Here are South Jersey HS Athletes that Play College Football
The 2023 College Football season is here and the first full weekend of the season is also the same as South Jersey's Labor Day Weekend. There are athletes from South Jersey High Schools who are playing at the highest levels of College Football this upcoming season.
Here is a list of some of those athletes who are graduates from South Jersey High Schools who are playing at major college football programs this season (alphabetical order):
*LeQuint Allen, Running Back, Syracuse University
Graduate from Millville High School, LeQuint Allen is entering his Sophmore year after a solid first year averaging 6.6 Yards Per Rush. Allen is expected to get a majority of the workload at Running Back this season after as the Orangemen are starting four new starters on offense. His senior year at Millville High School, Allen rushed for 1,905 Yards and 22 Touchdowns.
*Jojo Bermudez, Wide Receiver, University of Delaware
Graduate from Cedar Creek High School, Jojo Bermudez transferred to Delaware after not playing last season at the University of Cincinnati. At Delaware, Bermudez is competing for playing time as the third or fourth receiver this upcoming season. His senior year at Cedar Creek High School, Jojo had 1,662 Receiving Yards and 14 Touchdown Catches.
*Solomon Deshields, Linebacker, University of Pittsburgh
Graduate from Millville High School, Solomon Deshields will be a starting Linebacker this season for the Pitt Panthers. Last season, DeShields played in all 13 games (starting 10 of those games) for Pittsburgh in which he compiled Four Sacks and 10 Solo Tackles. During his senior year at Millville High School, DeShields had a very good year as a Wide Receiver with Nine Receiving Touchdowns and 660 Receiving Yards.
*Elijah Glover, Defensive Back, Villanova
Graduate from Pleasantville High School, Glover is projected to start at Safety for the Villanova Wildcats this season. Glover was a Team Captain last year and was a CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. He played in 11 games compiling 28 Solo Tackles and One Interception. During his senior year at Pleasantville High School, Glover was a two-way player who on offense had 211 Receiving Yards and Four Receiving Touchdowns.
*Dennis Jaquez, Defensive Lineman, Syracuse
Graduate from Saint Augustine Prep, Jaquez is projected to be a starter on the Defensive Line for the Syracuse Orange this season. Denis Jaquez appeared in five games last year before sustaining a right arm injury that ended his Freshman Year. During his senior year at Saint Augustine Prep, Jaquez had seven sacks and 18 tackles for loss.
*Devin Leary, Quarterback, University of Kentucky
Graduate from Timber Creek, Leary transferred to Kentucky after playing four years at NC State and will be one of the most experienced starting Quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference this season. Leary compiled 46 Touchdown passes and 4,698 Passing Yards over his final 18 games at NC State. At Timber Creek, Leary became New Jersey’s all-time High School Football leader in Touchdown Passes (117) and Passing Yards (9,672).
*Max Melton, Defensive Back, Rutgers University
Graduate from Cedar Creek, Melton is one of the Rutgers Scarlett Knights starters at Cornerback after being a starter for all 12 games last season. Melton has Five Interceptions and 41 Solo Tackles over his last 22 games players at Rutgers. His senior year at Cedar Creek, Melton played offense and defense, compiling 785 Receiving Yards and Seven Touchdown Catches. His brother, Bo Melton, is currently on the Green Bay Packers Practice Squad.
*Tyreem Powell, Linebacker, Rutgers
Graduate from Vineland High School, Powell is one of the Rutgers Scarlett Knights starting Linebackers after being a starter for all 12 games last season. Powell was selected to the 2021 Academic All-Big Ten Team and is one the Butkus Award Watch List for the 2023 season, the annual award given to the best Linebacker in College Football. At Vineland High School, Powell played both Quarterback and Linebacker. He had eight Passing Touchdowns and five Rushing Touchdowns along with 60 Tackles and Two Interceptions during the 2019 High School Football season.
*Patrick Smith, Running Back, Vanderbilt University
Graduate from Holy Spirit High School, Smith is expected to get the majority of the snaps at Running Back for the Vanderbilt Commodores this season. Smith played in 18 games over his first two years at Vanderbilt compiling 511 Rushing Yards and Two Rushing Touchdowns while being selected to the 2022 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. His senior year at Holy Spirit, Smith rushed for 1,719 Yards with 16 Rushing Touchdowns.
*Mohamed Toure, Linebacker, Rutgers
Graduate from Pleasantville High School, Toure is expected to be a role player for the Rutgers Scarlett Knights defense this season. Toure did not play last year after sustaining a season-ending injury before the Fall of 2022. In the previous two seasons, Toure compiled Nine Sacks and 37 Solo Tackles in 22 games. His senior year at Pleasantville, Toure played Running Back and Linebacker, with 981 Rushing Yards and 11 Rushing Touchdowns along with 69 Tackles and Five Sacks in 2018.