; 19.5 average
- Wins: Seton Hall Prep, Ocean City, Pope John
- Losses: Bergen Catholic, St. Joe’s (Montvale), Delbarton
Graduation:
- QB Andrew Butler – Boston College as preferred walk-on
- K/P Matt Wilderson – Boston College as preferred walk-on
- RB De’Mere White – Robert Morris
- DB Joe Fano – Bryant
- LB Zach Reslovsky – UMass for lacrosse
- TE Nuccio Lisitano – Bluefield State
- RB Jordan Sellers – Southern Connecticut
- OL Jared Goodman – Wilkes
- DL Skylar DiFabbio – FDU (Madison/Florham Park)
- OL Jashone Sellers – Elizabeth City State (NC)
2021 Captains:
- To be named later
Offense:
- Formation: Multiple Spread
- Returning Starters: 6
Quarterback:
- AJ Rodriguez, Senior, 6-1, 205 – frontrunner and competing
- Zach Zambardi, Senior, 5-11, 175 – competing
- Patrick Grusser, Sophomore, 6-1, 180 – competing
Running Back:
- Tyler Brown, Senior, 5-10, 190 – will split carries
- Anthony Almeida, Junior, 5-10, 185 – will split carries
Wide Receiver:
- Marshawn Ferguson, Senior, 5-10, 180 – 3-year starter
- Eddie Conoran, Senior, 5-11, 195 – 3-year starter
- A’khoury Lyde, Senior, 5-11, 180 – returning starter
- Mark Finelli, Senior, 6-3, 180 – part of rotation
- James McDonagh, Junior, 5-11, 170 – in the mix
- Blake Thomas, Junior, 6-3, 185 – in the mix
- Dez Jones, Freshman, 5-11, 175 – in the mix
Tight End:
- Jake Kucera, Junior, 6-3, 225 – projected starter
Offensive Line:
- Robert Terreros, Senior, 6-1, 270 – returning starter at center
- Angel Mercedes, Senior, 6-3, 295 – returning starter at right guard
- Dan Haramis, Senior, 6-3, 255 – returning starter at right tackle
- Shaine Alverenga, Senior, 6-2, 280 – projected starter at left guard; experienced and started on defense
- Josh Duran, Junior, 6-7, 305 – competing at left tackle
- Anthony Aviles, Junior, 6-2, 275 – competing along the line; possible sixth man
Defense:
- Formation: Multiple 3-4
- Returning Starters: 10
Defensive Line:
- Q’yaeir Price, Senior, 6-2, 250 – 3-year starter at end
- Nevin Earl, Senior, 6-2, 250 – returning starter at end
- Shaine Alverenga, Senior, 6-2, 275 – returning starter at nose guard
- Lucas Young, Junior, 6-3, 218 – will play in pass rush situations
Linebacker:
- Qumar Howard, Senior, 6-1, 190 – 3-year starter on outside
- Patrick Kiefer, Senior, 6-0, 215 – 3-year starter on outside
- Ken Pierce, Senior, 5-11, 185 – 3-year starter on inside
- Chris Chasia, Senior, 6-0, 225 – 3-year starter on inside
- Tommy McGuire, Senior, 5-10, 185 – will compete on inside; missed 2020 with injury
- Javarus Williamson, Junior, 5-10, 190 – will rotate on the outside
Secondary:
- A’khoury Lyde, Senior, 5-11, 180 – 3-year starter at cornerback
- Nyair Domnie, Junior, 5-9, 180 – returning starter at cornerback
- Eddie Conoran, Senior, 5-11, 195 – 3-year starter at safety
- Milton Crespo, Junior, 5-11, 175 – competing at other safety
- Anthony Almeida, Junior, 5-10, 185 – competing at other safety
- Davon McClintock, Sophomore, 5-11, 170 – competing at other safety
Special Teams:
- Fabio Cevi will be the kicker
- Senior Zach Zambardi will punt
- Lyde, Ferguson, and sophomore Jadin Johnson (5-7, 160) will be the return men
Schedule:
- Saturday, 9/4, Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) at Rutgers
- Saturday, 9./11, at St. Joe’s (Montvale)
- Friday, 9/17, Pope John at home
- Friday, 9/24, at St. Peter’s Prep
- Friday, 10/1, Delbarton at home
- Saturday, 10/9, Irvington at home
- Friday, at Don Bosco
- Friday, Paramus Catholic at home
- Friday, 10/29, Seton Hall Prep at home
Concerns:
- How offensive line improves – they have had trouble running the ball the last two years and if they block well, the Spartans will go very far
Recruiting:
-
- Lyde verballed to Wisconsin
- Price verballed to Syracuse
- Conoran verballed to Central Michigan
- Ferguson has no offers, but is a 1-AA recruit
- Rodriguez has Patriot League potential
- Mercedes is a 1-AA candidate
- Howard, Pierce, and Chasia are 1-AA/D2 types
- Tyler Brown will play at a high-academic D2 school
- Elverenga and Earl are D2/D3 candidates
- Keifer may play lacrosse
- Haramis and Terreros are high-academic NESCAC-type candidates
- Finelli is D3
- Underclassmen:
- Many juniors and sophomores are talented, but need to prove it on the football field
- Jadin Johnson is a freshman with very good potential
Coach’s Comments:
“We have a lot of experience and many played as sophomores on our state championship team in 2019. We have seven or eight 3-year starters on defense and we want to translate that experience into wins. A big strength is our program over the winter months at Parisi’s under the guidance of our strength coach, Brian Murphy. We’re looking forward to the season.” – Head Coach Nick Campanile