West Essex Knights
2020:
- 6-0
- 156 points scored; 26.0 average
- 55 points allowed; 9.17 average
- Wins: Parsippany Hills, Hanover Park, Morris Hills, Passaic Valley, Montville, Brearley
Graduation:
- RB/LB Chris Bell – Montclair State
- T/DE Jake Cusano – Montclair state
- TE/LB Vincent Panzarino – Marist for baseball
2021 Captains:
- Chris Corbo, Mike Sangillo, Joe Visaggio
Offense:
- Formation: Multiple Wing-T
- Returning Starters: 6
Quarterback:
- Robert Lasher, Senior, 5-11, 151 – returning starter
Running Back:
- Joe Visaggio, Senior, 5-11, 182 – returning starter at halfback
- Donnie Long, Senior, 5-10, 189 – projected starter at fullback
- Vito Finetti, Senior, 5-11, 161 – competing at halfback
- Stefan Lopez, Senior, 5-11, 167 – competing at halfback
Wide Receiver:
- Chris Corbo, Senior, 6-5, 204 – 3-year starter
- Michael Girardi, Senior, 5-9, 162 – part of rotation; saw action and started on defense
- Dante Sellari, Junior, 5-11, 172 – part of rotation; Don Bosco transfer
Tight End:
- Luca Salvatoriello, Junior, 5-11, 251 – projected starter at tight end; started on defense
Offensive Line:
- Jack Celentano, Junior, 6-1, 178 – competing at left tackle
- Chris Nigro, Sophomore, 5-10, 22 – competing at left tackle
- Mike Sangillo, Senior, 5-9, 198 – returning starter at left guard
- Zach Burrowes, Senior, 5-11, 202 – returning starter at center
- Joe Marino, Senior, 5-8, 211 – projected starter at right guard
- Michael Compolattaro, Senior, 6-1, 206 – returning starter at right tackle
Defense:
- Formation: 3-4
- Returning Starters: 4
Defensive Line:
- Luca Salvatoriello, Junior, 5-11, 251 – returning starter at nose guard
- Michael Compolattaro, Senior, 6-1, 206 – projected starter at end
- Joe Marino, Senior, 5-8, 211 – projected starter at end; rotated last year
- Multrice Brown, Junior, 5-9, 254 – part of rotation at nose guard
- Jack Celentano, Junior, 6-1, 178 – part of rotation at end
- Anthony Scarpa, Junior, 5-11, 188 – part of rotation at end
Linebacker:
- Mike Sangillo, Senior, 5-9, 198 – projected starter on inside
- Vin Raniero, Junior, 5-9, 168 – projected starter on inside
- Donnie Long, Senior, 5-10, 189 – competing on outside
- Stefan Lopez, Senior, 5-11, 167 – competing on outside
- John Van Houten, Senior, 5-8, 194 – competing on outside
Secondary:
- Chris Corbo, Senior, 6-5, 204 – 3-year starter at safety
- Joe Visaggio, Senior, 5-11, 182 – 3-year starter at safety
- Michael Girardi, Senior, 5-9, 162 – returning starter at cornerback
- Vito Finetti, Senior, 5-11, 161 – projected starter at cornerback
- Dante Sellari, Junior, 5-11, 172 – part of rotation at cornerback
Special Teams:
- Corbo returns as punter and the kicker will be senior Mike Rizzo
- The return men will be Corbo, Visaggio, Sellari, and Lopez
Schedule:
- Friday, 9/3, at Ramapo
- Friday, 9/10, River Dell at home
- Friday, 9/17, Barringer at home
- Friday, 9/24, at Orange
- Saturday, 10/2, at Morris Knolls
- Saturday, 10/9, Belleville at home
- Saturday, 10/16, at Millburn
- Friday, 10/22, at Northern Highlands
- Friday, 10/29, Nutley at home
Concerns:
- Tough schedule
Recruiting:
- Corbo has offers from Monmouth, Dartmouth, and Colgate with interest from Rutgers and Duke
- Visaggio has interest from TCNJ, Franklin & Marshall, and Muhlenberg
- Girardi may go baseball with interest from Susquehanna
- Sangillo, Long, and Compolattaro are D3 candidates
- Underclassmen:
- Salvatoriello and Sellari are the top prospects
Coach’s Comments:
“After last year, we’re excited to be back inn our old routine. We return starters on both sides of the ball and there’s some very good leadership and the underclassmen are buying in.” – Head Coach Chris Benacquista