Zone6ix & NJ Athletics 7v7 Summer Tournament Day 1 Preview

Pool A:
Franklin Warriors:
Franklin had a rough go last season, but that will stay in the past as we are onto 2023. Junior Makail Muhammad should see more time in the running back role and will be a staple on the defensive end. Sophomore receivers Amir Glover and Bryce Payne return after showing flashes in their freshman campaigns. More players will need to step up in order to right the ship, and Saturday will be their opportunity to show what they can do.

DePaul Catholic Spartans:
7-on-7 is all about the skill players. DePaul already had enough of those to do damage with one of the state’s deadliest duos in sophomore quarterback Derek Zammit and junior wide receiver De’zie Jones. Some more firepower now joins the mix with the transfer of junior running back Nolan James from Don Bosco. Zammit has been offered by Wake Forest and Duke in the last two weeks and has reportedly started filling out his frame with a big season ahead. Watching these three stars ball out together for the first time will be must-watch on Saturday.

West Orange Mountaineers:
Junior running back Adonis White returns after an 800 yard season to lead the Mountaineers offense. Terrell Wilfong had a solid sophomore campaign and should be expected to be a big contributor with increased playing time and targets.We will get the first glimpse of who steps up besides them on Saturday as well as a great secondary on defense. Senior Chaas McCoy has had Division 1 interest and he will now be lining up beside returning senior Myles Snead after transferring in from Pope John. 

Pool B:
St. Joseph Regional Green Knights:
This will be the first we see of quarterback Pat Grusser in the Green Knights uniform. He will be flanked by two of the best running backs in the state (and country) in senior Yasin Willis and junior John Forster. The offense will be explosive and the secondary will be in full effect on Saturday. There will be some exciting matchups, especially watching junior stude Jahmir Joseph cover Millville’s Lotzeir Brooks.

Shabazz Bulldogs:
The state will finally get to see the hype revolving around this rebuilt and motived Shabazz Bulldogs team that new head coach Naz Oliver has created. Oliver has had players transfer in that will be expected to make an immediate impact. Junior cornerback Omari Gaines committed to Penn State in the spring after transferring from St. Peter’s Prep and he is joined as a fresh face of the program along with former West Side quarterback and 1,800 yard thrower Naz Smith. This team is shaping up and it will be excited to watch the chemistry they have grown this spring in action.

Millville Thunderbolts:
The state’s top passer, Jacob Zamot, returns for his senior season to lead the Thunderbolts to another potential group championship. Zamot’s recruiting has been heating up and he has been getting better as the offseason has progressed. He has some dangerous options to throw to, with four-star junior Lotzeir Brooks looking more like a potential five-star with every passing game and senior wide receiver Ta’Ron Haile garnering offers and interests from big time Division 1 programs. The deul been the Millville receiving corps and opposing secondaries in this loaded pool will be high quality football between top prospects. 

Passaic Tech Bulldogs:
The brothers Dye, Trashon and Travon, are fresh off commitments to Syracuse University. The twins led the Bulldogs to a state championship appearance last year as juniors and look to contribute even more as seniors. Another name that flew under the radar last season was Cashmere Jones. The senior defensive back and running back is considered undersized but had a phenomenal year for Passaic Tech as a junior. He is poised for another big year that will prove he belongs on the field at the collegiate level.

Pool C:
St. Peter’s Prep Marauders:
The Marauders will have to replace one of the state’s top signal callers in Champ Long. They took hits to the new “transfer portal”, losing receiver Kenyon Massey to Paramus Catholic and cornerback Omari Gaines to Shabazz. This team always reloads with Rich Hansen at the helm, and the next man up mentality will be in full effect this season. Tyler Bell is expected to step up at quarterback and make an immediate contribution. He will be flanked by returner Jalen Cline at running back. With Long gone, Cline should see more of the offense running through him. Another key player is Hassan Moore, as the senior will be Bell’s top target through the air.

Paterson Kennedy Knights:
Paterson Kennedy is looking for some wins in 2023, and they have some players that will help build this program back up. Senior Adrian Mouzone is a threat receiving and rushing and will be a key piece to this team. Junior Isaiah Marshall will help man the rushing attack and senior Tahny Moss will be another target through the air. This team needs talent to step up and Saturday will be a great time to showcase that.

Snyder Tigers:
Any team that can boast a player like DJ McClary will automatically have eyes on them. The athlete can play linebacker, running back, and can even put in reps at quarterback. One of the nation’s top 2025 prospects will look to ball out on both sides of the ball this Saturday, and we here at NJAthletics are interested to see who jumps out in his supporting cast. Senior NyMir Murchinson and junior Keyon Thorpe both flashed their talent last season and will look to build on that in bigger roles.

West Milford Highlanders:
West Milford had a down year in 2022, but that team was very young and will benefit from the experience gained. Sophomore quarterback Ayden Deane is a year wiser and will return to lead the offensive huddle. Top rusher and receiver Nate Ford will be a threat in his senior season and will be flanked by junior Marcus Morgan and sophomore Chase Tyburczy. All of their major pieces on defense return as well. This young team has a lot to prove this season, and it starts this weekend.

Pool D:
Don Bosco Prep Ironmen:
There will be plenty of eyes on Ironman sophomore quarterback Charlie LaMorte during this camp. LaMorte is expected take over for the graduated Nick Minicucci, and many believe he will immediately be among the states best. He is joined by running back Logan Bush, who will have the backfield to himself after Nolan James left for DePaul. Senior wide receiver Bobby Mays will step into an increased role and the Ironmen will look for others to showcase their skills in that positional battle. Jayden Brown and Lamont Lester return to lead the linebacker corps.

Pope John Lions:
The Lions are bringing a backfield with a lot of potential to this weekend. Senior quarterback Chris Dietrich just committed to Temple this week, and the 6’4” gunslinger is poised for a big season. Junior running back Tylik Hill is one of the shiftiest players in the state, and is looking to add more offers to his list that includes UMass. Other skill players will be able to showcase their skills, with a wide receiver room led by senior Charlie Mulligan and junior Wes Johnston looking for others to contribute. This also gives way to the linebackers and secondary getting to show off, as the Lions graduated three linebacker and lost some defensive back depth to the transfer portal. Linebacker Tyler Houser was recently offered by Duke, and he will be explosive while playing on Saturday.

Union City Chargers:
Union City graduated some major talent, but they have plenty that have already showcased their abilities or are waiting in the wings. Defensive back and running back Tyler Koffa will star in his senior season, both on defense and in creating a tandem in the backfield with fellow rushing Mark Boyd. They went 9-2 last season, and all the pieces are in place to be one of the state’s premiere teams in 2023. Look for this unit with a lot of speed to never slow down from Saturday into the start of next season.

Old Tappan Golden Knights:
Old Tappan is fresh off a group championship and they have a big returner in wide receiver Evan Brooks. Junior Alex Orecchio will step up at quarterback to throw the ball, and their will be a positional battle at running back with junior Nick Rotolo returning with the most yards rushing. The defense was riddled with underclassmen just a season ago, and this group will step up to create a dominant unit once again.