One of the most successful seasons in Erasmus Hall football history ended with a semifinal loss to Tottenville last season. It is now up to the next generation of stars to try to keep the program among the best in the Public School Athletic League.
Dutchmen coach Danny Landberg sees a group that lacks star power and experience, but still has plenty of talent. Erasmus lost Ohio State recruit Curtis Samuel, fellow running back Khalil Lewin, and defensive stars Jose Duncan and Darren Pert. Landberg thinks what they lost in spectacular standouts they will make up for with depth and teamwork.
“There isn’t one star individual anymore,” Landberg said. “We feel like we have a bunch of guys like the X-Men that we feel like we are going to develop into something special.”
Erasmus will have 17 sophomores and two freshmen on the roster, but are not without returning standouts and senior leaders – especially on defense. It starts with inside linebacker and Rutgers commit Deonte Roberts. Twin brothers Shavar Braithwaite and Xavier Braithwaite are back in the secondary. Shavar Braithwaite will likely move to safety and Kefa Cort, also a wide receiver, returns at corner back.
If there is candidate for break-out star, the name on everyone’s lips was junior Jahsen Wint. He can play safety and linebacker and will also be a threat running the ball and be set out as wide receiver. Landberg called him “an animal” and “special.” Wint already has interest from Boston College, Rutgers, Kentucky and Syracuse. Wint said he is a little nervous with all the expectations placed on him, but can’t wait to seize the moment.
“I did well, but I had Curtis as a superstar on the team,” he said. “I had to wait my turn, so it’s time for me to show my talent.”
That goes for most of his teammates as well. Bullish runner Dave Thony takes over at running back, and juniors Aaron Grant and Shockuone Bobbitt will split time at quarterback. Keon Gravenhise, who is also a safety, will lead a deep receiving core that includes Damon Thomas, Trinton Campbell, and Qaudash Lee. All the new faces have the Erasmus players feeling other teams will underestimate them. But that just drives them more.
“We feel like we are the underdogs,” Roberts said. “A lot of teams don’t know what we have. We know what we have.”
Landberg is especially excited about his young lines, which could feature three sophomores, including the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Selwin Wilks and Lunell Noel. It is a group the coach sees giving the program stability for years to come. They have already impressed the team’s upperclassmen.
“All of them are athletic and they are strong,” Wint said. “They don’t care who is bigger than them. It doesn’t matter. They have heart.”
That is exactly what this group of Duthman hopes to show the rest of the city on the gridiron this season. One era of Erasmus players have graduated, but this one has no plans of slowing the program’s momentum down.
“I feel like they don’t think we are the same or as dangerous as we are,” Cort said. “That motivates us. That makes us work harder.”
