2025 USA TODAY NETWORK All-New Jersey football teams for defense
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The following players were selected to the 2025 USA TODAY NETWORK All-New Jersey football teams for defense.
The Network is made up of news organizations APP.com, BurlingtonCountyTimes.com, CourierPostOnline.com, TheDailyJournal.com, DailyRecord.com, MyCentralJersey.com, NJHerald.com and NorthJersey.com.
FIRST TEAM
Tommy Borgia
West Morris senior lineman
Borgia was a preseason All-New Jersey selection on the offensive line, but had a dominant season on the other side of the football. He tallied 81 tackles as a senior, his third straight season with at least 80. The Princeton-bound lineman also had five sacks and blocked a kick.
Benji Carter
Winslow junior lineman
The best lineman on South Jersey’s best defensive line, Carter will be among the most hotly recruited players in the state. The junior sacked quarterbacks 11.5 times, met other runners behind the line 16 times and totaled 84 tackles. He's a two-time Group 4 state champion.
Chaz Gray
St. Joseph (Montvale) junior lineman
Gray is among several defensive stalwarts for the Non-Public A state champions. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder had 40 tackles, with 6.5 for losses and 3.5 sacks. He has the strength to handle the point of attack and the speed and athleticism to beat offensive lineman. His college recruit list includes Boston College, Duke, Michigan State, North Carolina and Notre Dame.
Brandon Simmons
Glassboro senior lineman
South Jersey's Defensive Player of the Year is the ultimate disruptor. The Eastern Michigan recruit battled through double- and triple-teams on every snap and still managed 93 total tackles, 38 for loss, 27 sacks and a pick-six. Simmons also played guard and wingback for the two-time Group 1 state champions.
Mikahi Allen
Don Bosco junior linebacker
Allen is a three-year starter on what may be New Jersey's best defense. The 6-2, 225-pounder made 65 tackles, including eight sacks. He's a matchup problem for running backs trying to pick up his blitz and a sideline-to-sideline player who can go stride-for-stride with a quality slot receiver. His college suitors include Auburn, Boston College, Florida State, Illinois and Indiana.
Steve Klein
Westwood senior linebacker
Klein might have been North Jersey's most impactful two-way player this season and led the Cardinals (11-2) to a third Group 2 sectional title in four years. The 6-2, 205-pounder had 121 tackles and three interceptions on defense. On offense, he ran for 21 TDs and 1,491 yards. The Cardinals went 43-5 during Klein's four seasons. He is headed to Boston College.
Matt Occhipinti
Don Bosco senior linebacker
Occhipinti is three-year starter and repeat selection who helped the Ironmen (11-1) reach the Non-Public A final for the second consecutive year. The 6-3, 225-pounder is a sure-handed tackler for a unit known for its tackling, and he led the team with 68, including eight sacks. He is consistent and stellar at reading schemes and identifying formations. He's headed to Central Florida.
Andrew Osborn
Washington Township senior linebacker
Leading by example in the middle of one of South Jersey’s most intimidating defense, Osborn’s No. 44 was never far from the ball. He had six sacks, 18 tackles for loss and 61 total tackles. On offense, he ran for 404 yards and eight touchdowns on just 65 carries for the Group 5 state champions.
Jaylen Robinson
Washington Township senior linebacker
A two-way game-wrecker, Robinson was the anchor on the winningest team in Minutemen history. Dominating play from the linebacker position, he had 92 total tackles, 21.5 behind the line of scrimmage, seven sacks and an interception. As a part-time runner, Robinson averaged more than 10 yards on 58 carries, scoring once every five carries.
Frenchmon Bethea
Cedar Creek senior defensive back
A born lockdown corner, Bethea used his size, speed and reach to smother opponents’ best receiving threat. The Stony Brook recruit had six interceptions, including three in the Group 3 state champions’ last two games. A pretty fair quarterback, Bethea threw for 1,867 yards and 24 TDs, and ran for 942 yards and seven more scores.
Zaiden McDonald
Shabazz senior defensive back
McDonald secured 97 tackles during in his senior season for the Group 2 state finalists. On offense, he ran for five touchdowns. McDonald is committed to Stanford.
Xavier Sabb
Glassboro junior defensive back
The centerfielder for the two-time Group 1 state champions was never a good bet for opposing offenses. Big and physical, when he wasn’t breaking up passes, he snatched four out of the air for himself. The junior also finished with 59 catches for 897 yards and 13 TDs, plus a pair of return touchdowns on special teams.
Jordan Thomas
Bergen Catholic senior defensive back
Thomas was a three-year starter for the Crusaders (8-3) and last season earned second-team honors. The 6-1, 185-pounder was among the team leaders in tackles with 48 and had a team-leading three interceptions. He also returned kickoffs and punts. He was chosen to play in the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl on Jan. 10 in Texas. He is bound for Ohio State.
Cole DeNick
Kingsway junior athlete
In leading the Dragons to the South Group 5 title, Kingsway’s do-anything solution dominated on the defensive side of the ball. DeNick had 44 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Offensively, the Rutgers lacrosse recruit ran for 1,100 yards and 21 touchdowns, and caught four TD passes.
Ibn Muhammad
Camden senior athlete
Long, rangy and lightning quick, Muhammad was a mismatch for nearly any opposing blocker. Those qualities resulted in nine sacks, 11 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. Rarely leaving the field, the Syracuse recruit caught 56 passes for 954 yards, and added 216 rushing yards and two more scores.
Amari Sabb
Glassboro senior athlete
A breathtaking athlete, who is impossible to ignore, Sabb was a game-changer for the two-time Group 1 state champions. Quarterbacks threw his direction at their own risk, and he took five of those passes away. Sabb scored on his 12th TD catch and on a kickoff return in the state final to finish with 791 rushing yards and 916 receiving yards for 27 total touchdowns.
Seamus Montague
Middletown North senior punter
A standout punter and placekicker, Montague averaged close to 40 yards per punt. He also kicked a school single-season record nine field goals with a long of 41 yards. He had field goals of 32 and 37 yards in the Lions' 20-14 win over Manalapan in the Central Group 4 sectional semifinals and was 9 for 12 overall in field-goal attempts.
SECOND TEAM
Robert Ekins, Don Bosco lineman
Logan Nagle, DePaul lineman
David Ogunsola, Rancocas Valley junior lineman
Damari Simeon, St. Augustine senior lineman
Jackson Vaughn, Bergen Catholic sophomore lineman
Tasheem Butler, Glassboro junior linebacker
Tahj Gray, St. Joseph (Montvale) sophomore linebacker
Wyatt Sisco, Kinnelon senior linebacker
Trey Tallmadge, Brick Memorial senior linebacker
Talib Shakir, Camden senior defensive back
Chase Calarco, Northern Highlands senior defensive back
Jonathan Galette, St. Joseph (Montvale) junior defensive back
Ian McDuffie, Passaic Tech junior defensive back
Jake Blum, Mainland senior athlete
Sam Dech, Phillipsburg senior athlete
Daniel Zabora, Red Bank Catholic senior athlete
HONORABLE MENTION
Faheem Ausbon, Shabazz junior defensive back
Jack Baker, Toms River North junior linebacker
Joshua D'Ambrosio, Manville senior free safety
Justin Davis, Wall senior lineman
Jack DeMenna, Don Bosco senior defensive back
Sydney Padilla, West Orange junior lineman
Mike Petses, New Providence senior linebacker
Brady Shust, St. Joseph (Montvale) senior punter/athlete
Gavin Wilczewski, Vernon senior lineman
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: USA TODAY NETWORK All-New Jersey football teams for defense 2025
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