Step By Step: 2025 Asbury Park Football Preview

Scott Stump|August 26, 2025|Last Updated August 26, 2025

Brick by brick, Asbury Park continues to rebuild itself into a championship contender under head coach Will Johnson.

The former Blue Bishops star is entering his second season after becoming Asbury Park’s fifth head coach in five seasons last year. Asbury Park now returns almost its entire lineup from a team that went 3-6 while competing in Class D North last season.

“We’re always up for the challenge,” Johnson said. “We have a really, really young team, but a talented team. We showed some of what we can do last year, and we need to expand on that.”

Offense

Junior quarterback Jason Whittaker returns as a three-year starter who transitioned from wide receiver to the team’s starting quarterback last season. He gives the Blue Bishops stability at one of the most important positions on the field and forms an explosive tandem with senior running back Am’iere Massie in their spread offense.

Massie missed multiple games to start last season due to the NJSIAA transfer rule but will be ready to go from the outset this year. He rolled up 657 yards rushing and scored 7 touchdowns in five games last year. He looks to be a breakout running back in the Shore this fall.

“I expect nothing but greatness,” Johnson said. “He plays a major role on our team, and hopefully he gets to display his true talent this year.”

Junior Kingston Dunkley returns at receiver, where several promising newcomers should also see time. Sophomores Divine Washington and Nakiem Carson will be at wideout along with freshmen Kavon Crawford and Braylon Johnson, the latter of whom is the head coach’s son.

“The class coming in is amazing,” Johnson said. “They did a lot of great things at the AYF level.”

Sophomore twin sisters Eniya and Elani Johnson, who made Shore Conference history as the first girls to regularly start on the offensive and defensive lines last season, are back along with senior Keion Franks.

Defense

Asbury Park returns its entire starting defense in its 3-3-5 stack scheme, plus Johnson, Crawford, Carson and Washington should all see time in the secondary.

The Johnson sisters and Franks are back on the defensive line, while senior Prince Gue anchors the linebackers along with junior Ah’mari Mitchell.

“Now they have that veteran presence to them,” Johnson said about the Johnson sisters. “They are correcting all the little things.”

Whittaker and Dunkley are back in the secondary to give the Blue Bishops experience at all three levels.

The veterans look to help Asbury Park navigate a Class D North division that features all bigger schools: Freehold, Ocean, Raritan and longtime rival Neptune.

“We’re up for it,” Johnson said. “We’ve been doing that for years, it’s not something we shy away from. The experience is here. It’s really clicking right now, and I think it will be a great season.”

Asbury Park at a glance

Head coach: Will Johnson, 2nd season

Career record: 3-6

2024 record: 3-6

Offense: Multiple spread

Defense: 3-3-5

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

Athletic trainer: Nancy Saphow

Circle the Date: Sept. 19 vs. Ocean

The Blue Bishops welcome Ocean to Asbury Park Stadium for their first divisional game of the season. This should be an indicator if Asbury Park will be a contender in the newly realigned Class D North. A win in that game sets up a big one against longtime Thanksgiving rival Neptune a week later.

Newcomer to Watch: Braylon Johnson, Fr., WR/RB/DB

The son of head coach Will Johnson is part of a promising freshman class who look to make an immediate impact. His position is basically “athlete,” as he will see time all over the field between running it, catching it and playing in the secondary for the Blue Bishops.