Hackensack Comets  

2020: 

• 1-5 
• 99 points scored; 16.5 average 
• 138 points allowed; 23.0 average 
• Wins: Teaneck 
• Losses: Northern Highlands, old Tappan, Ridgewood, Wayne Valley, Red Bank 

Graduation:  

• OLB Herwin Tejeda – American International 
• QB-RB Jayden Robertson – American International 
• OL/DL Clifton Thompson – Myrtle Beach Prep (SC) 
• WR/DB Jayden Smith – Caldwell College sprint football 

2021 Captains:  

• Not named 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple-I 
• Returning Starters: 7  

Quarterback: 

• Matt Pallouras, Junior, 5-10, 175 – projected starter  
• John Farrington, Senior, 5-10, 180 – provides depth 

Running Back: 

• Gio Payne, Senior, 5-11, 200 – returning starter 
• Curtis Whiting, Senior, 5-10, 185 – returning starter 
• Aidan Jones, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – part of the rotation 
• Marquise Donegan, Senior, 5-11, 180 – part of the rotation 

Wide Receiver: 

• Walter King Jr, Senior, 6-3, 205 – returning starter 
• Eric Afrifah, Junior, 6-2, 175 – projected starter 
• Adrian King, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – part of the rotation 

Tight End: 

• Hassan Bailey, Senior, 6-1, 215 – projected starter; started on defense 
• Michael Grant, Senior, 6-4, 220 – provides depth and play in two-tight end situations 
• Garret D’Elia, Junior, 6-4, 210 – provides depth 

Offensive Line: 

• Billy Johnson, Senior, 5-11, 315 – returning starter at center 
• Shalik Hubbard, Senior, 6-4, 295 – returning starter at guard; may play tackle 
• Emanuel Nazy, Sophomore, 6-4, 260 – returning starter at guard; may play tackle 
• Jermaine Frost, Junior, 6-0, 260 – competing at tackle and guard 
• Darius Elliott, Senior, 6-3, 260 – competing at tackle and guard 
• Seth Zweil, Senior, 5-11, 200 – returning starter at guard; competing at guard and tackle 
• Gene Petrella, Junior, 5-10, 200 – competing at tackle and guard 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple Fronts 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line: 

• Michael Grant, Senior, 6-4, 220 – returning starter at end 
• Terrance Hicks, Senior, 6-3, 215 – projected starter at end 
• Prince Nifah, Senior, 6-1, 205 – part of rotation at end 
• Tahj Figures, Junior, 5-11, 260 – 5-11, 260 – projected starter at tackle 
• Gene Petrella, Junior, 5-10, 200 – competing at tackle 
• Jermaine Frost, Junior, 6-0, 260 – competing at tackle 
• Billy Johnson, Senior, 5-11, 315 – competing at tackle 
• Seth Zweil, Senior, 5-11, 200 – competing at tackle 

Linebacker: 

• Hassan Bailey, Senior, 6-1, 215 – returning starter on the inside 
• Elijah Oragbo, Senior, 5-10, 210 – projected starter on the inside linebacker 
• Victor Mai, Senior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter on the outside 
• Gio Payne, Senior, 5-11, 200 – part of rotation on the outside 
• Marquise Donegan, Senior, 5-11, 180 – part of rotation on the outside 
• Walter King Jr, Senior, 6-3, 205 – part of rotation on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Curtis Whiting, Senior, 5-10, 185 – 4-year starter at cornerback 
• Eric Afrifah, Senior, 6-2, 175 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Aidan Jones, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – projected starter at safety 
• Shaun Sowah, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – projected starter at safety 
• Randy Owosu, Senior, 5-11, 185 – part of rotation at safety 
• Adrian King, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – part of rotation at safety  

Special Teams: 

• Senior Jake Colmos will be the kicker 
• The punter is not determined 
• Whiting, Jones, Payne, and Adrian King will be the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 9/3, Kennedy at home 
• Friday, 9/10, at Clifton 
• Friday, 9/17, Eastside at home 
• Friday, 9/24, at Old Tappan 
• Friday, 10/1, at Northern Highlands 
• Friday, 10/8, Passaic at home 
• Friday, 10/15, at Passaic Tech 
• 10/22-23, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/29, Ridgewood at home 
• Thursday, 11/25, Teaneck at home 

Concerns:  

• Knowing what last year was and seeing what they can do this year 
• Being healthy, humble, and hungry 

Recruiting: 

• Whiting verballed to Army
• Hubbard will be at a high-academic school in either non-Power-5 1-A or 1-AA 
• Walter King Jr will be at a high-academic 1-AA to D3 
• Grant is a 1-AA candidate 
• Payne and Johnson are D2/D3 
• Bailey will also be at a high-academic school with interest from Colby 
• Elliott will play somewhere 
• Underclassmen: 
• Afrifah is a very promising junior  
• Jones and Adrian King are athletic 
• Nagy is another promising sophomore 

Coach’s Comments:  

“We have our fingers crossed from a COVID standpoint; what’s most important is the health of the athletes. It’s very exciting; the kids are working hard, things are new, and they’re starting to click. We have depth on the lines and there are some interesting skill kids.” – Head Coach Brett Ressler