Shore Sports Network is proud to present its first annual Shore Conference Preseason All-Shore Football team, featuring our compilation of the top returning players in the Shore Conference.

Howell wide receiver Naseim Brantley and Toms River North linebacker Daryn Blackwell are two of our picks for the first annual SSN Preseason All-Shore team. (Photo by Ray Richardson).
Howell wide receiver Naseim Brantley and Toms River North linebacker Daryn Blackwell are two of our picks for the first annual SSN Preseason All-Shore team. (Photo by Ray Richardson).
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2017 Shore Conference Preseason All-Shore Football Team

QB – George Pearson, Sr., Mater Dei Prep

Pearson threw for 1,426 yards and 24 touchdowns to lead Mater Dei Prep to its first NJSIAA title in program history and a perfect 12-0 record. Pearson played only the first half in most of the Seraphs’ games, which were blowout victories. A beefed-up nonconference schedule should give Pearson more chances to showcase his talent, and the Central Michigan recruit could have a monster season statistically.

 

RB – Naim Mayfield, Sr., Manalapan

Mayfield ran for 1,785 yards and 23 touchdowns on an average of 9.3 yards per carry to help Manalapan go 11-1 and reach the Central Jersey Group V title game in 2016. Committed to Fordham, Mayfield is an explosive back who is front and center in the Braves’ offense.

 

RB – Connor Morgan, Sr., Manasquan

Morgan ran for 1,490 yards and scored 16 total touchdowns to help Manasquan win its Shore-record 12th NJSIAA sectional title.

 

RB – Tony Thorpe, Sr., Brick Memorial

A punishing downhill runner, Thorpe posted his second 1,000-yard season last year and now has over 2,400 career rushing yards and 30 touchdowns.

 

WR – Naseim Brantley, Sr., Howell

A breakout star last season who helped Howell reach the South Jersey Group V semifinals, Brantley caught 46 passes for 773 yards and 11 touchdowns. He holds offers from Bryant, Navy, Monmouth and Bucknell.

 

WR – Justin Marcus, Sr., Marlboro

A 6-foot-5 weapon, Marcus caught 52 passes for 726 yards and six touchdowns last season while also making 43 tackles with one interception as a defensive back.

 

WR – Scott Scherzer, Sr., Manalapan

Scherzer helped fuel Manalapan’s dynamic offense with 40 catches for 690 yards and seven touchdowns to help the Braves go 11-1 and reach the Central Jersey Group V final.

 

OL – Joe Hurle, Sr., Jackson Memorial

Hurle will enter his third year as a starter up front for the Jaguars and returns as one of the top lineman in the Shore.

 

OL – Brandon Voss, Sr., Central

Voss helped pave the way for Central to average 272 yards per game and will be a key cog for the Golden Eagles’ ground attack.

 

OL – Trevor Radosevich, Sr., Manalapan

Manalapan is known for its stout offensive lineman and Radosevich is a returning SSN third-team All-Shore selection who will lead the way for the Braves up front.

 

OL – Michael Griggs, Sr., Red Bank Catholic

Griggs is among several standouts up front for a Caseys team that figures to be among the best in the Shore. He was a third-team SSN All-Shore selection last season and holds multiple Ivy League offers and FBS interest from several programs.

 

OL – Jean Paul Rodriguez, Sr., Lakewood

Rodriguez committed to Temple in June after a fine junior season where he helped Lakewood to a fifth straight playoff appearance. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder also had Ivy League and Patriot League programs offer him scholarships.

 

UT – Ashante Worthy, Sr., Freehold

After an unbelievable and record-setting junior year the question surrounding Worthy is what he’ll do for an encore. Worthy moved from running back to quarterback three games into last season and finished with 2,904 yards and offense and 41 total touchdowns to lead Freehold to the Central Jersey Group IV semifinals after an 0-4 start. His 465 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in an epic 69-56 playoff win over Pennsauken set the Shore Conference single-game record for both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

 

UT – Zyheir Jones, Sr., Lakewood

Lakewood’s quarterback threw for 1,472 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 753 yards and eight touchdowns. He also converted eight two-point conversions and had two interceptions on defense to help Lakewood reach the playoffs for a fifth straight season.

 

K – Joey Cavanagh, Jr., Middletown North

Cavanagh connected on 8 of 10 field goals with a long of 35 while also converting 37 of 42 extra points. He was at his best in the playoffs with five field goals on seven attempts.

DEFENSE

DL – Josh Lezin, Sr., Lakewood

An FBS recruit, Lezin won Class B South Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016 by recording 82 tackles, 31 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 8 pass breakups, 2 blocked punts and 2 blocked field goals.

 

DL – Nick Densieski, Sr., St. John Vianney

Densieski tied for the Shore Conference lead in sacks with 15 while also making 53 tackles (47 solo) and 13 tackles for a loss.

 

DL – Austin Dewise, Sr., Middletown North

Dewise emerged as one of the top defensive lineman in the Shore last season with 59 tackles and 12 sacks for a Middletown North defense that was No. 13 in the Shore allowing 18.2 points per game.

 

DL – Daryn Blackwell, Sr., Toms River North

Blackwell made 63 tackles with five sacks at outside linebacker last season on a Toms River North team that went 11-1 and reached the South Jersey Group V final. He is one of only a handful of veterans returning for the Mariners and will be relied upon to be a playmaker, which his is more than capable of doing. He’ll move from defensive end to outside linebacker this season.

 

LB – Jake Krellin, Sr., Middletown South

Krellin was a terror for the Eagles last season with 109 tackles, 45 tackles for a loss and 15 sacks to go along with 16 hurries, an interception, 4 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 2 defensive touchdowns. He is the reigning Class B North Defensive Player of the Year and one of the preseason favorites to win conference DPOY. He’ll shift from defensive end to outside linebacker this season.

 

LB – Johnny Buchanan, Sr., St. John Vianney

A crucial two-way player for the Lancers, Buchanan was a force at linebacker with 139 tackles (92 solo) with 10 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions. He also ran for 443 yards and 11 touchdowns as a running back.

 

LB – Sal Tardogno, Sr., Manalapan

Tardogno made 120 tackles (66 solo) with 5 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks, 7 quarterback hurries, an interception and 2 fumble recoveries on a Manalapan defense that was third in the Shore at 11.6 points per game.

 

LB – Tommy Pearce, Jr., Manalapan

Pearce missed three games but still finished with 97 tackles to help the Braves go 11-1 and reach the Central Jersey Group V final.

 

DB – Mickey Maldonado Jr., Sr., Toms River North

A strong run defender, Maldonado made 101 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 7 passes defended, two forced fumbles and an interception to help Toms River North go 11-1 and reach the South Jersey Group V final.

 

DB – Jimmy Leblo, Jr., Brick

Leblo broke through as a sophomore with 94 tackles and five interceptions to help Brick reach the Central Jersey Group IV final.

 

DB – Tommy Antonucci, Sr., Manasquan

Antonucci was near the top of the Shore Conference with four interceptions on a defense that was clutch when it mattered in helping the Warriors win the Central Jersey Group II title. He’ll also be Manasquan’s quarterback this season.

 

DB – Matt Ansell, Sr., Red Bank Catholic

Ansel made 85 tackles and intercepted three passes for the Caseys and figures to an integral part of a team that should be among the Shore’s best this season.

 

UT – Zyaire Sterling, Sr., St. John Vianney

Sterling did a little bit of everything for the Lancers with 19 receptions for a team-best 484 yards and five touchdowns, 36 tackles with six passes defended at defensive back and a pair of kick returns for touchdowns.

 

UT – Chris Maksimik, Sr., Manalapan

An indispensable yet mostly unheralded player for Manalapan, Maksimik is a devastating fullback who can also make plays out of the backfield as evident by his nine touchdowns last season. He also filled in at linebacker due to an injury and made 46 tackles in four starts. Manalapan has a ton of talent but Maksimik may be their MVP.

 

P – Ryan O’Hara, Jr., Red Bank Catholic

Also the Caseys’ kicker, O’Hara gives RBC an advantage on special teams.

 

Honorable mention (listed in alphabetical order)

Donte Abrams, Sr., DB, Asbury Park

Eli Avivi, Sr., DB, Manalapan

Zack Bair, Sr., RB, Red Bank Catholic

Kevin Bauman, So., TE, Red Bank Catholic

Evan Burton, Jr., RB, Pinelands

A.J. Calabro, Sr., DB, St. John Vianney

Luke Corcione, Sr., QB, Manalapan

Kyle Devaney, Sr., WR, Mater Dei Prep

Sam East, Sr., WR, St. John Vianney

James Fara, Sr., QB, Point Boro

Russell Ferrisi, Jr., Mater Dei Prep

Luke Frauenheim, Sr., QB/LB, Point Beach

Sean Gould, Sr., K/P, Point Beach

Izaiah Henderson, Jr., DL, Mater Dei Prep

Elijah McAllister, Sr., TE/DE, Rumson-Fair Haven

Emmett McNamara, Sr., OL/DL, Red Bank Catholic

Kaymar Mimes, Sr., DL, Long Branch

Joe Miele, Sr., LB, Southern

Eddie Morales III, Sr., QB, Howell

Chase Pfrang, Sr., DL, Rumson-Fair Haven

Conor Smith, Sr., OL, Red Bank Catholic

Danny Vital, Sr., QB, Keansburg

Devin Wollner, Jr., Keyport

 

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.

 

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