Football

September 9, 2010

Giant changes

Aaquil Ingram, Hudson Catholic

WR/LB Aaquil Ingram is one of many talented underclassmen on the roster.

Click Here for more photos from Hudson Catholic's football practice.

By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director

JERSEY CITY –When Hudson Catholic hired Leonard Marshall as its new head coach in May, it brought notoriety and a presence to the program after a disastrous 2-8 campaign the year before.

In his first training camp as the Hawks’ head coach the former New York Giants great and two-time Super Bowl winner has also brought in a change to the team culture and attitude.

“My biggest surprise has been the buy in (from the players),” Marshall said. “These young men bought into me on day one. They were so starving for leadership. It made it relatively easy to do what I wanted to do. They really embraced me with tons of love and tons of trust.”

Marshall inherits a young roster, which will rely on heavy contributions from freshmen and sophomores right away. Despite starting as many as seven underclassmen and having just five seniors, the talent is in place to earn a return trip to the state playoffs after a one-year hiatus.

Offensive Overview:

Nasean Haskins, Hudson Catholic

Paterson Catholic transfer Nasean Haskins takes over at right guard for the Hawks.

Marshall has preached a physical style of play for the Hawks. A key component of this philosophy will come from the additions of right guard Nasean Haskins (6-foot-3, 310 pounds) and center Jamal Hoge (6-foot-2, 305 pounds) from Paterson Catholic.

“It changes (our plans) a lot because my whole thing is that I want big, physical, robust guys who can play physical football,” Marshall said.. I want lights out, real physical football players. It helps a lot when you have guys like that.”

In addition to Haskins and Hoge, the Hawks a pair of returning starters in right tackle Mike Debari and left guard Sage Williams. Sophomore Josh Asmad is the left tackle.

Senior running back Oscar Torres is a HCV All-County First Team selection last season and a terror in open space. Torres headlines a very deep backfield which will also feature Champion Smith and fullbacks Deaglan Walsh and Byron King.

Sophomore Aaquil Ingram is a returning starter at wide receiver with huge potential. The other starting receiver will be either Isiah Roberts or Kevin Albert, both are sophomores.

Senior Matt McMonagle takes over at quarterback for Hudson Catholic after starting at tight end a year ago. Junior Brandon McWayne replaces McMonagle at tight end.

Defensive Overview:

Taj McNeal, Hudson Catholic

Junior CB/S Taj McNeal will use his speed to make an impact in pass coverage.

After playing under legendary defensive minds such as Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, it comes as little surprise that Marshall would install the same 3-4 defensive attack his former coaches thrived with.

One area where Marshall is high on is the secondary. Torres and Albert are returning starters at safety and cornerback respectively. Roberts will start at safety with Taj McNeal seeing time in nickel situations. But the player who has really turned heads in the secondary is Herb Johnson as the freshman has claimed a starting spot at corner.

“He’s a quick learner,” Marhsall said. “He’s a student of the game. He’s a kid who gets it. He’s been around enough football that you don’t need to beat it into him. He just knows and he just tries to make plays.”

Johnson isn’t the only freshman who will be thrown into the fire right away as Robert Montanez will rotate at defensive end and Dan Douelfakar (the younger brother of Harrison TE Rahim Douelfakar) will see time throughout the front seven.

Joining Montanez at defensive end are Williams and junior Anthony Haddad. Hoge will start at nose tackle.

Hudson Catholic has eight returning starters including all four linebackers. Walsh and King will start on the inside with Ingram and Smith on the outside.

Star Spotlight: Oscar Torres, RB/S

Oscar Torres, Hudson Catholic

Oscar Torres has become an on-field leader in his senior season at Hudson Catholic.

As a junior, Hudson Catholic’s Oscar Torres was content to let his on-field performance as a running back and returner do the talking.

This season as one of just a handful of seniors on the Hawks’ roster, Torres has become a vocal leader on a team in desperate search of one.

“Last year I was really quiet,” Torres said. “But my coaches pulled me to the side and told me be more of a leader.

“It has been difficult because I’m not a yelling person. I’m more quiet, I like to mind my business. But this is football, you’ve got to be yelling, you’ve got to be more vocal so I’ll make the change.”

Torres may not have been heard much on the gridiron a year ago, but it was easy to see his skills. Torres racked up more than 1,000 yards of total offense last season. A dimunitive runner at 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, Torres was especially lethal in the open field with his ability to make people miss.

Connecticut, Syracuse, Stonybrook and Massachusetts are among the schools who have shown an interest in Torres so far.