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