’Stars embark on first season in 30 years without the Big Dawg
HAMILTON >> For the first time in 30 years there is a change at the top, but it’s hard to tell whether Nottingham hired a new football coach or chef.
“Putting a team together is like a good salad,” surmised Milo McGuire, a former Jon Adams assistant who took the reins this summer when Adams stepped down after 29 years. “Every piece plays its part, we just gotta mix it together and come out on top.”
What kind of a salad are we talking about here?
“I’m a Caesar salad man myself,” McGuire said. “And you gotta have the chicken on top.”
But of course every salad needs its protein to provide strength, and the Northstars protein will come from its dynamic three-headed backfield of seniors Diontae Nicholson (382 yards) and Jaier Nelson (334) and junior Marc Kauffman (339). The three combined for nearly 1,100 rushing yards last year and each will get their turn to show their different skill sets as Nottingham looks to be a ball control offense.
“Marc is a bull going straight forward, Jaier is really shifty from side to side and Diontae is your allaround great back,” McGuire said. “We’ll use Diontae a little more than last year (when he played a lot of linebacker) but we are definitely going to spell them all some, because all three guys are starting on defense.
“Our running game is absolutely the strength of our offense. We’re just trying to get you coming every which way.”
Unfortunately for Nottingham, Nelson and Nicholson will be forced to sit out the season opener after being ejected from last year’s season finale with North Hunterdon. But McGuire feels he has two quality sophomores who can step up in Isaiah Barnes and Kwanir Edwards.
Rounding out the backfield is junior quarterback Bryan Smolka, who started the final four games last season.
“We’re just going to try to build on his sophomore year and try to keep getting him better,” McGuire said.
The running game will be dependent upon a line that is a mixture of youth and experience. Senior Jason Ceria is a returnee, along with senior Naeem Rashid. Newcomers include juniors Jed Henry and Nick Davis and senior Geordany Alexis. Ceria’s spot was the only one certain nearing the end of camp.
The Stars will go with a double tight end set that features sophomores Brandon Shipley and Dorian Henry, and the receivers are still a work in progress.
Sophomore Kyle Sirimis is the placekicker and Kauffman will handle the punting.
Defensively, Alexis and Shipley will be the defensive ends while junior Kenny John and sophomore Ameer Muse are the tackles. Alexis is the lone returnee of that group. Rounding out the front seven are linebackers Nicholson, senior Darlensher Henry, Jed Henry and Rashid.
“Our linebackers are our strength,” McGuire said.
The secondary features juniors Chris Williams and Renaldo Joseph as new starting cornerbacks and Kauffman and Nelson at safeties.
“There’s a little pressure on the secondary with the young guys, but they gotta talk about it,” McGuire said. “They’ll figure things out.”
In assessing the strength of the defense, which he will again oversee after serving as coordinator last year, McGuire said, “Speed. We’re flying around out there.”
The Ohio-raised McGuire, who attended the same high school as the legendary Paul Brown, takes over a program he has been involved with for the past seven years. He was recommended by Adams as his successor when the Big Dawg became Nottingham’s Athletic Director. Milo has enjoyed things so far despite the new duties.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking because now everything is on my shoulders every day,” he said. “I’m covering all the bases, they see where we’re trying to take them, but it’s a little nerve-wracking waiting for it to start.”
Nottingham opens with a long road trip to Manahawkin to play Southern Regional without two of its running backs, so it will be a strong early challenge.
“They always have a strong front,” McGuire said. “They’ll want to run the ball on you, test our defense.”
As for the season itself, the new coach is optimistic.
“To me we’re capable of making a lot of noise in Group III,” he said. “We’re a small bunch as far as numbers, we’ve got about 45 kids, so we gotta stay healthy. But if we stay healthy we can open a lot of eyes in Group III. I’m just telling everybody we’re gonna be the show. Come check us out and get your tickets.”