Countdown to Kickoff: Camden Catholic

(Another in a series of South Jersey football previews)

Camden Catholic

Conference: WJFL Constitution.

Group: Non-Public 3.

Last year: 9-1 overall, 5-0 in the WJFL Royal Division.

Last five years: 9-1, 8-2, 4-6, 7-4, 10-1.

Coach: Nick Strom (17-3 entering his third season).

Schedule: Camden, at Bishop Eustace, Winslow Twp., at Pennsauken, Shawnee, at Seneca, Holy Spirit, Cherry Hill West, at Paul VI (Thanksgiving eve).

Outlook: The Irish were bumped up to the Constitution Division in the revamped WJFL, a hat tip to the progress the program has made in two seasons under Strom. This year's team features just eight seniors, although one of them is RB/DB Nazir Streater (5-11,185), one of SJ's top all-around players. There's a lot of talent in the sophomore and freshman classes. There's a lot of players in those two classes, period. Strom said of the 75 athletes on the roster, 60 of them are freshmen or sophomores. Freshman OL/DL Mekhi Bryant (6-2, 299), who ran the third-fastest shuttle time among linemen, is a player to watch. He could develop into a big-time recruit. Sophomore NG Jeremy Nutt (5-4, 190) started as a freshman and is one of the anchors of that loaded 10th-grade class. Among the team's senior leaders are LB Tyler Romano (6-0, 205), WR/DB Kyle Dupree (5-9, 165), OL/DL Chris King (5-10, 255) and OL Max Hensinger(6-4, 225). Junior Marcus Hillman (6-0, 190) is another player. A lot will depend on the development of a QB to replace two-year starter Tyree Rodgers. The Irish could be a year or two away from big thunder but the standards of the program are such that there's an expectation of success this season.

Schedule analysis: The Irish have a big challenge out of the gate with an opener against rival Camden. The squads split the last two years, and both games were fiercely competitive. Pennsauken is a natural rival, and the games against Shawnee and Holy Spirit are interesting matchups created in large part by the WJFL's expansion. For a young squad, this is a challenging slate, without any "down" weeks.

Player to watch: Streater burst on the scene as a junior. He ran for 1,106 yards and 18 TDs. He also made 105 tackles and lifted three interceptions. Streater said his play in a huge victory over Camden -- when he took over the game in the second half -- was a huge boost to his confidence. "Just to do that against that team, it meant a lot," Streater said. The senior will be asked to carry a heavy load this season, both literally as the team's top-playmaker but also as the leader of a young team that will need to grow up fast against stiff competition. Streater has drawn considerable college interest. Strom beliefes Streater projects as an outside linebacker or perhaps strong safety at the next level although some schools might see him as a running back.

The last word: "What we did last year or the year before doesn't matter. We have to go out and do it this year," senior LB Tyler Romano said.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

-- Follow @PhilAnastasia on Twitter

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