2020 Defensive First-Team All-State

Defensive players came out in a strange season and turned it on from the beginning. Here are the names that took their game to the next level this season and were named First-Team All-State. <strong>DL: DJ Samuels (2023) | Bergen Catholic</strong> Samuels is going to turn into the top player in New Jersey. He is a freakish athlete on the edge at such a young age. Samuels plays foro ne of the biggest powerhouses in New Jersey and he will continue to get better. <strong>DL: [player_tooltip player_id="27977" first="Jihaad" last="Campbell"] (2022) | Timber Creek</strong> Campbell has transferred to IMG Academy but not before he turned in an All-State season for Timber Creek. At 6’4, Campbell has the size and speed to excel at the next level. <strong>DL: George Rooks (2021) | St. Peter’s Prep</strong> Rooks is an all-around prospect that is going to be a huge land for one Division I program. He led the defense for one of the best teams in the state and has done it for years. <strong>DL: [player_tooltip player_id="27899" first="Dominick" last="Giudice"] (2021) | Mater Dei</strong> The Michigan commit is a true leader along a defensive line. He is as tough as they come with great moves to be able to get to the quarterback. <strong>LB: [player_tooltip player_id="28006" first="Charlie" last="Sasso"] (2021) | Wall</strong> Sasso was named the Defensive Player of the Year in New Jersey this season. Wall was the state’s best defense and it was led by Sasso. He was as impressive as they come in the middle of Wall’s defense. <strong>LB: [player_tooltip player_id="27867" first="Mikai" last="Gbayor"] (2021) | Irvington</strong> Gbayor is a Nebraska commit who has a chance to take a defense to the next level eventually. At middle linebacker, Gbayor showed great speed from sideline to sideline all year long. <strong>LB: [player_tooltip player_id="27958" first="Locksley" last="Burke"] (2021) | East Orange</strong> Burke came into the season as an impact player and ranked near the top. He did not disappoint this season for East Orange on the defensive side of the ball. <strong>LB: [player_tooltip player_id="27949" first="Anthony" last="Henriquez"] (2021) | Hoboken</strong> Henriquez rounds out the linebackers and does it in a big way. Hoboken let Henriquez play the position and lead in anyway he could. This was a good decision from the start. <strong>DB: [player_tooltip player_id="27929" first="Casey" last="Larkin"] (2021) | Wall</strong> Larkin was a dual-threat star for Wall. He was an elite running back but excelled in the defensive backfield. As a safety, Larkin had great instincts and this helped with the ball in the air. <strong>DB: [player_tooltip player_id="27878" first="Desmond" last="Igbinosun"] (2021) | Union</strong> Igbinosun will stay home to play at Rutgers next season. He can be used as a running back but it is looking like he will be in the secondary. Igbinosun has great speed and that is something that can be used anywhere. <strong>DB: [player_tooltip player_id="27870" first="Duce" last="Chestnut"] (2021) | Camden</strong> Chestnut was arguably the best defensive back in the state. The Syracuse commit can do it all on the field and he improved year in and year out. <strong>UTIL: [player_tooltip player_id="27928" first="Ahmad" last="Ross"] (2021) | St. Joe’s (Hamm.)</strong> Ross was a utility selection at the linebacker position this season. He dominated every game he played and was as shore of a tackler as there was. <strong>UTIL: Yah-Sin Calhoun (2021) | Freehold Boro</strong> Calhoun was near the top of the state in interceptions this season. He was one of many players for Boro was played on both sides of the ball. <strong>P: Nick Conforti (2022) | Seton Hall Prep</strong> Is Conforti the best punter in the state? If there is better then we would like to see. &nbsp;