Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way: 2024 Asbury Park Football Preview
If anyone knows how to engineer a dramatic turnaround in one season at Asbury Park, it’s Will Johnson.
The new head coach of the Blue Bishops was a star quarterback for Asbury Park who was a sophomore starter in 2006 when the team finished a dismal 1-9. One season later, Johnson and the Blue Bishops roared to an 11-1 season and the first of three straight Central Jersey Group I titles.
“It takes discipline,” Johnson said. “Listening to what you’re taught, following through, and somebody showing that they care about these kids and not just when it comes to football.”
After a 2-7 season in which Asbury Park struggled with less than 20 players on the roster while competing in a division of all bigger schools, the Blue Bishops are ready for a comeback. The numbers are up, the talent at the skill positions is in place, and they have a coach who bleeds blue at the helm.
Johnson, who works in the town, is the fifth different head coach in the last five seasons for Asbury Park.
“Being here, watching what’s going on and seeing all the talent that’s leaving Asbury and playing for other towns and winning championships is what brought me back,” Johnson said. “The majority of the teams that won a championship last year had an Asbury kid on it. I want to get rid of that. We are losing kids to other teams telling them it’s a better situation, and it’s time to end that.”
Offense
Engineering Johnson’s multiple offense will be talented sophomore Jason Whittaker, who is moving to quarterback after playing wide receiver as a freshman last season.
“Coming in from eighth grade, it was not the same as AYF,” Whittaker said about last season. “I had to step up. This season I need to be more of a leader. I talk to my team every day, and we really want to get a ring.”
Sophomore Jason Whittaker moves to quarterback to engineer Asbury Park’s offense this season. (Photo by Scott Stump)
Before Johnson took the job, he trained Whittaker during the offseason.
“I’m comfortable with him telling me what I did wrong,” Whittaker said.
A crucial weapon in the Blue Bishops’ quest for a resurgent season will be junior tailback Am’iere Massie. He missed most of last season with a torn ACL but has flashed explosive speed and lateral quickness in the preseason.
“I just saw a post of the top 20 running backs in the Shore,” Johnson said. “He wasn’t on any list. No complaints, but we’ll see at the end of the season if that stays the same.”
“He’s going to make a big difference,” Whittaker said. “He’s coming back to show everybody what he’s about.”
He also will have senior Nick Chathaunt helping to pave the way as a returning starter at fullback. Whittaker’s targets in the passing game will be Jason Glisson, senior Tomiere Parker, who came over from the basketball team, and experienced sophomore Kingston Dunkley.
Up front, junior Keion Franks is a returning starter at tackle, senior Jorge Castellon will be at guard, sophomore Lorenzo Castellon will also see time up front, and freshman Eniya Johnson is a newcomer at center. The other spot is still up for competition.
Massie will also handle the kicking, and either Glisson or Whittaker will do the punting.
Defense
As a small Group I school, most of the names you see on offense for Asbury Park will also be primary contributors on defense.
Franks, Castellon, returning starter Prince Gue, Johnson, and Johnson’s twin sister, Elani Johnson, will be in the defensive line rotation. (Read here for more on the Johnson sisters)
Chathaunt and sophomore Ah’mari Mitchell are returning starters at linebacker, where Massie and Parker will also be playing.
Whittaker, Dunkley and junior Zaimir Robinson all return to give the Blue Bishops an experienced secondary that also includes Glisson.
After trying to keep their head above water against Group II, Group III and non-public teams in their division last year, Asbury Park is in the newly created Class D North. The Blue Bishops are back to playing traditional rivals Keansburg, Keyport, Point Beach, and Shore Regional, plus Shore Conference newcomer New Egypt. Their annual Thanksgiving game against Neptune is also now a divisional game.
“We’ll play anybody,” Johnson said. “I don’t feel like anybody’s too big or too small.”
At a Glance
Head coach: Will Johnson, 1st season
Career record: 0-0
2023 record: 2-7
Offense: Multiple/spread
Defense: Multiple
Coaching Staff
OL/DL: Rob Ward
WR/LB: Jaedon Stephens
WR/DB: Devron Clark
OL/DL: Kyle Weedon
RB/DB: Syron Davis
RB/DB: Tyreek Small
Circle the Date: Oct. 4 vs. Keyport
This could potentially be a crucial game in the Class D North race between the up-and-coming Blue Bishops and a Keyport team that has won two straight division titles. Between Jason Whittaker and Am’iere Massie on Asbury Park, and Andrei Matthews and Mekai Henderson on Keyport, there are playmakers galore in this game.
Rookie Watch: Am’iere Massie, Jr., RB/LB
Massie is technically not a newcomer after playing a little bit last season, but he missed most of the year with a torn ACL. The junior has explosive speed and could emerge as one of the Shore’s top running backs.
Stat to Know
Asbury Park is one of only five Shore Conference programs to win at least three straight state sectional titles since the advent of the NJSIAA playoff system in 1974. The Blue Bishops three-peated from 2007-09 with Will Johnson as their quarterback for two of those titles. Middletown South (2003-06), Manasquan (1998-2002), Brick (1981-83) and Rumson-Fair Haven (2014-16) are the only other programs to do it.
