Vote: Who was New Jersey’s top sophomore football player of 2023?

We’ve picked out 13 sophomore football players in New Jersey that stood out from 2023

The 2023 high school football season is complete and we are going around the East Coast, reflecting on the last few months.

One of the big questions is what newcomers on the scene made the biggest impact to a football program or state even? That’s where sophomores that saw extensive playing time come into the mix.

That’s why we ask the question: Who was the top sophomore football player of 2023?

We will go state-by-state along the East Coast and once that voting is done, do a final poll including all the sophomores that won going head-to-head.

We’ve selected 13 worthy candidates and ask you the fan to vote for who you think topped them all.

Voting will end on February 14th, 2024.

Editor’s note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. This poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player that may not be mentioned in our poll.

Here are the nominees:  

Lamar Best, QB, Willingboro: There’s been no better passer in the Garden State at the sophomore level than Best. The signal caller has completed 162-of-248 passes for 2,607 yards, 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Best also rushed for 845 yards and scored 17 touchdowns on the ground. 

Cole Aquino, QB, Washington Township: The Minutemen sophomore quarterback had himself a strong 2023 campaign and into the playoffs. Aquino completed 110-of-182 passes for 1,350 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Derek Zammit, QB, DePaul Catholic: Zammit was very efficient from the pocket, completing 61 percent of his passes this past season. The 6-foot, 175-pound quarterback has completed 120-of-204 passes for 1,736 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Mason Geis, QB, Immaculata: Geis trails only Best at the top of this list when it comes to touchdown tosses. The Spartans’ quarterback has completed 56-of-113 passes for 1,025 yards, 15 touchdowns and a mere three picks. 

Jonah Glenn, RB, Jackson Memorial: Glenn had a huge season his sophomore year, with the running back carrying the rock 186 times for 1,449 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. 

Aamir Dunbar, RB, Cedar Creek: Dunbar was one of the state’s top sophomore backs and produced on a weekly basis. The tailback rushed for 1,371 yards on 235 carries and scored nine touchdowns. 

Najee Calhoun, RB, Donovan Catholic: Another sophomore that had a breakout season was Calhoun. The running back rushed for 1,110 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. 

Terrance Knighton, WR/DB, Willingboro: Teammate of Best and the go-to-wide receiver on offense. Knighton hauled in 47 passes for 900 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Quayd Hendrix, WR, Burlington Township: The speedy 5-foot-9, 160-pound pass catcher was one of the best sophomores in the receiving department. Hendrix caught 50 passes for 782 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. 

Bodie Maisano, LB, Verona: Maisano was flat out a tackling machine for Verona in 2023. The hard hitting linebacker totaled 172 tackles, nine for a loss and a sack. 

Donovan Linthicum, LB, Oakcrest: Can’t talk about sophomore linebackers without mentioning Linthicum. The backer made 119 tackles, 23 went for a loss and added four sacks. 

Caden Luby, DT, Collingswood: Another defender that caused havoc in opposing team’s backfields was Luby. The sophomore defensive tackle made an incredible 100 tackles, 35 for loss and 13 sacks. 

Gyan King, ATH, Cedar Creek: King was a factor on both sides of the ball for Cedar Creek. The athlete had 244 yards receiving and four touchdowns on offense and defensively made 24 tackles, broke up 16 passes and picked off seven. 

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports