Two of Essex County’s top teams – East Orange Campus and Shabazz – also boast very talented Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS or formerly Division 1-A) athletes who have either decided on, or will be announcing their college commitments in the coming weeks or months.
One of the top 2-way players is EOC senior Alex Hanks, a Temple University commit, who will make the Owls quite happy to have him as either an elite wide receiver or as a top defensive back.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Jaguars star, who had 20 receptions for 526 yards and 3 TDs last fall, selected Temple over a list of FBS programs that include West Virginia, Syracuse, the University of Massachusetts and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
His teammate Esa Wittingburg, who is an elite edge rusher on EOC’s stingy defensive unit, has several schools including the University of Pittsburgh, Syracuse UNC-Charlotte and Akron in the mix.
EOC has former standouts currently excelling at the college level including a 2025 Walter Camp pre-season ‘Players to Watch’ in linebacker Kyle Louis at Pitt and Al-Jay Henderson at Buffalo.
Shabazz is led by its very versatile senior running back-safety and linebacker Zaiden McDonald, who has committed to Stanford University where he will be heading next summer to join former Bulldog all-state safety Omari Gaines at the elite academic California-based school.
McDonald and Gaines helped lead the Newark school to the 2024 overall Group 2 state final at Rutgers SHI Stadium where the Bulldogs were edged by Rumson-Fair Haven.
McDonald, who had 76 tackles and 4 sacks last fall, is the top safety and No. 8 rated New Jersey high school player according to 247 Sports.
St. Joe’s of Montvale’s KJ McClain, who had made a verbal commitment to Tennessee, but has recently visited Michigan State, transferred before last season to St. Joe’s from Seton Hall Prep in West Orange.
His older brother, Jaylen McClain, who starred scholastically at SHP, is a sophomore at national power Ohio State where he sees time in the defensive secondary for the Buckeyes.
McDonald’s strong play this season included 127 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns along with 14 tackles in a resounding Sept. 26th 38-17 Shabazz victory over Immaculata of Somerville.
Another superb 2-way athlete is West Orange senior David Moore who has committed to UMass, which has beefed up its football program and schedule in the last few years, including road games this season at both Iowa and Missouri.
Moore, who is a superb DB, is slated to be a wide receiver for UMass which already has a couple of Essex County products at the position in Newark native Kenyon Massey, a freshman wide out from Paramus Catholic, and former Verona star and red-shirt senior Jake McConnachie who transferred to UMass following a solid four years at Pitt.
Another West Orange senior heading to an elite location for his college football is running back Farad Green who has made the commitment to attend West Point and play for the Army football team.
Among the juniors in Essex County receiving strong FBS interest is Seton Hall Prep DB Taylor Daniels, another terrific all-around athlete who has received strong interest from colleges including Duke, Boston College, Florida State and Marshall.
Two of Newark Central’s standout junior wide receivers, Dishon Jerman and TJ Bailey, Jr., are also gaining considerable FBS interest with the former already holding offers from Duke, Syracuse, Temple, Akron and James Madison, while the latter has his own offers on the table from Temple, Memphis and Woffard along with Delaware State and Howard.
Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly 1-AA) opportunities and Division II and III destinations will also be the focus of many current high school senior football players.
EOC senior D-lineman Shaheem Dezonie has already made his verbal commitment to the DII program at Long Island University.
Among the special teams’ players in Essex who should receive definite FCS attention are Cedar Grove’s outstanding placekicker Sebastian Kovacs and Montclair’s superb punter Oscar Crosbie-Smyth.
