No. 21 Paramus Catholic (N.J.) - Team preview / Preseason photo gallery
Strengths: Paramus Catholic's most obvious strong point is
Jabrill Peppers, the team's unquestioned leader, the top recruit from New Jersey in more than a decade and the most exciting high school football player in America. But the Paladins are much more than a one-man show. The team that defeated Bergen Catholic and St. Joseph Regional last year returns quarterback
Steve Shanley and a big offensive line led by
Juwann Bushell-beatty,
Billy Ray Mitchell and
Alec Bowman.
Tyrone Washington and
Najee Clayton are also playmakers for head coach Chris Partridge's offense. Led by
Nick Flores, eight starters return on defense, including Peppers, who roams the secondary.
Question marks: This team finished strong and with resilience last year. It came from behind to defeat Bergen Catholic in dramatic fashion and handed St. Joseph Regional its only loss in a see-saw affair. Still, the team was defeated handily by traditional power Don Bosco Prep, 31-8. That's a hump that the Paladins still need to clear. Though the team is balanced and deep, any injury to Peppers would be a major blow on both sides of the ball.
Outlook: With a beefed-up schedule, Paramus Catholic is making a clear play to elevate itself even higher on the national radar. It hits the road to take on Ohio power St. Ignatius and will also face Gilman and Friendship Collegiate. Add that to an in-state menu that features Bergen Catholic, St. Joseph Regional and Don Bosco Prep, and Paramus Catholic has a schedule that could have it in the thick of a national title race.
