Simply put, the Lincoln High School football team enjoyed a spectacular 2014 season.
The Lions won 10 games, captured the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League-White Division title for the second straight year and advanced all the way to the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group II championship game in MetLife Stadium, falling in admirable fashion by a 36-28 margin to Mountain Lakes.
Several of the players on that great team have graduated and moved on, including sensational running back Devell Jones (now at Monmouth) and four-year standout lineman Diasjon Robinson (now at Delaware).
But veteran Lincoln head coach Robert Hampton believes that this team could actually be better than last year’s squad, simply by attitude and demeanor alone.
“This year’s team is the Wu-Tang Clan,” Hampton said, making a reference to the popular hip-hop and rap recording artists from Staten Island, a group that revolutionized the music industry in the early 1990s. “It’s a little different from the teams we had in the past. In the past, we had stoic kids who rarely showed emotion. This is a different breed. They’re loose and confident. They’re very arrogant in a positive way, athletic arrogance.”
So Hampton has decided to roll with the punches and allow his team to express themselves and play freely without restrictions.
“Instead of trying to change their persona, we’re going to encourage their swagger,” Hampton said. “I like their swagger. We just need them to play hard. They all like each other and like playing together. They’ve all played [Jersey City Recreation] football since they were little kids. I’m going to let them have a good time and enjoy themselves.”
But don’t think for a second that the inmates are ready to run the asylum.
“I’m not going to let them drive the Jaguar into a tree,” said Hampton, a Lincoln alumnus who enters his 11th season as the head coach, absolutely turning around a program that was totally moribund and a laughingstock into a perennial state power.
“Once we see the car ready to go off the bridge, then that’s when I have to take the keys back,” Hampton said. “But they’re strong and fit and have a great attitude. I don’t have any worries. I enjoy being with these guys. We have a lot of talented kids who work hard. We have a coaching staff that works hard and has been together for a while. Everything is there.”
Leading the way for the Lions is senior quarterback Zymire Gordon (6-3, 185), who has his share of college scholarship offers. Gordon was the starting signal caller a year ago, compiling 1,100 yards passing and another 400 rushing, and can only be better with a year of experience under his belt.
“He has all the tools,” Hampton said. “Last year, he was like a game manager for us. Now this year, we’re expecting him to be a game breaker. He’s a good runner with a great arm. We’re going to let him express himself as an athlete. The offense runs through him, but he has a lot of weapons around him.”
The top running back is junior Kamani Addison (5-9, 170), who was absolutely electric last year in some of his big runs, including an 80-yard jaunt through and past everyone in a state playoff win over Madison. Addison rushed for more than 600 yards and had seven touchdowns last season. Those numbers will be considerably higher this time around.
“No doubt, he’s the main guy this year,” Hampton said. “Last year, he was the third running back and a lot of people tended to forget about him. Now he has a seat at the head table.”
Addison was clocked at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Penn State camp this summer. That time opened a lot of eyes.
“I’m expecting great things from him,” Hampton said.
Another running back is senior Robert “Tank” Young (5-7, 185), who is one of the strongest kids around despite his lack of size. Junior Ethan Zayas (5-7, 165) will also get his share of carries out of the Lions’ backfield. Freshman Juwan LeSeur (5-8, 165) is so good that Hampton has been forced to keep him with the varsity.
The receiving corps is led by senior Frank Darby (6-2, 190), who has already given a verbal commitment to the University of Iowa. There’s no question that Lincoln is now a big time recruiting hotbed for the major schools. Darby, one of the most gifted all-around athletes the school has ever produced, is a big reason for the recruiting surge.
Senior Kareem Gaulden (6-2, 190) is another NCAA Division I player in the Lions’ camp, as Gaulden has already given a commitment to Temple. Senior Jason Harrison (6-0, 185) is getting looks from Delaware State and Liberty. These are all receiving targets for Gordon.
Another receiver is sophomore Keyshawn Jones (6-2, 165), who attends McNair Academic, but is able to play football with Lincoln. Freshman Jamar Casey (5-7, 175) is “going to make some noise,” according to Hampton. “He’s a difference maker.”
That is certainly a lot of depth and talent in the Lions’ receiving corps.
The tight end is senior Nyeem Riley (6-3, 225), who is a ferocious blocker when lined up as an H-back.
The offensive line has a lot of bulk and strength.
Senior Saheem Berry (6-1, 225) and junior Mohamed Elola (6-2, 265) are the tackles, with juniors Leo Wilson (6-3, 330) and Markise Trent (6-2, 340) at guard.
What other team in New Jersey can boast about having two guards who are athletic and both weigh more than 330 pounds?
Senior James Brunson (5-11, 265) moves from tackle to start at center this season.
Defensively, the Lions will play a 4-2-5 formation, with the secondary ranking among the very best in the state, already with two NCAA Division I commitments.
Senior Byshire Murrain (6-4, 265) is at one defensive tackle, with Brunson, nicknamed “Bruntdog” by Hampton, at the other defensive tackle.
“Whenever there’s a big stop, we call it a ‘Bruntdog’ stop,” Hampton said.
Sophomore Jalen Scott (6-2, 265) and Riley are the defensive ends.
The linebackers are juniors James “Pito” Burgess (6-0, 210) and Alex Lozano (6-2, 215).
The cornerbacks are Gaulden (recruited as a defensive back) and Gordon. The safeties are Harrison, Zayas and the best of the bunch Darby, who made highlight film interceptions last year, including an incredible play in the win over Madison.
“I think our secondary is one of the best ever produced at Lincoln,” Hampton said. “We have two scholarship players already and we might have four by the end of the year in our secondary.”
The Lions open their season Sept. 12 at Caldwell, a team that has given the Lions some trouble both in the state playoffs and regular season in recent years.
But the Wu-Tang Clan will be ready.
“We’re really excited about this season,” Hampton said. “We have a great team with a great group of kids. I believe that this is the team that can finally do it [win a state championship]. All the pieces are in place to be a championship team. I believe that we are a championship team.”
Time will tell, just like it did for RZA, GZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
You can also read Jim’s blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com.