Football: Here are the 2022 USA TODAY NETWORK All-New Jersey defensive teams

The following players have been selected to the USA TODAY NETWORK All-New Jersey football defensive teams.

The Network is made up of news organizations APP.com, BurlingtonCountyTimes.com, CourierPostOnline.com, TheDailyJournal.com, DailyRecord.com, MyCentralJersey.com, NJHerald.com and NorthJersey.com.

James Heard

Camden senior lineman

Heard was forced to sit the first four games of the season after transferring from St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, but was dominant once he stepped on the field. The West Virginia recruit had 33 tackles, 18 for loss, 18 sacks and three forced fumbles in just nine games.

Sydir Mitchell

Bergen Catholic senior lineman

Mitchell was part of arguably New Jersey’s best defensive line and helped the Crusaders (11-1) repeat as Non-Public A champions. The 6-foot-6, 345-pounder, a second-team pick last season, had 45 tackles, including 11.5 for losses, and five sacks. He also had three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries, returning one for a 25-yard TD in the season opener. Mitchell is committed to Texas.

Jimmy Mullen

St. Joseph (Montvale) senior lineman

Mullen is a multi-sport standout who has tremendous agility and hand speed for a lineman. The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder had 76 tackles, including 28 for losses, and 7.5 sacks for the Green Knights (6-5). He had a remarkable 12 pass breakups, caused two fumbles and recovered a fumble. Mullen is a state heavyweight champion wrestler committed to compete in both sports at Virginia Tech.

DJ Samuels

Bergen Catholic senior lineman

Samuels is a three-time first-team All-New Jersey pick and joins Mitchell as the other half of the Crusaders’ vaunted line duo. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder had 28 tackles, including 13.5 for losses, six sacks and five pass breakups. His size and speed made him a force at fullback and he rushed 29 times for 256 yards and six TDs. Samuels is committed to Maryland.

Julian Casale

Caldwell junior linebacker

Casale led the undefeated Group 2 champions with 109 tackles and nine sacks. His fourth-down tackle on a fake punt in the state championship game against Rumson-Fair Haven swung the momentum for the Chiefs. Casale is garnering attention from Division I programs and recently visited UConn.

Zach Chostaka

Northern Highlands senior linebacker

Chostaka paced the Highlanders (9-4) to a third consecutive sectional title and the Group 4 final. The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder topped Bergen County in tackles with 174 after finishing second last year with 162. He had three interceptions, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. He made a game-high 11 tackles in the 18-14 title loss to Millville. Chostaka is a Division III recruit.

Colin Gallagher

Middletown South junior linebacker

Gallagher had a dominant season and helped lead Middletown South to the Central Group 4 championship game. He had 148.5 tackles, 27 for a loss, 10.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and forced three fumbles. Gallagher also rushed for 522 yards and nine TDs on 72 carries.

Malachi Mercer

Bergen Catholic senior linebacker

Mercer was in the center of a defense that only allowed two TDs in three postseason games and closed with a 45-0 victory over Don Bosco in the Non-Public A final. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder had a team-leading 118 tackles, including 5.5 for losses, and one sack. He was strong in pass coverage too, making four interceptions. Mercer is committed to Columbia.

Ja'briel Mace

Mainland senior defensive back

Mace shined on both sides of the ball for the Central Group 4 champions. The Villanova commit made 48 tackles, intercepted five passes and scored twice on defense (one pick-six and one fumble return). Offensively, he had 137 carries for 1,214 yards and 24 scores, and caught a touchdown too.

Adam Meiner

Ridge senior defensive back

The cornerback had a knack for tracking a pass, finding the right angle and snagging the ball. Meiner intercepted 10 passes – including three in one game – and finished with 25 tackles to help the Red Devils go 7-3.

Sabino Portella

Red Bank Catholic senior defensive back

Portella was the heart and soul of the Red Bank Catholic program for the last three seasons. A standout player on both sides of the ball, Portella had 79 tackles, four for a loss, an interception and a sack. On offense, he rushed for 1,150 yards and 18 TDs. He's committed to wrestle at North Carolina.

Adon Shuler

Irvington senior defensive back

The lone All-American from New Jersey this year, Shuler will play college football at Notre Dame. He had 103 total tackles this season, along with three interceptions and one returned for a touchdown. Shuler was used more offensively this year and racked up 567 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Trashon Dye

Passaic Tech junior athlete

Dye was a two-way standout for the young Group 5 runner-up. The 6-foot, 205-pounder had 137 tackles, 4.5 sacks, forced three fumbles and recovered a fumble for the Bulldogs (11-3). On offense he ran 247 times for 1,238 yards and 11 TDs after rushing 17 times for 117 yards and score in the 28-7 title loss to unbeaten Toms River North. Dye, whose twin brother Travon is also a standout, has offers from Syracuse and Temple.

Carnell Goodwin

Eastside (Paterson) senior athlete

Goodwin meant as much to his team as anyone in North Jersey. The 6-foot, 175-pounder had 42 tackles, 11 pass breakups and five interceptions, returning one for a TD for the Ghosts (7-4). He also forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. On offense, he played quarterback and threw for 1,121 yards and eight TDs and ran for 680 yards and four scores. Goodwin is being recruited by Syracuse, Wake Forest, Connecticut and Akron.

Alex Uryniak

North Hunterdon senior athlete

The linebacker was a dominant force for the North 2, Group 4 champions with 180 tackles (22 TFL), seven sacks and an interception. Uryniak, who has committed to Columbia for wrestling, also rushed for 1,012 yards and 13 touchdowns on offense.

Jared Schoppe

Delsea senior athelte

The heart and soul of the Group 3 runner-up, Schoppe had 62 tackles, nine for loss, two sacks and two interceptions. On offense, he ran 208 times for 1,250 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Brady Clark

West Deptford senior punter

The Princeton commit was a weapon for the Eagles this season, averaging 44.69 yards per punt on 32 boots, with a long of 69. He was also 28-of-30 on extra-points, 6-of-8 on field goals (long of 42) and boomed 33 touchbacks.

Roman Dougherty, Cherokee senior lineman

Zaimir Hawk, Hillside senior lineman

Jack Inserra, Northern Highlands senior lineman

Kye Pressley, Hammonton senior lineman

Davin Brewton, Red Bank Catholic junior linebacker

Jack Diggins, Old Tappan senior linebacker

Ty Kazanowsky, Toms River North senior linebacker

Selbin Sabio, Edison senior linebacker

Amare Smith, Salem senior linebacker

Kahlil Ali, Pennsauken senior defensive back

Jayden Bonsu, St. Peter's Prep senior defensive back

Elijah Rippey, Seton Hall Prep senior defensive back

Xavier Moore, Phillipsburg senior defensive back

Harry Boland, Caldwell senior athlete

Jeremiah Pruitt, Toms River North junior athlete

Wayne Adair, Delsea junior athlete

Jake Czwakiel, Middletown South punter

Giacomo Bevacqua, Mountain Lakes junior linebacker

BJ Covington, East Orange senior defensive back

Travon Dye, Passaic Tech junior

Myles Hamilton, Linden junior linebacker

Michael LeMay, Lenape junior defensive back

Derron Moore, Woodbury senior linebacker

Brayden Nolan, Newton senior defensive back

Quentin Reid, Weequahic senior defensive lineman

Alex Scheuplein, Wayne Valley senior defensive back

Matt Sims, Brearley senior defensive back

Dante Vernieri, Donovan Catholic senior linebacker

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ football: 2022 USA TODAY NETWORK All-New Jersey defense