Loaded Rosters: Donovan Catholic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Donovan Catholic is one of my early favorites to shock New Jersey in 2023. The team went 6-4 last season, but within those six wins they shut out three teams and held another two opponents to under 10 points. With a loss to Bergen Catholic in the Quarterfinals of the non public playoffs, Donovan Catholic is returning a lot of the players that led them to success in 2022. Donovan Catholic has the biggest potential in the state to pull some upsets, and I truly think they will turn some heads this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Todd Lambertson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Donovan Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Donovan Catholic's Todd Lambertson is coming back in 2023 after already having a season under his belt as the starting QB. With a lot of experience already, Todd is a guy you need to watch out for this upcoming season. He has big arm talent and can deliver a pretty ball deep downfield. Todd has developed great chemistry with his young receivers and can put some zip on the ball to fit it into tight windows. With a fast release and a dialed in mentality, Todd is a QB colleges need to start reaching out to. Todd and Co. will unload on defenses in 2023 with a stout aerial attack.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d253351bd8c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13356148/6382ed8a5b3cd113c47c7b2e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d253351bdd6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284069"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='284069' first='Najee' last='Calhoun'] is the first 2026 player from this team on this list that deserves a lot of recognition. Najee is right up there with the best of them coming out of New Jersey in 2026. Watching Najee's film from last year you would of thought he already had three years of varsity play behind him. It is hard to believe he was able to do what he did in only his freshman year.rnrnNajee is going to torment defenses in 2023. He already has upper classman size and uses that strength to drop the shoulder on would be tacklers. And with elite acceleration when the ball is in his hands, Najee is off to the end zone before the defense even has a chance to make a play. With an offer from Duke this offseason, Najee's offer count will steadily increase over the next few months.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d253351be2a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16912817/6372d3b3664c890520dda35f' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d253351be4a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284061"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='284061' first='Emanuel' last='Gerena'] made some big plays as a freshman in 2022. The 2026 wide receiver and defensive back is going to develop into a very sought after athlete in New Jersey. Offensively he shines as a short route runner, using his quickness to evade tacklers and maneuver through defenders. He is an agile target that will strike fear into defenders when they are one on one with him in open field. Emanuel will be playing a key role in the pass offense for Donovan Catholic in 2023. This team has so many weapons that Emanuel will have plenty of opportunities to exploit the defense and start making a name for himself. Look for schools to start noticing him more this fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d253351be93"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15212184/6374594c96768b0c80bd5675' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d253351beb0"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Michael Thomas III","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Donovan Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Michael Thomas III will be unstoppable on the field in 2023. An absolute play maker at the receiver position, very few corners will be able to keep up with what Michael brings to the game. Michael has all of the characteristics needed to be an elite wide receiver. Driving hard off of the line, Michael uses his track speed to leave defenders in the dust once in open space. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands. He moves in and out of traffic with ease and has the strength to break through arm tackles. Michael's most valuable skills revolve around his catching abilities. He has great body awareness when near the sideline and can make some jaw dropping catches. Michael may be my favorite receiver in the 2025 NJ class, and he is sure to get more big school offers this fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d253351bf39"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16133472/63748a050c53d804e8f32598' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d253351bf58"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zaeir Day","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Donovan Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Zaeir Day is the lone defender representing this school on the list. A gritty outside linebacker/defensive end, Zaeir is a strong, athletic edge rusher with a motor that keep him fighting to get to the ball carrier. Zaeir thus far has displayed sound technique, preventing runners from getting outside of him and squeezing the hole when the ball is run the opposite direction. He pursues the ball carrier relentlessly and is driven to make a play before the ball gets past the line of scrimmage. With an offer from Sacred Heart this offseason, Zaeir is sure to receive a few more soon. Look for a high output of sacks from Zaeir in 2023.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d253351bfd7"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15062642/635ea2e90427f90c1c7b7fdc' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d253351bff5"} /-->