Ahead of the 2021 high school football season, MaxPreps is breaking down
the top senior prospects in the country state-by-state as rated by
247Sports. We continue the series with New Jersey, which opens play
Aug. 20.
Bergen Catholic, No. 12 in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25 national rankings, claims three of the top five recruits. The Crusaders are led by the state's top-ranked prospect Jaeden Gould,a 6-foot-2 defensive back committed to USC, 5-11 defensive back Jayden Bellamy, a Notre Dame pledge ranked No. 3 on the list and signal-caller Steve Angeli, another Notre Dame commit, comes in at No. 5 in the state.
St. Peter's Prep also has three names on the list, headlined by the state's No. 4 ranked prospect K.J. Miles, a 6-3, 286-pound defensive lineman headed to Georgia Tech.
By position, offensive linemen dominated the Top 25 with six selections, followed by defensive backs (five), defensive linemen and quarterbacks (four each), wide receivers and tight ends (two each) and one tight end and running back. Destination points for these elite recruits are primarily Rutgers (seven) and Illinois (three). As of Aug. 2, 22 of the 25 had committed to colleges.
Jaeden Gould, Bergen Catholic
File photo by Greg Payan
Top 20 corner piled up 38 offers before committing to the Trojans. He's expected to have a bright future as the four-star is projected as late-round pick in a future NFL Draft.
6-6 | 270 | OT | RutgersThe No. 13 offensive tackle from the Class of 2022 is projected as early-round draft pick. He chose to stay in-state over 27 offers including Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Texas.
5-11 | 175 | CB | Notre Dame
The son of 14-year NFL veteran Jay Bellamy made a name for himself as the three-star prospect committed to play in South Bend over finalists Penn State and Rutgers along with 20 other schools that extended offers.
4. K.J. Miles | St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City)
6-3 | 286 | DL | Georgia TechPiled up 28 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks across six games during a shortened junior season. Top 50 defensive lineman prospect picked the Yellow Jackets over 25 additional offers including his finalists Texas and Wisconsin.
5. Steve Angeli | Bergen Catholic (Oradell)
6-3 | 215 | QB | Notre DameRising senior signal-caller will be catalyst for Crusader's loaded offensive attack. Completed 68-of-115 passes for 919 yards and nine total touchdowns in six games as a junior.
6. Amari Clark | Woodrow Wilson (Camden)
6-2 | 202 | WR | MarylandThree-star prospect selected the Terrapins during his sophomore year, with a dozen additional offers including Baylor, Florida, North Carolina State, Penn State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
6-3 | 185 | CB | Rutgers commit
Saw time on both sides last season with six catches for 89 yards, seven carries for 86 yards and three total touchdowns. Recorded 64 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass deflections on defense.
Top 30 edge rusher in the Class of 2022 stayed in-state with the Scarlet Knights over 14 other offers including Kentucky, Louisville, Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Penn State, Virginia Tech and West Virginia
6-3 | 205 | QB | Boston College
After passing for 1,878 yards during his first three seasons with Pope John XXIII (Sparta, N.J.), Delaportas pledged to the Eagles over offers from Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
5-10 | 165 | WR | Rutgers
Versatile offensive threat had 38 carries for 414 yards and 35 receptions for 487 yards with seven total touchdowns across eight games last season. Chose Rutgers over offers from Central Michigan, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Princeton, Syracuse, Tennessee and Yale.
6-6 | 290 | OT | Rutgers
The nation's No. 67 offensive tackle prospect chose to stay in-state over offers from Boston College, Buffalo, Connecticut, Louisville, Maryland, Syracuse, Vanderbilt and West Virginia.
6-5 | 280 | OT | Rutgers
Top 75 offensive tackle prospect had 14 other offers including Maryland, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
6-1 | 195 | LB | Maryland
Top 100 linebacker prospect recorded 40 tackles in five games last season. Held 16 additional offers including Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
6-3 | 224 | TE | Undecided
Son of New York Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, the nation's No. 57 tight end prospect holds 40 offers including Auburn, Florida, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon, Tennessee and USC.
6-2 | 190 | QB | Illinois
Completed 83-of-162 passes for 996 yards while accounting for seven total touchdowns against seven interceptions. Held 12 additional offers including Boston College, Maryland, Rutgers and Virginia Tech.
6-2 | 255 | DL | Syracuse
Tallied 41 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks over six games last season. Held 15 additional offers including Boston College, Indiana, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Purdue and West Virginia.
6-7 | 260 | OT | Rutgers
Borderline Top 100 offensive tackle held eight additional offers from Akron, Arizona State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Syracuse and West Virginia.
6-4 | 280 | OT | Purdue
Picked Boilermakers over Columbia, Connecticut, Dartmouth, Fordham, Howard, Liberty, Massachusetts, Syracuse, Temple and Yale.
6-4 | 238 | DE | Northwestern
Nation's No. 52 defensive end prospect held 25 offers including Boston College, Connecticut, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
6-5 | 275 | OT | Illinois
The No. 113 offensive tackle prospect in the Class of 2022, Fries held 27 offers including Arizona, Arizona State, Indiana, Syracuse, UCF, Wake Forest and Yale.
6-0 | 180 | CB | Undecided
Top 100 defensive back prospect holds offers from Akron, Ball State, Kent State, Marshall, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, South Alabama, Syracuse and Western Michigan.
6-3 | 220 | QB | Undecided
Completed 108-of-185 passes for 1,389 yards and eight touchdowns in six games last year to bring his career total to over 5,000 passing yards. Holds 10 offers including Maryland, Rutgers, Temple, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
5-10 | 170 | CB | Wisconsin
Had four interceptions in six games during his junior campaign. Held 16 other offers including Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
6-4 | 235 | TE | Illinois
Three-star tight end will spend his post-grad year at Hun after re-classifying from the Class of 2021. Held 11 other offers including Georgia Tech, Michigan State and Navy.
5-11 | 175 | RB | Temple commit
As a junior, Martin recorded 44 carries for 176 yards and hauled in 19 receptions for 229 yards in six games. Held 16 offers including California, Navy, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee and West Virginia.
