Meet the 2022 preseason All-New Jersey football defensive team
The following players have been selected to the USA TODAY NETWORK preseason All-New Jersey football defensive team.
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.
Nyreek Clyburn
Eastside (Paterson) junior lineman
Clyburn is a huge part of a Ghosts’ resurgence that last year led to their best record in decades at 8-4. The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder earned All-North Jersey first team honors as a junior after registering 23 tackles, including eight sacks. He has a tremendous upside, with offers from Maryland, Ole Miss, Rutgers and Syracuse.
James Heard
Camden senior lineman
The St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.) transfer makes his living in the backfield. He registered 37 tackles, 19.5 for loss, 10.5 sacks and an interception last fall. He's a West Virginia commit.
Sydir Mitchell
Bergen Catholic senior lineman
The 6-foot-6, 330-pound Mitchell represents size and power for a defense that last year led the Crusaders to a 12-0 season, the Non-Public A title and the No. 1 ranking in the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Top 25. He’s a Texas commit who last season had 40 tackles, including 4.5 for losses, and was All-North Jersey first team.
Jimmy Mullen
St. Joseph senior lineman
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Mullen is a multi-sport standout who earned All-New Jersey honorable mention as a junior and won the New Jersey heavyweight wrestling title. His linebacker speed enabled him to total 59 tackles, including 13 for losses. His college suitors include Rutgers, Navy and Temple, as well as several wrestling powers.
DJ Samuels
Bergen Catholic senior lineman
Samuels is the lynchpin for a unit that last season held 10 opponents to 10 points or fewer and helped the Crusaders (12-0) finish No. 3 in the USA TODAY Super 25 national rankings. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder is a Maryland commit who last season had 39 tackles, including nine sacks and 17.5 for losses, and was All-New Jersey first team.
Davin Brewton
Red Bank Catholic junior linebacker
Brewton, who has been offered scholarships by Syracuse, West Virginia, Connecticut and Massachusetts, had 119 tackles last season. He had a hand in 18 tackles in Red Bank Catholic’s win over DePaul in the NJSIAA Non-Public B championship game.
Julian Casale
Caldwell junior linebacker
Casale had a breakout season last fall with 106 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He anchored a Caldwell defense that held eight opponents to seven points or fewer during an undefeated season. The Chiefs enter 2022 tied for the longest active winning streak in New Jersey.
Stefano Montella
West Morris senior linebacker
Montella was the best all-around player in Morris County last year, shattering school records on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 1,793 yards and 19 touchdowns as a fullback, but made his biggest impact on defense with 152 tackles for the North Group 3 regional champs. He's a Brown commit.
Amare Smith
Salem senior linebacker
Smith piled up the numbers last fall with 103 tackles, 19 sacks, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and an interception. He will get more chances on offense this year too. He has offers from Temple, Long Island and Bryant.
Jayden Bonsu
St. Peter's Prep senior defensive back
At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Bonsu has excellent size for a safety and has committed to Ohio State. He is ranked as the No. 5 recruit in New Jersey’s Class of 2023 by Rivals.com and No. 6 by 247 Sports. As a junior, he had 62 tackles, including 42 solos, with 7.5 for losses, 2.5 sacks, eight passes defensed and two interceptions.
Sabino Portella
Red Bank Catholic senior defensive back
Portella, who has made a non-binding verbal commitment to North Carolina for wrestling, had 68 tackles and two interceptions last season. He also rushed for 780 yards and nine TDs.
Nicholas Severin
Don Bosco senior defensive back
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Severin leads a secondary that will face top-shelf quarterbacks in New Jersey and beyond. As a junior, he made 39 total tackles, including 27 solos. He also had a team-leading three interceptions, including a fourth-quarter pick to seal a win over DePaul. He has committed to Bucknell.
Adon Shuler
Irvington senior defensive back
Shuler, a Notre Dame commit, has been at the top of recruiting lists for most of his high school career. He had 80 tackles as a junior, and also hauled in six interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. He was also a menace on special teams, blocking three field-goal attempts and returning a punt for a touchdown against Northern Highlands in the North Group 4 regional championship.
Harry Boland
Caldwell senior athlete
Boland compiled 1,159 total yards of offense, with 24 touchdowns, as a pass-catching running back for Caldwell. On defense, he secured 91 tackles and five interceptions, guiding the Chiefs to an undefeated season and a North Group 2 regional championship. Marist and Dayton are among his Division I offers.
Carnell Goodwin
Eastside (Paterson) senior athlete
Goodwin is Passaic County’s most dangerous two-way threat. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder can score on offense and defense. He had 31 tackles, four pass breakups and scored twice on defense, in addition to throwing for 15 TDs and rushing for three scores at QB. He is being recruited by Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple and Wake Forest.
Brady Clark
West Deptford senior punter
An All-South Jersey second team selection at punter last year, Clark averaged 38 yards per boot, his long going for 50. He also hit 29-of-30 extra points and 4-of-6 field goals. He's a Princeton recruit.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ football: Meet the 2022 preseason All-New Jersey defense
