St. Thomas Aquinas Trojans  

2021: 

• 9-1 
• Lost to St. Joe’s (Hammonton) in the Non-Public B playoffs 
• Scored 329 points: 36.56 average – does not include forfeit 
• Allowed 54 points: 6.00 average, including seven shutouts  – does not include forfeit 
• Wins included Delaware Valley, Woodstown, and Roselle  

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Jonathan Wyatt – Villanova 
• RB/DB Sherrod Hudson – Maine 
• LB Kenny Coghan – Wagner 
• LB Etinosa Igiebor – St. Francis (Pa.) 
• DB Kendall Jordan – Morehouse 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Quarterback: 

• Jayden Young, Senior, 6-2, 165 – 4-year starter 

Running Back: 

• Joel Marellis, Senior, 5-8, 175 – 4-year starter 
• Elijah Abass-Shereef, Junior, 5-6, 160 – will share carries with Morales: South River transfer 

Wide Receiver: 

• Najee Lovejoy, Senior, 6-0, 175 – 4-year starter 
• Sherief Guinyard, Senior, 6-4, 205 – returning starter 
• Benjamin Bussiere, Senior, 6-0, 170 – projected starter; Monroe transfer 
• Eddie Williams, Junior, 5-10, 170 – competing 
• Willie Stewart, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – competing 
• Zacai Manigo, Junior, 6-1, 165 – competing: Mater Dei transfer 
• Jalen Hinnant, Senior, 5-9, 160 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Thomas Schwegler, Junior, 5-10, 220 – returning starter at center 
• Nico Tricoles, Senior, 5-10, 210 – returning starter at guard 
• Dylan Campanella, Senior, 6-5, 320 – projected starter at tackle 
• AJ Samuel, Senior, 5-10, 215 – competing at guard and tackle 
• Caden Sternlieb, Freshman, 6-0, 305 – competing at guard and tackle 
• Steve Coghan, Junior, 5-10, 215 – competing at guard 
• Jeremiah Derilhomme, Senior, 6-4, 265 – competing at guard and tackle 
• Corey Moses, Sophomore, 6-3, 315 – competing at guard and tackle 
• Elijah Thomas, Sophomore, 6-4, 275 – competing at guard and tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-3 Stack 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Defensive Line: 

• Isaiah Marellis, Senior, 6-3, 215 – returning starter at end 
• Jeremiah Derilhomme, Senior, 6-4, 265 – returning starter at tackle 
• Davon Grant, Junior, 6-1, 205 – competing at end 
• Khyan Adams, Junior, 6-3, 315 – part of rotation at tackle 
• All of the offensive linemen may be part of the rotation at tackle 

Stack Linebacker: 

• Israel Bey, Senior, 6-1, 210 – returning starter 
• Shawn Young, Junior, 5-9, 205 – projected starter 
• Chase Young, Sophomore, 5-10, 190 – projected starter 
• Elijah Abass-Shereef, Junior, 5-6, 160 – competing 
• Tyler Nerges, Junior, 6-1, 185 – competing 

Secondary: 

• Najee Lovejoy, Senior, 6-0, 175 – 4-year starter at safety 
• Benjamin Bussiere, Senior, 6-0, 170 – projected starter at safety 
• Zacai Manigo, Junior, 6-1, 165 – projected starter at safety 
• Eddie Williams, Junior, 5-10, 170 – competing at cornerback 
• Willie Stewart, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Jack Joyce returns at kicker and punter 
• Lovejoy and Morales are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/26, Timber Creek at home 
• Thursday, 9/1, at New Providence 
• Friday, 9/9, at Scotch Plains-Fanwood 
• Friday, 9/16, Summit at home 
• Friday, 9/23, at Cranford 
• Friday, 9/30, Hillside at home 
• Friday, 10/7, Rahway at home 
• Friday, 10/14, at North Plainfield 
• Friday, 10/21, Edison at home 
• Tentative game with St. John Vianney 

Concerns: 

• Handling adversity with a tougher schedule 
• Building on recent success 

Recruiting: 

• Young and Lovejoy are 1-AA prospects 
• Derilhomme, Bey, Boussiere, and Isaiah Marellis are also 1-AA candidates 
• Joel Marellis is a D2/D3 prospect 
• Others may be D3 material 
• Underclassmen: 
• There is talent, but they need to have good seasons 

Coach’s Comments: 

“I am super excited to be at St. Thomas Aquinas. The circumstances for this are horrible. I am not trying to replace Brian Meeney, but to build on what he has done.” – Head Coach Tarig Holman