With 20 seniors on the roster to set the tone, the William Paterson football team feels prepared to get its 2015 season underway.
 
"The seniors have really set the example and the expectations for this team," said eighth-year head coach Jerry Flora. "Training camp went really well. It was one of our toughest camps, but the guys responded well and the tempo was good. We have a large freshman class, but they have worked very hard and our new coaches have fit in well. All in all, I'm pleased with how the preseason went."
 
OFFENSE
Seven starters and 22 letterwinners return on the offensive side of the ball, led by senior captains Matt Deiana (Somers, N.Y./Somers), Andrew Donnell (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert), Jalen Haynes (Jersey City, N.J./Hoboken) and Mike Vannucci (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge).
 
Offensive Line
A pair of all-conference tackles, the only returning starters, will be looked to for leadership on the offensive line.
 
As the starter at right tackle the last two seasons Haynes was a second-team all-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) honoree last fall and an honorable-mention pick as a sophomore, while Donnell has manned the left side and twice has been an honorable-mention all-conference selection while starting 22 career contests.
 
Junior Connor Thomson (Keyport, N.J./Keyport) is the projected starter at center, and Flora has been impressed by his transition to the position after eight appearances at guard.
 

The competition for the two starting spots at guard has been wide open, with seniors Jeff Borst (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo), Ryan Connolly (Boonton, N.J./Morris Catholic) and Frank Leon (Garfield, N.J./Bergen Tech) and junior Russell Fallacara (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) all competing for snaps. Borst and Leon also could see time as backups for the tackles.
 
Sophomore Ruben Contreras (Union City, N.J./Union City) and freshmen Justin Sauers (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) and Eli McGee (Tenafly, N.J./Tenafly) lead the list of newcomers who also could contribute.
 
Tight Ends
A pair of veterans lead the way at tight end, and who plays will depend on the personnel and formation the Pioneers employ.
 
Senior Ian Leary (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) started seven times, catching six passes for 81 yards a year ago, while junior Tyler Alvarez (Keyport, N.J./Keyport) earned a pair of starts in 10 contests played last fall.
 
Freshman Josh deJesus (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) showed potential during early workouts, and will compete to break into the lineup.
 
Running Backs
The run game should be a strength for the Pioneers, thanks to the return of Deiana and senior Darius Kersey (Dover, N.J./Dover).
 
A 2014 second-team all-league pick after rushing 179 times for 803 yards and four touchdowns, Deiana is a hard-nosed, between-the-tackles runner who is capable of bouncing outside for a big play. Kersey has been a stalwart in the lineup, notching 18 career starts in 27 games and helping the Pioneers both on the ground (88 attempts, 363 yards, six touchdowns) as well as through the air (52 receptions, 806 yards, seven touchdowns).
 
Craig Kimbrough (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Catholic), a junior transfer from FDU-Florham, and classmate Obinna Nwanonyiri (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) are also expected to see time in the backfield, while freshman Cahsim Henry (Lindenwold, N.J./Lindenwold) received quite a few snaps and continued to improve throughout training camp.
 
Wide Receivers
A first-team all-conference honoree, senior Anthony DiMarsico (Stony Point, N.Y./Suffern) anchors WP's receiving corp. He made an immediate impact as a first-year Pioneer in 2014, leading the team with 41 receptions, 697 yards and nine touchdowns, including scores in each of the final eight games of the season.
 
Also expected to start on the outside is junior Malcolm Robinson (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), a transfer from Hampton University, while Vannucci returns to the slot after missing last season due to an injury, this after catching 28 passes for 299 yards and a touchdown in 2013.
 
Senior Nick Burke (Maple Shade, N.J./Maple Shade) owns 18 games of experience as a Pioneer and will provide some depth, as will sophomores Ali Brown (Sicklerville, N.J./Cherry Hill West) and Tyler Vivian (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional). Freshmen Justin Hunt (Passaic, N.J./Passaic County Tech) and Tysaun White (Jersey City, N.J./Mater Dei Prep) have shown their potential during early workouts and could earn some time as well.
 
Quarterbacks
An open competition at quarterback picked up speed during preseason camp, with junior Mike Keller (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./Pinelands Regional) and sophomore James Waldron (Edison, N.J./Edison) both looking to move beyond the reserve roles they held a year ago. The one who becomes the most consistent will likely see the majority of action this fall.
 

Freshman Malik McNeill (Jersey City, N.J./Ferris) is a triple-option threat and will look to develop his arm this season to match his tremendous speed.
 
DEFENSE
Five starters and 18 letterwinners return for the defense, paced by senior captains Dennis Goodman (Somerset, N.J./Bishop Ahr) and Quinton Witherspoon (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle).
 
Defensive Line
A mix of veterans and newcomers will lead the defensive effort up front.
 
Senior John Fleming (Waldwick, N.J./Waldwick) is the front-runner to start at nose tackle, but sophomore Olajuwon Salako (Elizabeth, N.J./Columbia) and classmate Nate Green (Paterson, N.J./Barringer), an athletic transfer from Grossmont College, also will likely make significant contributions.
 
Witherspoon, who started three times last fall as he regained his footing following a 2013 injury, is the projected starter at one defensive end, and sophomore Omar Mahmoud (Morganville, N.J./Marlboro) will start the season on the other side after playing in eight contests as a rookie.
 
Junior transfer Mauricio Roque (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) and freshmen Angelo Branca (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.), Chase Everett (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) and Dan Tomzick (Stockholm, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional) are also expected to compete for snaps.
 
Linebackers
Goodman provides the experience for the linebackers, earning a bid to the 2014 All-NJAC Honorable Mention after pacing WP with 9.0 stops for a loss and ranking second on the team with 66 tackles. He will start on the outside, as will sophomore Jonathan Jackson (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), who started three times a year ago and notched 18 stops.
 
Freshman Justin Evangelista (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) could see action at outside linebacker or defensive end, and classmate Jeffrey Martin (Hemet, Calif./Hemet) will help to provide depth.
 

On the inside, senior Carlo Caponetta (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) started eight contests and tied for fourth on the team with 42 tackles a year ago. Sophomore Charles Faulkner (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) is the anticipated starter at the other spot, and freshmen Deriam Guridy (Denville, N.J./Pope John XXIII) and Armani King (Gouldtown, N.J./Clearview Regional) will contend for playing time.
 
Cornerbacks
Junior Darrius Flowers (Vineland, N.J./Vineland) collected 36 tackles and a fumble forced and recovered while starting the final eight contests of the 2014 campaign, and will start at one corner this season opposite senior Kashawn Fuller (Jersey City, N.J./Lincoln), who saw the field three times during his first season as a Pioneer in 2014.
 
Junior Corey Morris (Linden, N.J./Long Branch), a former starter at Delaware Valley University, is contending for a spot in the lineup, as are junior Juwan Flowers (Vineland, N.J./Vineland) and sophomore Chris Johnson (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy).
 
Safeties
Three veterans lead the options at the two safety positions. Junior Jason Montalvo (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) tallied two interceptions and 24 stops (16 solo) while starting eight times last season, adding a fumble forced, but has been limited by a preseason injury. Senior Tom Hennessy (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) owns 27 games of experience, making three starts a year ago, and junior Pat Moran (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) is looking to secure an increased defensive role in addition to his punting duties.
 
Rounding out the group of safeties expected to see significant time are freshmen Christian Maldonado (Elmwood Park, N.J./Paramus Catholic) and Bright Wiafe (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.).
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Stepping into the void created by the graduation of all-NJAC placekicker Robert Sinegra is freshman Nick DeAngelis (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey). Junior Wojtek Kulbabinski (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) also could contend for playing time once he overcomes a preseason injury.
 
Moran handled the punting duties a year ago, averaging 35.1 yards per attempt and landing 16 inside the 20-yard line.
 
Vannucci, Robinson and Nwanonyiri are expected to handle to punt return duties, while Deiana, Hunt, DiMarsico and White will return the kickoffs.