Finding Gold in this Big Central Division

United Gold is a stand out division in my eyes. While one team seemed to dominate the rest in 2023 (St. Thomas Aquinas), there is good reason to believe that a few teams are on the come up. Looking back on last season, nearly every team within the division is coming back with experience at the sophomore or junior, and will look to build off of the victories they had last fall.   One team that really stands out to me in particular is Rahway. While they only went 3-7 in 2023, Rahway brought a ton of talent to the Prep Redzone NYNJ Combine and really performed well. Rahway even had a few players from their team recognized as MVPs of the event. Get to know all of these players before the season begins, because it will be a dogfight come September.    A quarterback I have covered in the past, [player_tooltip player_id='801495' first='Roman' last='Blanks'] is a sensational athlete honing from St. Thomas Aquinas. Leading his squad to a 10-1 record in 2023, Roman lit up the field as he threw for 1253 yards and 14 touchdowns to only 1 interception. A deadly accurate thrower, Roman demonstrated precision throughout the season as he was able to needle the ball into tight windows and avoid the ball getting batted down or picked off. You really need to check out his tape to appreciate was he was able to accomplish. You'll find plenty examples of Roman rolling out of the pocket and throwing on the run, placing the ball right where it needs to be. Even with tight coverage, Roman is able to find a way to sneak it in.   Standing tall in the pocket, Roman has the size and frame to have a full view of the field and see the play develop in front of him. Mainly a thrower, Roman has the pocket awareness and shiftiness to move fluidly in and out of the pocket, all the while keeping his eyes downfield. Roman is a special talent at St. Thomas Aquinas.      The second top tier talent honing from St. Thomas Aquinas, Chase is a two way starter that deserves recognition on both sides of the ball. As a running back, there are few things that can slow Chase down once he gets moving. If the defense allows Chase to build up speed and momentum, it becomes progressively more challenging to get him to the ground. He has a gritty running style and runs through arm tackles with ease and often keeps chugging along with defenders bouncing off him.   Between the tackles, Chase may be one of the most worrisome RBs to go up against. He took off for 1038 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023, and I expect the same level of success this season. St. Thomas Aquinas' offense will be firing on all cylinders with [player_tooltip player_id='801495' first='Roman' last='Blanks'] controlling the air and [player_tooltip player_id='976963' first='Chase' last='Young'] handing the ground.      A monster of a linebacker, [player_tooltip player_id='859916' first='Justin' last='Hoeffler'] is a terrorizing presence in the middle of the field. Built with strength and the longevity to go full tilt play after play, Justin's playmaking capabilities extends the full length of the game. Justin is a rangy defender that has the ability to swallow up runners and quarterbacks whenever they get near. Justin's quick lateral movement allows him to pounce on running backs coming through the line, stopping them before they get any further.   If you need to get a sense of the work Justin is willing to put in to become the best he can be, head over to his twitter account. He has been grinding all off season in the weight room and the efforts he's putting in will surely pay off come next season.      One of the top performers from the Prep Redzone NYNJ Combine, [player_tooltip player_id='1002386' first='Andrew' last='Avent'] came to the event, balled out, and came out the other side as a one of the top tier player in the state. A larger than life sized linebacker, Andrew is equipped with everything needed to excel next season and at the next level.   Andrew has demonstrated that he not only has the reflexes and play recognition to bring a swift stop to any play, but has the speed to run down QBs and backs as they take off for the perimeter. With quick footwork and the ability to open his hips up, Andrew can match nearly any runner with speed, and use his long range to reel them in for the tackle. Andrew is sure to gain more attention over the 2024 season. He already has offers from LIU and Sacred Heart, but I expect more to flow through after the first kickoff of 2024.      One of my favorite DBs coming out of Central Jersey, [player_tooltip player_id='971281' first='Callum' last='Fynes'] is a safety that can cover a ton of ground in a short period of time. Surveying the secondary from up high, Callum is a DB that is always keeping his head on a swizzle and then can break on the ball with speed in either direction.   Callum's dimensions are tough for any QB to have success against. He is a tall, lengthy presence in the middle of the field, making it a challenge for QBs to fit it in overtop to their receivers or try to throw it into the middle of the field. Callum can watch the play develop in front of him and move swiftly to break up the pass or come down with the pick. With 3 interceptions in 2023 as a sophomore, Callum will continue to extend his turnover success this fall.

United Gold is a stand out division in my eyes. While one team seemed to dominate the rest in 2023 (St. Thomas Aquinas), there is good reason to believe that a few teams are on the come up. Looking back on last season, nearly every team within the division is coming back with experience at the sophomore or junior, and will look to build off of the victories they had last fall.