New York Jets and Nike host 9th annual high school media day at MetLife Stadium 

By Kerry E Porter

Modified Aug 08, 2024 18:21 GMT

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Tuesday was media day at MetLife Stadium for New Jersey's largest high school football conference, the Super Football Conference, hosted by the New York Jets and Nike. The conference boasts a membership of over 100 high schools that are always in the hunt for a state championship. It is also the largest active high school football conference in the nation.

Greg Nejmeh, Director of Pro Personnel, speaks to High School football players from the Super Football Conference (Photo Credit: Kerry E Porter)

The New York Jets started this nine years ago to foster a strong community outreach throughout the states of New York and New Jersey. As high school football in both states began to evolve into football recruiting hotbeds in the northeast corridor, the Jets found it beneficial to not only give back to the community but also foster young athletes' football journeys.

Talking points from the New York Jets and Nike's 9th annual high school media day at MetLife Stadium

Greg Nejmeh, who is the Director of Player Personnel, gives his account of what professional football teams look for in prospective players to an attentive audience (Photo Credit: Kerry E. Porter)

Jets Director of Pro Personnel Greg Nejmeh shares his journey

It was a loaded schedule as each team had their turn on the two stages to field questions from area reporters on hand, who were looking to find out who were the best of the best and who were likely to repeat as state champions. On hand to help the student-athletes get an idea of what professional teams look for was the New York Jets Director of Pro Personnel, Greg Nejmeh.

Nejmeh gave his football journey that started in the youth ranks and continued through high school and college.

"I realized that I wouldn't be able to play in the pros and started coaching as a graduate's assistant coach in the college ranks which led me to scouting and now the director of professional personnel."

Nejmeh pointed out extensive background research on prospective players coming in through the draft process, free agency, practice squads, and trades.

"What is important to us is how the players fit in our locker room," Nejmeh pointed out.

He said that being a good teammate and leader goes a long way in getting noticed and playing time. Nejmeh also stated that players have gone to other leagues like the Canadian Football League and the United Football League (which consists of the USFL and the XFL), which are good ways to get noticed.

Montreal Alouettes v Hamilton Tiger-Cats - Source: Getty

NCAA rep explains what is important for student-athletes

The players also got to hear from the NCAA's Assistant Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnership, Ivory E Long. Long, who was a former high school teacher and coach, explained the three core values of becoming eligible to play at the college level.

Long first asked the players who had intentions of playing at the college level by show of hands.

"It looks like quite a few players are looking to play at the next level," she said. "You will need to have three core values to be eligible at the next level. First and most importantly you must make sure to speak with your Guidance Counselor," she advised.

Long stated the reason most student-athletes don't clear the NCAA Clearinghouse is because the student-athlete didn't inform their counselor of their intentions to play their sport of choice in college.

"Once you have spoken with your guidance counselor, they will make sure to have you in all of your accepted core classes to be eligible to play."

The next step is to apply to the NCAA Clearinghouse where college coaches all have access to the student-athlete's profiles. Long said college recruiters and coaches will find the athletes but it is important to have the profile in the clearinghouse so the coaches and recruiters will have an idea of who the athletes are.

The final step is to graduate from high school and have been accepted to the college of choice.

"Your eligibility will be heavily monitored with these three cores as you get closer to playing with the college team of your choice," Long concluded.

Top programs looking to get started with high-profile games

With the New Jersey High School football season kicking off in just 3 short weeks, the conference has a couple of national powerhouses calling the Super Football Conference - United Division home.

This division is arguably the toughest high school football division week in and week out because heavily ranked Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ [statewide and nationally]) plays IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) and Massillon (Massillon, OH) in what will be New Jersey's Week 0 (August 29, 2024) and Week 1 (September 6, 2024) respectively.

Meanwhile rivals St. Joseph's Regional (Montvale, NJ), St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, NJ), Don Bosco (Ramsey, NJ), Paramus Catholic (Paramus, NJ), Delbarton (Morristown, NJ), and Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, NJ) will have an opportunity to vie for the top spot in this very competitive division of non-public schools.

Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ) and Delbarton (Morristown, NJ) battle it out for the NJSIAA Non-Public Group A State Championship at MetLife Stadium (Photo Credit: Kerry E Porter)

Head coaching brother duo to kick off the season in style

Nowadays you often see brother duos coaching together on the same sidelines either as assistants or coordinators for one who is a head coach. Often it is a family affair where football is the way to reach the next generations of kids and families in the communities they serve.

You can look at just about every level from youth to the pros where there is a family of coaches impacting the lives of young athletes around them. Most notable will be the Harbaugh brothers, Jim and John of the Los Angeles Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens.

New Jersey has quite a few brothers that fit that bill. From the Campanile family Vito (Bergen Catholic, Oradell, NJ) and Nick (De Paul Catholic, Wayne, NJ) to the Grant brothers, Darnell and Barris. The Grants at one time coached together at their alma mater, Irvington High School (Irvington, NJ), then each began their head coaching journey at separate schools garnering state championships at each of them.

Darnell Grant is now the Head Coach at West Orange High School (West Orange, NJ), and his brother Barris Grant is now the head coach at Hillside High School (Hillside, NJ). It will be Darnell's West Orange High School playing host to the Inaugural Mountaineer Classic where 10 teams will battle it out to start the season on Thursday, August 29, 2024, where Jefferson (Jefferson, NJ) will take on Verona (Verona, NJ) at 7:30 p.m.

West Orange High (West Orange, NJ) Head Coach Darnell Grant (fifth from the left on the far sideline) watches his team play during a night game against rival East Orange Campus (East Orange, NJ). (Photo Credit: Kerry E Porter)

The Grant brothers will play back-to-back games against area rivals. West Orange will face next-door neighbor Orange High (Orange, NJ) at 7:30 pm on August 30, 2024. Hillside will have the 3:00 pm game against Snyder High School (Jersey City, New Jersey) on the same date.

The Mountaineer Classic will conclude on Saturday, August 31, 2024, with two games.