PITMAN, NJ --- Christopher Newport, coming off its first NJAC title in 2023, has been predicted to repeat in 2024 based on preseason polling of the conference's seven head coaches.
The Captains picked up four of the seven possible first place votes. Salisbury was predicted to finish second and picked up two first place votes. TCNJ rounds out the top three predictions and garnered one first place vote. Rowan was selected as this year's dark horse and is slotted in fourth. Montclair State, William Paterson, and Kean round out the 2024 predictions.
The season opens on Thursday, Sept. 5, when Rowan heads to Stevenson. William Paterson opens on the 6th, and four more teams open on Saturday, Sept. 7th. Montclair State opens a week later.
2024 NJAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
(first place votes in parentheses)
1. Christopher Newport (4)
2. Salisbury (2)
3. TCNJ (1)
4. Rowan (dark horse)
5. Montclair State
6. William Paterson
7. Kean
CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT
The Captains won their first NJAC title last season after going 5-1 in conference play, and will bring back a core group of that championship squad. Reigning NJAC Offensive Player of the Year Gunner White is back after leading the conference in scoring average and touchdowns last season. The two-time all-conference running back was also second in the league in rushing yards per game and all-purpose yards, while ranking eighth in total offense. Two-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Year and three-time all-conference quarterback Matt Dzierski is back for a fifth season. He threw for 10 touchdowns and rushed for four, while ranking second in total offense and third in passing. They are joined by two-time all-conference offensive lineman Amaan Miller, who is also back on the line for a fifth year.
Defensively, all-conference safety Logan Baker is back. He ranked among the top 15 in passes defended with five breakups and two interceptions and also ranked in the top 20 in tackles for loss. Linebacker Andrew Worsham was fifth in forced fumbles last season and among the top 15 in both fumble recovery and tackles for loss. Cornerback Patrick Sullivan also looks to shore up the defense after posting two sacks last season.
On the special teams unit, returner Trey Hayes was named a Preseason All-American by D3football.com. He led the NJAC in kick return yardage, averaging 28.2 yards per return. He was also sixth in receiving yards and tied for third with seven touchdowns. First Team All-Conference punter Baylor Gallagher also returns after leading the NJAC last season by averaging 41.1 yards per punt.
Head Coach Paul Crowley: “The coaches, players, and support staff are all excited for the season. As always, the league looks to have great depth and physicality. It is going to be a difficult challenge week in and week out.”
SALISBURY
The Sea Gulls look to contend once again after going 4-2 in conference play last year and finishing in a three-way tie for second place. The offensive unit features returning First Team All-Conference lineman Tre Price along with fellow experienced players in running back Jaden Davis and wide receiver Micah Brubaker. Davis ranked ninth in the NJAC in rushing last year and posted two touchdowns. He was also among the top 15 in total offense and top 25 in all-purpose yards. Brubaker returns to action after missing much of the conference season last year.
On the defensive side, all-conference linebacker Jimmy Celentano is back after missing nearly all of 2023. First Team defensive lineman Frank Giannetti returns; he ranked third in forced fumbles and sixth in fumble recoveries while also recording three sacks. All-Conference lineman Sa’Veon Olfus is also back. He posted three sacks last year.
Reigning Special Teams Player of the Year Kollin Samaha returns. The kicker ranked second in field goals made (6) and was the second-leading overall scorer in the NJAC with 5.4 points per game.
Head Coach Sherman Wood: “I am thankful and excited to start my 26th season as head coach at Salisbury University. [We are] simply looking to rebound from last season and reclaim the NJAC title.”
TCNJ
The Lions are under the tutelage of interim head coach Eric Jendryaszek this season, who previously served as the program’s offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. He looks to have the Lions build upon a 3-3 conference record, which also included the program’s first win over Salisbury since 2001 amidst an upward trend throughout the 2023 campaign. NJAC Second Team quarterback Trevor Bopp is back to lead the offense. He led the NJAC by far in total offense last season and led all quarterbacks in passing yards per game (242.2). He threw for 14 touchdowns and scored four. Two-time all-conference wide receiver Malin Jasinski is back after scoring four times last year and ranking 11th in receiving yards. Two-time all-conference tight end Thomas Burke also returns after ranking fourth in the league in scoring last year behind six touchdowns. He was also seventh in receiving yards per game and 15th in all-purpose yards.
The Lions’ defense is also experienced with a trio of returning all-conference players. Jack Young led the league in interceptions per game last year and was third in passes defended with eight breakups and five interceptions. First Team linebacker Dom Nocero was among the top 10 in tackles last year with two interceptions, and all-conference lineman Dylan Patscher returns after ranking fifth in sacks last year. Defensive back Amir Vick also shores up the defense after ranking fourth in interceptions per game and 11th in passes defended with three breakups and three interceptions.
On the special teams unit, all-conference returner Jayson Schmidt is back. He was third in the NJAC in rushing yards and third in all-purpose yards last year while ranking ninth in total offense.
Newcomers to Watch: Ryan Mendes (WR; Marlboro HS), Garrett Terlizzi (OL; Kean University), Albert Delasandro (WR/DB; Jackson Memorial HS), Matt Cassidy (LB; Marlboro HS)
Interim Head Coach Eric Jendryaszek: “TCNJ is proud to play in the NJAC and is excited to prove itself as one of the top programs in this great conference. We again welcome back a strong core group with an extra year of experience under their belt.”
ROWAN
Rowan welcomes new head coach Pat Ruley back to Glassboro after a stint at Susquehanna. Ruley, a Rowan football alum himself, looks to take over a program that finished 4-2 in league play last year to finish in a three-way tie for second place. He has a strong core of returning players with all-conference accolades on their resumes. All-NJAC Second Team tight end John Scibilia returns along with wide receiver Marlon Boston. Boston averaged 27.5 rushing yards and 14.2 receiving yards per game in six games played.
The Profs welcome a trio of all-conference defenders back, including reigning NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Year Carter Williams and First Teamers Eric Bryant and Josh Ortiz. Williams ranked fourth in the NJAC in tackles for loss and tenth in forced fumbles in his freshman season. Bryant, a cornerback, was tied for first in the league with the most interceptions (5), was sixth in passes defended with six breakups and his five INTs, and among the top 25 in tackles per game. Josh Ortiz was at the nose and ranked eighth in tackles for loss.
Isaac Jean-Baptiste will be called upon as a return specialist and he doubles as a wide receiver. He saw action in three games last year and is expected to step up into a bigger role this season.
Head Coach Pat Ruley: "The energy in the building is high. Guys are excited to come to work every day and compete at a high level in a new era of Rowan Football. We will be a fast and physical football team who will refuse to back down from any opponent on the schedule."
MONTCLAIR STATE
The Red Hawks enter the 2024 season with a ton of experience as the squad features 42 seniors. With the leadership of the upperclassmen, MSU is poised to be a contender in the NJAC this season after going 4-2 in conference last year and finishing in a three-way tie for second. Offensively, All-NJAC First Team running back Henry Lewis looks to lead the charge after finishing atop the conference last year in rushing yards per game (72.4), sixth in all-purpose yards, and seventh in total offense. He is joined by all-conference wide receiver Anthony Roige, who was among the top 10 in receiving yards and top 20 in all-purpose yards. Experienced lineman Aiden Samila looks to lead the o-line once again.
MSU features a trio of returning all-conference defenders, including reigning NJAC Sam Mills Defensive Player of the Year Nicholas Burgess. Burgess, a two-time all-conference linebacker, led the NJAC in tackles and was the lone player averaging 10+ stops a game. Cornerback Jalil Terrell is also a two-time all-conference honoree and ranked fourth in passes defended last year with nine breakups and two interceptions. Arnold Young, an all-conference defensive lineman, is also back to shore up the Red Hawks’ strong defensive unit.
Two-time all-conference punter Mike Fitzpatrick also returns. He ranked third in the NJAC last year by averaging 37.0 yards per punt and placed 12 punts inside the 20.
Newcomers to Watch: Samaad Hicks (RB; North Brunswick HS), Jason Murray (OL; Butler HS), Jun Best (CB; Fort Lee HS), Josh Turner (DL; DePaul Catholic)
Head Coach Mike Palazzo: “[With] 42 seniors this year, the team is very excited to try and build off of last season. We are thrilled to establish new traditions this year with the William Paterson game being held at historic Hinchliffe Stadium and the newly named “Breakfast Bowl” vs. Rowan. These games will provide a bigger spotlight on our program and potentially the conference as a whole.”
WILLIAM PATERSON
The Pioneers look to their younger players to step up into key roles this year after graduating 17 seniors last year, but will draw upon the experience and leadership of the returning players. Offensively, running back Isaac Cherry is back after ranking among the best in the NJAC in a number of categories. He was fifth in rushing yards per game, 11th in total offense, and among the top 25 in all-purpose yards while scoring four touchdowns. Jeremy Connelly provides experience at the tight end position and averaged 9.0 yards per catch last year.
Two-time all-conference linebacker Samod Wingo and fellow all-conference linebacker Jayce Harmon will lead the defensive unit. Wingo led the NJAC in tackles for loss last year with 1.44 per game and 15 total while also ranking third in tackles per game with 7.3. Harmon was second in tackles per game (7.9), fifth in tackles for loss, and seventh in both sacks and forced fumbles. Free safety James Nevels is back for his junior season after collecting 21 tackles and two interceptions last year.
On the special teams unit, kicker Robert Crehan returns for his sophomore season. In six games as a rookie, he averaged 40.4 yards per punt. Tyrell Wigfall, a defensive back with 25 tackles last year, is being called upon as a return specialist this season.
Newcomers to Watch: Nolan Epps (WR; Western Connecticut State), Terrance Sumter (RB; St. Joseph Regional), Terrill Yankson (LB; Willingboro HS), Joseph Pressley (LB/DL; Pemberton Twp. HS)
Head Coach Shaun Williams: “We are looking to rebuild this season after losing 17 seniors. We are excited about the addition of Offensive Coordinator Brian Capriola [and] intend to develop our freshmen and underclassmen.”
KEAN
The Cougars seek to improve in the NJAC this year, with 60 players returning with the experience needed to move up. All-Conference tight end John Kountouris is back to lead the offense; he averaged 9.7 yards per catch last year. Running back Nick Medina also returns after ranking among the top 20 in rushing yards and top 25 in total offense last season. Matt Guidetti also brings experience back to the offensive line and played all 10 games last year.
Kean has a pair of all-conference defenders returning in Meir Pittman and Javohn Arrington. Pittman, a two-time all-conference defensive end, saw action in five games last year and made 33 tackles, including 18 assisted and 15 solos. Arrington played in nine games and made 51 tackles, including 36 solos and 15 assisted.
Punter/kicker George Chrissafis leads the special teams unit. He averaged 36.5 yards per punt last year with six punts of 50+ yards while placing 12 inside the 20.
Newcomers to Watch: Davon Craft (RB; Long Branch HS), Sal Marchione (WR; Monroe Twp. HS), Paul Giglio (OL; Shore Regional HS), Javian Payne (LB; Paulsboro HS), Bronze Whitmore (CB; Pennsauken HS), Michael Beers (LB; Cinnaminson HS)
Head Coach Dan Garrett: “We have 60 returners who are ready to welcome the freshmen into our program. We have an expectation to turn the program back around to our winning ways. How fast we come together this pre-season camp and focus on the process will determine the amount of success we have week one.”