West Essex Knights  

2021: 

• 9-3
• Lost to West Morris in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 3 final, beat West Milford in the semifinals, and Wayne Valley in the first round 
• Scored 330 points: 27.50 average 
• Allowed 107 points: 8.92 average, including five shutouts 
• Wins included River Dell, Morris Knolls, and Nutley 
• Losses were to Northern Highlands and Ramapo 

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Chris Corbo – Dartmouth 
• RB/DB Joe Visaggio – College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 
• RB/DB Vito Finetti – College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 
• DB Mike Girardi – Susquehanna for baseball 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Wing-T 
• Returning Starters: 2 

Quarterback: 

• Jack Massotto, Senior, 5-10, 164 – projected starter 

Running Back: 

• Mike Maglione, Senior, 5-8, 192 – competing at fullback 
• Riley Ruane, Junior, 5-9, 180 – competing at fullback 
• Vin Raniero, Senior, 5-10, 182 – competing at halfback 
• Luke Struss, Senior, 5-11, 188 – competing at halfback 
• Ryan Lasher, Junior, 5-8, 159 – competing at halfback 
• Jorden Simeone, Junior, 6-1, 159 – competing at halfback 

Wide Receiver: 

• Dante Sellari, Senior, 5-11, 183 – projected co-starter at split end; started on defense 
• Corey Resnick, Senior, 6-1, 179 – projected co-starter 
• Anthony Drago, Sophomore, 6-1, 174 – provides depth 

Tight End: 

• Luca Salvatoriello, Senior, 5-11, 261 – 3-year starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Eldin Gashi, Junior, 6-3, 241 – projected starter at left tackle 
• Chris Nigro, Junior, 5-11, 244 – returning starter at left guard 
• Anthony Scarpa, Senior, 5-11, 194 – projected starter at center 
• Sammy Garcia, Senior, 5-9, 204 – projected starter at right guard 
• Jack Celentano, Senior, 6-2, 227 – projected starter at right tackle 

Defense: 

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

Defensive Line: 

• Luca Salvatoriello, Senior, 5-11, 261 – 3-year starter at nose guard 
• Anthony Lombardi, Senior, 5-11, 200 – part of rotation at end  
• Chris Nigro, Junior, 5-11, 241 – part of rotation at end  
• Eldin Gashi, Junior, 6-3, 241 – part of rotation at end  
• Multris Brown, Senior, 5-9, 240 – part of rotation at end  

Linebacker: 

• Mike Maglione, Senior, 5-8, 192 – returning starter on inside 
• Vin Raniero, Senior, 5-10, 182 – returning starter on inside 
• Luke Struss, Senior, 5-11, 188 – competing on outside 
• Riley Ruane, Junior, 5-9, 180 – competing on outside 
• Angelo Ferrovecchio, Senior, 6-4, 209 – competing on outside 

Secondary: 

• Corey Resnick, Senior, 6-1, 179 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Ryan Lasher, Junior, 5-8, 159 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Dante Sellari, Senior, 5-11, 183 – returning starter at safety, moving from linebacker 
• Jack Massotto, Senior, 5-10, 164 – competing at safety 
• Sammy Long, Junior, 6-0, 161 – competing at safety 
• Anthony Drago, Sophomore, 6-1, 174 – provides depth 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Michael Bartley returns at kicker and he will also handle punting this year 
• The return men will be decided in camp 

Schedule: 

• Saturday, 8/27, at Mount Carmel (Md.) 
• Friday, 9/9, at Passaic Valley 
• Friday, 9/16, at Wayne Valley 
• Friday, 9/23, Caldwell at home 
• Friday, 9/30, Nutley at home 
• Friday, 10/7, at West Morris 
• Friday, 10/14, at Belleville 
• Friday, 10/21, East Orange at home 

Concerns: 

• Depth, health 
• Kids playing their first varsity football 

Recruiting: 

• Sellari has a Lehigh offer and interest from high-academic 1-AA schools
• Massotto verballed to Lafayette for lacrosse 
• Bartley has 1-AA interest 
• Salvatoriello ranges from 1-AA to D3 
• Maglione, Struss, and Raniero are D3 candidates who love football 
• Underclassmen:
• Ruane, Lasher, and Simeone are the top juniors 
• In the sophomore class, Drago is a top lacrosse recruit 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We’re excited with the work ethic. We lost some talented players, but we have some good ones returning. It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.” – Head Coach Chris Benacquista