Season Preview: The Top Players Returning From Patriot Gold

Bernards was an absolute dominant force last season, not only in the Patriot Gold division but within the state as well. Suffering only one loss on the season, Bernards may be losing a lot of talent from the 2023 roster but they are also returning players at pivotal positions.   Bernards will have to fight hard in 2024 to keep it's opponents at bay. While Bernards is still the favorite to repeat its success next season, I have the expectations that teams like Delaware Valley and Bound Brook have the capabilities to give Bernards a run for their money. Here are some of the players that can stand out from within the division in 2024.    If Bernards wants to repeat the type of success they had last season, they'll have to rely on players like [player_tooltip player_id='1087580' first='Thomas' last='Diemar']. Thomas is an all around terror for opponents to line up against. As an edge rusher in 2023, Thomas accumulated 46 tackles and found his way to the quarterback 10 times.   Thomas is a valuable asset to his defense. This is a player that Bernards can lean on to make a play when they need it the most. Coming off of the edge, Thomas throws violent hands towards lineman, having the strength to overpower them and drive the blockers straight into the pocket. Not only can Thomas drive blockers back at will, but his long reach allows him to keep the linemen at a distance and then can hand fight his way past them. Only a sophomore in 2023, Thomas has a lot more to look forward to in his young career. If he is able to continue putting on size and muscle, there will be few offensive tackles in the state that will be able to contend with him.      [player_tooltip player_id='1087578' first='Logan' last='Stevens'] is the second Bernards player on the list and one in which I believe will see more growth than any other player within the division from 2023 to 2024. Not only was he a major presence in the backfield last season, but he will play an even big part next fall with the departure of their star quarterback, Connor Laverty. It is amazing how big of a role he played as a sophomore on a successful team like Bernards. Logan totaled 11 offensive touchdowns last fall and 800 yards to go with it.   What I find most impressive in Logan's game is he can get the ball between the tackles and also out on the perimeter and find success in both. He is a gritty back that naturally runs with a forward lean, always ready to load up and give a defender the shoulder. To go with the power running skills, Logan is one of those runners that you could say has sneaky speed too. Right when defenders think they are within their grasp, Logan is able to accelerate and keep separation as he continues his sprint downfield. There is much to look forward to from this back.      If you're looking for a receiver to consistently and confidently throw it up to, [player_tooltip player_id='1040419' first='Eric' last='Klemmer'] is your man. Single man coverage will prove to be a regret against Eric in 2024, as he has the frame and length to outcompete every defender he goes up against. While Eric may not be a speed demon, he has all of the other skills needed to be a major downfield threat.   Coming down with 4 touchdowns and 318 yards in 2023, Eric has the potential to drastically increase both of those statistics this upcoming fall. Lining up out wide, Eric is the type of receiver that can come down with the ball in heavy traffic. With the combination of a longer reach and soft hands, Eric is able to propel himself vertical and make it a noncompetition with the defender for the ball. Eric can play like a basketball player, boxing out a DB and catching the ball far away from his body. With more emphasis on speed and footwork, Eric has the potential to be the top receiver within the division.      If there is one team with the division that I think can improve by leaps and bounds, it is Bound Brook. While they had a losing record in 2023, there is good reason to believe they could flip the script and move in a positive direction in 2024. A lot of that has to do with the returning players on both sides of the ball. Grant Guzzino is one of those players that is bringing back a lot of experience on the defensive side of the ball.   A smaller yet shifty linebacker, Grant brings to the defense a nose for the ball and ability to pounce when he sees his opportunity arise. He has a fast first step and can really beat the runner to the hole, driving them backwards behind the line. For being a smaller defender, Grant really packs a punch when he goes in for the hit. He is able to coil up and get low to the ground to then spring into action with a forceful tackle. This is a defender an opponent would want to steer clear of.      The ceiling is high for Jeremiah Norwood. While he didn't put up prolific numbers in 2023, there's good reason to believe he can be a star within the Patriot Gold division. Throwing for 1334 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2023, Jeremiah has the size, frame and arm strength to really set himself apart. With a quick snap, Jeremiah can release the ball with speed and find his receiver on a quick slant across the middle.   Jeremiah's throwing mechanics could be cleaned up as he tends to short arm the throw and throw it off of his back foot, but those are details he could clean up during the offseason before the season begins. What I am hoping to see more of out of Jeremiah in 2024 is designed runs and tucking it when under duress. He has the build to nearly be a power running back, and I could see him playing a pivotal role in Bound Brook's run success next season.

Bernards was an absolute dominant force last season, not only in the Patriot Gold division but within the state as well. Suffering only one loss on the season, Bernards may be losing a lot of talent from the 2023 roster but they are also returning players at pivotal positions.