Hillside Comets 

2021: 

• 7-3 
• Lost to Raritan in the Central Jersey Group 2 semi-finals after beating Overbrook in the first round 
• Scored 302 points: 30.20 average 
• Allowed 155 points: 15.50 average, including two shutouts  
• Wins included Delaware Valley, Roselle, North Plainfield, and Carteret 
• Losses included Bernards and Rahway 

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Darson Jeanty – Wyoming Seminary (Pa. prep) 
• OL/DL Matt Ihamesie – Benedict College 
• WR/DB Jhamari Hill – Mercyhurst 
• LB Kayvian Kennedy – Eastern University 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Quarterback: 

• Caleb Salters, Senior, 6-0, 180 – 3-year starter 

Running Back: 

• Muwaffaq Parkman, Senior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter, rushing for 1,187 yards 
• Kyon Simonson, Senior, 6-1, 210 – returning starter, rushing for 1,162 yards 

Wide Receiver: 

• Isiah Smith, Senior, 5-9, 160 – returning starter and competing 
• Kendrell Gordon, Junior, 5-7, 150 – competing 
• Marcus White, Junior, 6-0, 180 – competing 
• Taliba Kaba, Sophomore, 6-3, 205 – competing 
• Quran Hall, Sophomore, 6-2, 180 – competing 
• Javonte Lee, Senior, 5-5, 140 – competing 
• Darvens Tunis, Junior, 5-10, 140 – competing 

Tight End (when used):  

• Woodnel Alphanor, Senior, 6-0, 175 – competing 
• Quanir Clark, Senior, 6-3, 210 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Charles Allen, Senior, 6-6. 330 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Leo Harris, Junior, 6-1, 250 – returning starter at center 
• DJ Nesmith, Senior, 6-3, 325 – returning starter at right guard 
• Diego Rodriguez, Junior, 6-6, 270 – competing at remaining two positions 
• Zamir Hawk, Senior, 6-3, 295 – competing at remaining two positions; started on defense 
• Yani Cajuste, Junior, 6-2, 220 – competing at remaining two positions
• Samir Newcombe, Senior, 6-2, 220 – competing at remaining two positions

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-3 Stack 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line: 

• Zamir Hawk, Senior, 6-3, 295 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Samir Newcombe, Senior, 6-2, 220 – competing at end 
• Yani Cajuste, Junior, 6-2, 220 – competing at end 
• Leo Harris, Junior, 6-1, 250 – competing at end 
• Quanir Clark, Senior, 6-3, 210 – competing at end 
• Ibn Muhammad, Junior, 5-9, 235 – competing at end; possibly rotate at nose guard 

Inside (Stack) Linebackers: 

• Gerald Thompson, Senior, 5-11, 205 – returning starter 
• Jayden Anderson, Senior, 5-10, 210 – projected starter 
• Woodnel Alphanor, Senior, 6-0, 175 – competing at last position 
• Jefferson Williame, Senior, 5-10, 190 – competing at last position 
• Taliba Kaba, Sophomore, 6-3, 205 – competing at last position 
• Quran Hall, Sophomore, 6-2, 180 – competing at last position 

Secondary: 

• Muwaffaq Parkman, Senior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter at strong safety 
• McNaully Erminal, Junior, 5-10, 160 – returning starter at strong safety 
• Sakai Degannes, Senior, 6-0, 150 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Jaden Shockley, Junior, 6-3, 160 – competing at cornerback and free safety 
• Marcus White, Junior, 6-0, 180 – competing at cornerback and free safety 
• Darvens Tunis, Junior, 5-10, 140 – competing at cornerback and free safety 
• Kendrell Gordon, Junior, 5-7, 150 – competing at cornerback and free safety 
• Caleb Salters, Senior, 6-0, 180 – rotating at cornerback and free safety 

Special Teams: 

• Returning at kicker and punter is senior Gio Lavoura 
• Parkman and Lee will be the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 9/2, at Bernards 
• Saturday, 9/10, at Metuchen 
• Saturday, 9/17, Roselle at home 
• Saturday, 9/24, New Providence at home 
• Friday, 9/30, at St. Thomas Aquinas 
• Friday, 10/7, at Johnson 
• Saturday, 10/15, Delaware Valley at home 
• Saturday, 10/22, Carteret at home 

Concerns: 

• Building off the momentum of last year and seeing if they have the hunger to make a run in a new playoff format 

Recruiting: 

• Parkman verballed to Syracuse
• Simonson will probably decide among Army, UMass, and Lafayette 
• Hawk has offers from Monmouth, Rhode Island, Marshall, and Western Michigan 
• Allen has offers from Old Dominion, Kent State, Stony Brook, and LIU 
• Salters has an offer from Pace 
• Nesmith and Degannes are two players who can land a scholarship by year’s end 
• Underclassmen: 
• There are some with potential, but it is too early 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We bring back a veteran group. Caleb Salters is a 3-year starter at quarterback and we have a pair of 1,000 yard rushers returning in Muwaffaq Parkman and Kyon Simonson. We fell short of expectations; we’re working hard and expect to be good.” – Head Coach Barris Grant