Newton, NJ – The Monroe University football team is set to begin its 2025 campaign at Sussex County Community College on Saturday at 3:00 pm.
 
"We got a lot of new faces, but we're all starting to gel," head coach Kevin Pulley Jr. said. "We have playmakers on both sides of the ball that I want to see be playmakers. If they can do that then I think we will have some good success this year."
 
The Mustangs return a formidable three-headed monster in the receiving corps with Jashaun Amin, Khameen Powell and Evan Harrington — all three of which finished in the top-five in receiving yards in 2024. But the depth is there too as Pulley Jr. returns Kamari Hughes while bringing in his high school teammate Jamal Abdal-Khallaq from Walpole High School (MA), and Diasian Noakes from Manasses, VA, to shore up to unit.
 
The running back and offensive line units will open as one of the younger groups on the team, but with a bigger unit up front and the line beginning to gel together, Pulley Jr. envisions an impressive year by the ground attack.
 
"The [offensive line] has been together since July," Pulley Jr. said. "They're starting to communicate and become a more cohesive unit, so how they take those next steps in limiting the mental mistakes [will be crucial]."
 
On the defensive end, the quintet of Ty Boler, Jordan Byron, Deamonte Ferrufino, Kareem Lewis and Matthew Courtney all return as key members of the secondary. All five started at one point in 2024 and with a year of experience under their belts, Monroe's ball hawks could be in for a big season.
 
Monroe's schedule has left little room for error as they prepare to take on four Division I opponents (Lackawanna twice) that are ranked nationally in the preseason poll. Additionally, the College of DuPage — Monroe's opponent for its home opener — is the top-ranked Division III program in the country.
 
"We're going to know pretty quickly what we have," Pulley Jr. said. "Our schedule is one where we don't really have any light weeks. I'm interested to see what we're going to do with it."
 
The first opponent on the schedule is Sussex County, a familiar foe that the Mustangs bested in 2024, 21-6. The game will be streamed on Big State Sports's YouTube channel and will be played at Newton High School in Newton, NJ.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as the Monroe University marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeUMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).