MaxPreps 2012 Preseason Xcellent 25 Football preview: No. 21 Don Bosco Prep

After graduating the likes of Darius Hamilton, Elijah Shumate, Leonte Carroo and one of the deepest senior classes in school history, as well as enduring the transfers of Jabrill Peppers, Keyon Washington and Kevin Wilkins, 2012 would seem like a very down year by Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) standards.

However, a down year for arguably the top high school football program in the country over the last five years will still yield a very good football team.

MaxPreps Preseason Top 25 High School Football Early Contenders

The offensive line, Don Bosco Prep’s bread and butter during head coach Greg Toal’s incredible run, returns starters Sean Carey and Anthony Siciliano, while highly touted junior Tyrell Smith should nab another spot. Mitch Arthur and Billy Leinart are in the mix for the other spots, along with 6-foot-6, 275-pound sophomore Nate Greig.



There’s currently a three-horse race for the quarterback spot, featuring Frank Nutile, Eric Meile and Nick Crusco. At 6-4, Nutile resembles former Ironmen quarterback Gary Nova while Meile and Crusco are more similar to dual-threat signal-caller Mike Yankovich, who led the team last year.

Isaiah Hill will lead an inexperienced group of receivers. Hill started opposite Carroo in the Mission Viejo game, but broke his collarbone and missed the rest of the season. He should have a big year as the team’s No. 1 target. Watch for 6-6 tight end Tom Sweeney to have an impact as well.

Lawrence Stephens and Aaron Guzman should both get carries, as Don Bosco Prep normally shares the load at running back.

The real strength of the team lies on the defensive line. Top 100 defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad is a physical specimen. Tall with long arms, he has excellent reach that allows him to trip up runners as well as harass quarterbacks.

He’s joined by Rahzohnn Gross, another returning starter, and Zach Chakonis, a wrestler with great athleticism. 6-6 Zach Ray is also competing for a spot.

Spencer Scannell, a returning linebacker, brings experience to the position, while Michael D'alessandro will step in at safety, playing a role similar to that of Kyle Sakowski last season. The team’s secondary will be largely inexperienced, but with the likes of Stephens and Devonn Ellison competing for spots, it should have good speed.



Local outlook: "This has perhaps been the most contentious offseason at Don Bosco since Greg Toal took the reins of the football program. First Toal was linked to the opening at Fordham, then, much-heralded prospect Jabrill Peppers transferred to Paramus Catholic. Finally, in June, offensive coordinator Anthony Campanile left for a job at Rutgers. The Ironmen's 2012 schedule is once again formidable with three marquee out-of-state matchups, including a showdown with the only other team to win a national championship the last three years: St. Thomas Aquinas. On the field, the defense has to be rebuilt and the offense needs to find a leader at quarterback. But those who doubt Toal and company do so at their own peril. After winning the national title in 2009, the Ironmen faced similar concerns going into 2010. All they did then was go through the season undefeated and finish in the top three in most national polls."
- Darren Cooper, Bergen Record{PAGEBREAK}




School size: Group IV


Enrollment: 900 (approx.)


2011 finish: 11-0; non-public Group IV section champion; national champion


Head coach: Greg Toal




Career record: 267-35-2


Years at school: 13


Notable players coached:
RB Ryan Grant (Notre Dame, NFL)

DL Justin Trattou (Florida, NFL)

DL Corey Wootton (Northwestern, NFL)

LB Brian Toal{PAGEBREAK}




No. of returning starters: 3 (offense), 3 (defense)



Key losses:
DL Darius Hamilton

DB Elijah Shumate

DB Yuri Wright

DB Jabrill Peppers (transfer)

Key returners:
DL Quan Muhammad

LB Rahzohn Gross



OL Sean Carey

WR Isaiah Hill

Key newcomers:
OL Tyrell Smith

DB Michael D’Alessandro

RB Lawrence Stephens{PAGEBREAK}



Toughest game: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). This is arguably the most highly anticipated game in the country this season, matching up two East Coast superpowers. Aquinas returns much more than Don Bosco, and, playing at home, will be very difficult to beat.



Question mark: Will this team really be able to replace all of the talent it lost after last season? Sure, Don Bosco Prep has dealt with replacing key players in the past, most recently after its 2009 season in which it captured a national title and then, with a young and inexperienced team, rattled off another unbeaten season.

Local look: Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco Prep’s arch rival, is ranked No. 17 this season, so the Ironmen will certainly be tested by an experienced squad. St. Joseph Regional, which Don Bosco Prep plays each year on Thanksgiving, will have one of its better squads in recent years. One game circled on the calendar is an Oct. 12 showdown with much-improved Paramus Catholic, featuring former Don Bosco Prep star Jabrill Peppers.

Overall outlook: In addition to the losses in personnel, this team sustained another blow when offensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, a highly respected offensive mind, took a job with Rutgers. However, new offensive coordinator Drew Lascari has enjoyed a seamless transition and has plenty of pieces to work with. Still, this is a Greg Toal-coached team, and that means it will be tough, fearless, and not intimidated by Bergen Catholic, Aquinas, Gilman or any other team on its schedule. Opponents who write off Don Bosco Prep eventually will regret it.

Coach quote: “Obviously, a lot of people, including myself, have things to prove. We don’t have many returning starters on offense. Like I said to my kids, this is my first opportunity in the offensive coordinator role, and it’s their first opportunity in a starting varsity role. How are we going to handle it? Work our tails off or feel sorry for ourselves? What I expect is absolute competition. I’m going to hold each kid accountable. Nothing is going to change in our approach. We’re going to be very fiery, exciting and fast-paced offensively. We’re gonna be moving and we expect our players to have the same expectations of pace and toughness. That’s what Don Bosco is built on: toughness. We coach on toughness and expect toughness out of our kids. That’s not gonna change.”
- Drew Lascari, first-year offensive coordinator{PAGEBREAK}