Players to Watch in State-Ranked Games

Amit Batra

October 1, 2020 @ 06:49 PM

The time has arrived. On the eve of the high school football season in New Jersey, it’s time to start thinking about the fall air, the big games and the jaw-dropping plays. There are some major games scheduled early on featuring ranked teams. A pair of powerhouse squads go up against each other when second-ranked Bergen Catholic takes on No. 5 St. Joseph of Montvale in a Saturday afternoon showdown, and then top-ranked St. Peter’s Prep takes on No. 13 West Orange Friday night. Let’s take a look at the players to watch in the state’s ranked battles this week. Tahjamell Bullock, St. Peter’s Prep, Sr. – Bullock enters his senior year with St. Peter’s Prep, a team that finished 11-1 last year and comes in as the top team in the state in 2020. Bullock threw for over 2,000 yards last season and totaled over 30 touchdowns passing and rushing. The Virginia Tech commit will lead another strong unit with his ability to do it all on the field. George Rooks, St. Peter’s Prep, Sr. – Rooks finished with 9.5 sacks last year as a defensive lineman. He is a top recruit in the state and has been recruited by major programs. He is able to get to the quarterback and is an absolute force up front. He finished with 15 tackles for loss last season. Mason Murdock, West Orange, Sr. – Murdock is another quarterback capable of making a splash this season. He threw for over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior. Murdock threw for four scores in a convincing win over Livingston. He will be tested early on against a very stout St. Peter’s defense, but he’ll have some weapons to work with this year. [player_tooltip player_id="27884" first="Jayson" last="Raines"], West Orange, Sr. – Raines, a Stanford commit, will be a top target for Murdock this season. He caught 47 passes for over 700 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He can make plays on defense in the secondary, too. [player_tooltip player_id="27865" first="Audric" last="Estime"], St. Joseph (Mont.), Sr. – Watch out when Estime gets the ball in his hands. The senior running back and Michigan State commit is a force, just like this physical St. Joseph offense. He has a strong build and runs with tremendous power. Estime was highly recruited and remains one of the best scoring threats in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="27863" first="Geno" last="VanDeMark"], St. Joseph (Mont.), Sr. – VanDeMark, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound lineman, is another Michigan State commit who was sought-after in the state. He can play multiple spots on the o-line, and he’ll be key in Estime getting some holes in the run game. [player_tooltip player_id="27859" first="Tywone" last="Malone"], Bergen Catholic, Sr. – Malone is the top senior recruit in New Jersey. He is a force who looks already ready for the next level. Listed at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, Malone will be tough to challenge in the trenches. [player_tooltip player_id="27989" first="Ryan" last="Butler"], Bergen Catholic, Jr. – Butler had an incredible sophomore year for Bergen Catholic, which looks to be a dominant team in the state after a disappointing-for-its-standards 5-4 campaign. The junior running back rushed for 1,076 yards with 12 touchdowns. He scored three touchdowns apiece in wins over Pope John and Irvington, and he had six games of over 100 yards, including a whopping 225-yard performance against Pope John. Other Names: Avery Powell, St. Peter’s Prep, Jr. CB Christian Lebrun, St. Peter’s Prep, Jr. S [player_tooltip player_id="27898" first="Shakhi" last="Carson"], West Orange, Sr. RB Makhi Green, West Orange, Jr. WR Chris Parsons, West Orange, Sr. LB Aquan Robinson, West Orange, Sr. DE [player_tooltip player_id="27926" first="Frankie" last="Monte"], St. Joseph (Mont.), Sr. LB Logan Rivera, St. Joseph (Mont.), Sr. LB Sebastien Tasko, St. Joseph (Mont.), Sr. K/P [player_tooltip player_id="27961" first="Jaeden" last="Gould"], Bergen Catholic, Jr. DB Steve Angeli, Bergen Catholic, Jr. QB