Somerville Pioneers
2020:
- 7-0
- 327 points scored; 46.71 average
- 136 points allowed; 19.43 average
- Wins: Woodbridge, Old Tappan, Summit, Rahway, South Plainfield, Warren Hills, Hunterdon Central
Graduation:
- RB Cookie Desiderio – IMG (Fla.) as a post-grad
- DE AJ Pena – Milford Academy (NY) prep school
- DT Owen O’Neill – Ithaca
2021 Captains:
- Not named
Offense:
- Formation: Air Raid
- Returning Starters: 8
Quarterback:
- Mike Miller, Junior, 6-3, 195 – returning starter
Running Back:
- Tristan Garcia, Senior, 6-1, 205 – part of rotation; stared on defense
- Julian Finger, Junior, 5-11, 165 – part of rotation
- Jacy Westfield, Junior, 5-9, 150 – provides depth
Wide Receiver:
- Jaimen Bryant, Senior, 5-9, 160 – returning starter
- Nigel Tucker, Senior, 6-0, 160 – returning starter
- Hashym Hobbs-Harris, Junior, 6-0, 180 – returning starter
- Wes Hack, Junior, 5-9, 150 – part of rotation
- Tyler Bryant, Senior, 6-1, 170 – part of rotation
- Quinn Carran, Sophomore – part of rotation
Tight End:
- Ethan MacNair, Senior, 6-0, 210 – returning starter
- Kyle Giacobello, Junior, 5-10, 175 – provides depth
- Chase Insabella, Sophomore, 5-11, 195 – provides depth
- Wilfredo Crispin, Sophomore, 6-0, 210 – provides depth
Offensive Line:
- Sal Longo, Senior, 6-0, 210 – returning starter at left tackle
- Garrett Koplitz, Senior, 5-11, 240 – returning starter at left guard
- Ryan Manhardt, Senior, 6-4, 285 – returning starter at center
- TJ Bayles, Junior, 5-9, 180 – competing at right guard and right tackle
- Ramin Farzaie, Sophomore, 6-3, 220 – competing at right guard and right tackle
- Braeden Kaye, Sophomore, 6-2, 210 – competing at right guard and right tackle
Defense:
- Formation: 4-3 Base
- Returning Starters: 8
Defensive Line:
- Sal Longo, Senior, 6-0, 210 – returning starter at end
- Ramin Farzaie, Sophomore, 6-3, 220 – projected starter at end
- Jayson Jefferson, Junior, 5-11, 215 – projected starter at tackle
- Garrett Koplitz, Senior, 5-11, 240 – projected starter at tackle
- TJ Bayles, Junior, 5-9, 180 – part of rotation at end
- Braeden Kaye, Sophomore, 6-2, 210 – part of rotation at end
- Ryan Manhardt, Senior, 6-4, 285 – part of rotation at tackle
Linebacker:
- Ethan McNair, Senior, 6-0, 210 – returning starter in middle
- Tyler Bryant, Senior, 6-1, 170 – returning starter on strong side
- Tristan Garcia, Senior, 6-1, 205 – returning starter on weak side
- Kyle Giacobello, Junior, 5-10, 175 – part of rotation
- Liam Willard, Senior, 5-10, 175 – part of rotation
- Dagan Jack, Sophomore, 5-10, 150 – part of rotation
- Kevin Acuna, Senior, 5-10, 170 – part of rotation
- Wilfredo Crispin, Sophomore, 6-0, 210 – part of rotation
Secondary:
- Nigel Tucker, Senior, 6-0, 160 – returning starter at cornerback
- Wes Hack, Junior, 5-9, 150 – returning starter at cornerback
- Jaimen Bryant, Senior, 5-9, 160 – returning starter at safety
- Hashym Hobbs-Harris, Junior, 6-0, 180 – returning starter at safety
- Julian Finger, Junior, 5-11, 165 – part of rotation at cornerback and safety
- Jacy Westfield, Junior, 5-9, 150 – part of rotation at cornerback and safety
- Quinn Carran, Sophomore – part of rotation at cornerback and safety
- Evan Dupras, Sophomore, 5-8, 150 – part of rotation at cornerback and safety
Special Teams:
- Senior Michael Rossman is the kicker and Miller will punt
- The return men are Jaimen Bryant and Tucker
Schedule:
- Friday, 8/27, at Olney Charter (Pa.)
- Sunday, 9/5, Northern Highlands at Rutgers
- Friday, 9./10, Carteret at home
- Friday, 9/17, at Rahway
- 9/24-25, Bye Week
- Friday, 10/1, South Plainfield at home
- Friday, 10/8, at Phillipsburg
- Friday, 10/15, at St. Joe’s (Metuchen)
- Friday, 10/22, at Warren Hills
- Friday, 10/29, Summit at home
Concerns:
- Staying healthy
- Continuing to develop depth
Recruiting:
- Jaimen Bryant has an offer from Valparaiso; issues are size and lack of film
- McNair is another with size and lack of film issues
- Others could be D3
- Underclassmen:
- Miller has no offers, but they will come
- The rest of the underclassmen are unproven
Coach’s Comments:
“We return a lot of skill players and that excites us, especially a quarterback in Mike Miller. We have experience at linebacker and in the secondary. We also return three of our five linemen, while the defensive line is talented, they are short on experience. We expect a very good season.” – Head Coach Dallas Whitaker