TEAM PREVIEW: DePaul Catholic

2013 In Review: The Spartans were 10-2, winning the Non-Public Group 2 title by beating Holy Spirit, after beating Holy Cross and Gloucester Catholic. They scored 439 points for a 36.58 average, while allowing 186 for a 15.5 average. Wins included Don Bosco, Bergen Catholic, and Pascack Valley, while their losses were to St. Joe's (Montvale) and Paramus Catholic.

Departures: DB/WR Kiy Hester - Miami, TE, TE/DE Justin Nelson - Rutgers, OL/DT Courtel Jenkins - Miami, QB Zach Bednarczyk - Villanova, RB Markey Clark - Rhode Island, FB/LB Steve Speidel - Springfield (Mass.), T/DT Mike Kelly - Franklin & Marshall, OL Nico Aronson - Salve Regina, OL Dylan Krupinski - Kings College (Pa.), DL Kareem Barber - Kings College (Pa.), OL Nick Jachera - Stevenson (Md.), WR Matt Greff - Gettysburg, WR/DB Riley Clark - Tampa for lacrosse

Offense: DePaul runs a multiple offense and returns one starter, two who played often, and a couple who started on defense. Quarterback is a competition among senior Wallington transfer Ryan Adzima (6-foot-3, 220), junior Adam Schlereth (5-foot-11, 190), junior Ryan Vanderwerf (6-foot-0, 180), and junior Tom Hennion (6-foot-5, 205). Returning at tailback is junior Kareem Walker (6-foot-1, 212) and junior Nassir Hooker (5-foot-10, 185), a defensive starter last year, will get carries the way Markey Clark did a year ago. Fullback is between junior Scott Levelle (6-foot-0, 220) and sophomore DJ McDonald (5-foot-11, 210).

Wide receiver has juniors Hasise Dubois (6-foot-4, 190) and Terrel Vassel (6-foot-1, 175), who both played last year. Also getting time will be juniors Nick Smith (6-foot-0, 175) and Kwadir Brown (5-foot-10, 180), who started on defense. Hooker will also line up in the slot. The tight end will be junior Quayshon Alexander (6-foot-3, 225).

All the starters graduated and there will be plenty of competition along the line. The lead at one tackle is senior Andrew Failace (6-foot-3, 270). Others pushing for time at tackle are juniors Zaire Bethea (6-foot-3, 260) and Greg Minton (6-foot-1, 235). At guard, the contestants are junior Alex Wukovits (6-foot-0, 265), junior Andre Evans (6-foot-0, 235), sophomore Isaiah Boone (5-foot-11, 245), and junior John Pastorick (6-foot-1, 240). Center is between senior Kyle Keaveney (5-foot-11, 240) and junior Mike Ludwig (6-foot-3, 255). Also in the picture at tackle or guard are sophomore Owen Drexel (6-foot-2-1/2, 255), junior Isaiah Johnson (6-foot-2, 300), and junior Michael Dwumfoor (6-foot-3, 270).

Defense: The Spartans run a multiple defense with a 4-4 base, returning five starters and three others who played often. The ends will probably be Alexander and Evans - with Evans moving from tackle, where he started, and Alexander getting a lot of playing time. The tackles could be any of the players competing on the offensive line.

Two linebackers return, with seniors Amir Arrington (5-foot-10, 205) and Zach Butler (5-foot-11, 205) back on the outside. The inside will have Levelle at one spot, where he played last year. The other inside position will be either McDonald or junior Bergen Catholic transfer Jevon Dunmore (5-foot-10, 195). In addition, all the linebacker positions are interchangeable.

Two starters return to the secondary, with Kwadir Brown returning to one corner and senior Jeremy Brown (5-foot-8, 160) back at safety and he could end up manning the opposite corner. The others who could start at cornerback are Vanderwerf, Vassel, and Hooker. If Jeremy Brown doesn't play safety, DuBois will take his place and he also played here last year.

Special Teams: Senior Billy Hall will be the kicker and punter is undecided. The return men will be Hooker, Kwadir Brown, Walker, and DuBois.

Schedule:

Friday, 9/5, Pope John at home, 7PM

Friday, 9/12, Passaic Valley at home, 7PM

Friday, 9/19, at Pascack Valley, 6PM

Saturday, 9/27, at Lawrenceville Prep, 1PM

Thursday, 10/2, Northern Highlands at home, 7PM

Saturday, 10/11, at Bergen Catholic, 1PM

Bye week, 10/17-18

Saturday, 10/25, at St. Joe's (Montvale), 1PM

Friday, 10/31, at Paramus Catholic, 7PM

Friday, 11/7, at Don Bosco, 7PM

Concerns: The offensive line, defensive tackle, and quarterback.

Recruits: Arrington and Failace will be CAA candidates, while Jeremy Brown and Butler are D2/D3 types.

In the junior class, Walker has 25 offers, including Alabama, Ohio State, Rutgers, Auburn, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Florida State. Du Bois has offers from Rutgers, Temple, Wake Forest, with other 1-A's interested. Alexander has Rutgers and Miami offers. Kwadir Brown has interest from Big 10 and ACC schools. Vassel, Hooker, and Levelle have interest from the AAC, ACC, MAC and big 10 conferences.

Coach's Comments: "We have a lot of talented players and a good core coming back. We will be competitive and hope to compete for another championship." - Assistant Head Coach Brian Murray