Devin Fuller: New Jersey's most dynamic player

A shotgun snap, a stutter step toward a crowd at the line of scrimmage, a quick cut left, and Devin Fuller was on yet another six-point sprint up the left sideline. It all happened so quickly, so effortlessly, that most of the crowd lining the field at Northern Valley (Old Tappan) could only shake their heads and offer an appreciative and awe-inspired chuckle before applauding the fast-rising Division I recruit.

And to think: Prior to his freshman year, the last time Fuller took a snap under center came as a fourth-grader.

Once he received word Fuller would attend Old Tappan, Golden Knights' head coach Brian Dunn drew upon his experience of seeing the precociously talented youngster at his youth camps and executed a program-shifting switch. Instead of taking handoffs as he did for his town rec-league team, Fuller would get to use all of his graceful gifts running Dunn's spread offense.

With his fleet feet and rocket of a right arm, Fuller tops the MaxPreps.com Top 10 list of most dynamic offensive players in New Jersey (see the full list below). Through six games, the 6-foot, 180-pound junior has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark both through the air (1,061 yards, 72.2 completion percentage) and on the ground (1,049 yards) while accounting for 28 total touchdowns. He already owns a scholarship offer from Rutgers, while Dunn anticipates the likes of Boston College, Connecticut, Georgia Tech, Oregon and UCLA following suit soon.

"If you see him play, you can tell he's a special player," Dunn said. "This year, he's just taken off. He's a man now."

A star in his own right, Fuller comes from terrific bloodlines. His mother, Cynthia Mizelle, was a backup singer for the late Luther Vandross and currently tours with legendary Garden State singer Bruce Springsteen. His father and current Old Tappan assistant coach, Bart, played free safety for Texas Christian University from 1983-87.

These days, father and son bond over midweek film study sessions at home. After the Golden Knights' offensive practice day, they decipher opposing defensive schemes and slow the game down mentally for Devin so that when Friday night or Saturday afternoon rolls around, his physical talent can take control.

Although Fuller flashed the potential for this sort of breakthrough starting with his first-ever varsity appearance against North Jersey power Ramapo - when he guided a two-minute offense that was stopped just short of producing the game-tying touchdown - he still entered 2010 as a fairly well-kept secret outside of Old Tappan. After all, the Golden Knights are in Bergen County, where the Holy Trinity of Don Bosco Prep, Bergen Catholic and St. Joseph Regional seemingly steal all of the prep football headlines.

Fuller sounded a loud, clear opening salvo for this season with 393 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns Sept. 11 against Pascack Valley. From there, he expanded his brand of buzz outside of Old Tappan five days later in a 50-31 victory over Paramus. Seemingly every snap provided a highlight surpassing the previous one: a 75-yard scoring strike, sprints to paydirt on runs of 84 and 65 yards, 465 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns total.

"I expect things out of myself," Fuller said with a shrug and smile. "I have a great line. The game is a lot slower when you have holes to read."

Fuller tries to avoid reading his own publicity - "I know what happened during the game," he explained - but the buzz about him multiplies every week. Especially after his finest 48 minutes, on Oct. 8 in a 61-34 triumph over Wayne Valley: 220 yards and four scores passing, 192 yards and three more touchdowns rushing, an interception returned for a touchdown and adding a pair of 2-point conversions with his legs.

"I think those are good things," Fuller said of the attention he has attracted before, perhaps, revealing the secret to his success: "I just move on to the next play."

Around Old Tappan, and even around North Jersey, people are waiting to see what magic Fuller will perform on his next play. A sprint up the sideline, hitting a receiver in stride for a score, even lowering the boom on a ball carrier - he is also a force as the Golden Knights' safety - has generated an unparalleled level of anticipation surrounding Old Tappan football during its 6-0 start.

"Our crowds are twice as big," Old Tappan Athletic Director Tom Kaechele said. "People are calling my office constantly about Devin Fuller - 'I want to see that kid play.' That's the buzz."

One that continues to grow with each highlight-reel play and each headline-grabbing performance.

"There's always been a buzz about him here," Dunn said. "Now everybody sees it. It's no surprise to anybody here, but it's nice to see everybody paying attention."

MAXPREPS TOP 10: NEW JERSEY'S MOST DYNAMIC OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
1. Devin Fuller, Old Tappan

2. Savon Huggins, St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City): A very close second on this list, Huggins is rated the No. 5 tailback in the Class of 2011 and is unquestionably the state's top recruit. He has the electrifying potential to turn every touch into a six-point excursion - and has done so 22 times since 2009. Huggins already visited Notre Dame and played in front of Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly last Friday night when the Marauders tamed Memorial, 49-0. Huggins is slated to visit Florida and North Carolina, while the likes of Oregon, Pittsburgh and Rutgers remain in the picture.

3. Bill Belton, Winslow Township (Atco): A dual-threat quarterback, Belton is about to surpass the millennium mark in passing (1,206 yards) and rushing (939). A Pittsburgh recruit, the 5-9, 190-pound dynamo will likely play receiver or cornerback for the Panthers.

4. Miles Shuler, Long Branch: Although the Green Waves have been disappointing this season, Shuler's all-around athleticism as their quarterback has provided highlights. A selection to the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, the 2010 state champion in the 100-meter dash visited Northwestern last weekend and is also considering Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Rutgers and Stanford.

5. Damiere Byrd, Timber Creek Regional (Erial): The 5-10, 160-pound running back/receiver/cornerback/kick returner was a terrific pickup for Steve Spurrier and South Carolina, which picked up Byrd's commitment on Oct. 20.

6. Tanner McEvoy, Bergen Catholic (Oradell): Moving him from receiver to quarterback was a master stroke from first-year head coach Nunzio Campanile. Although McEvoy might be a wideout or safety on the Division I level, he has thrown for 1,514 yards and 20 touchdowns while adding 654 yards and 10 scores on the ground. He has more than 20 scholarship offers, including one from Rutgers where his brother, Colin, is the starting fullback.

7. Leonte Carroo, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey): Standing 6-1 and 190 pounds, the big-play junior wideout and Edison native already has offers from Rutgers (which he visited) and Boston College, but is said to be high on Oklahoma. Swift and rangy with terrific body control, he already has seven touchdown catches this season, including three last Friday against Passaic Tech.

8. Kevin Monangai, Seton Hall Prep (West Orange): Somehow, only FCS school Monmouth is his only scholarship offer thus far. Considering he has rushed for a school-record 58 career touchdowns and has amassed 1,558 yards this season. We believe this shifty standout will play Division I ball next season. Monangai has cracked the 300-yard rushing barrier twice in the last three weeks.

9. Brian Dowling, Wayne Hills (Wayne): Hard to believe the Patriots' star tailback does not hold a single Division I offer, considering he has scored 21 touchdowns for the perennial Group 3 powerhouse. Dowling has scored on the ground, through the air, on defense and even on special teams.

10. Joe Johnson, Manchester Township (Lakehurst): After blossoming late in his sophomore season, the junior followed up a 225-yard performance last week with a career-best 357 yards against Pinelands last Friday to give him 1,091 yards through seven games.