By Zach Braziller
They are big, they are loud and they are green.
No, these aren’t the New York Jets. They are the Campus Magnet Bulldogs, confident and full of bombastic predictions just like their NFL counterparts.
“Talent-wise, we’re better than all of them,” Coach Eric Barnett boasted. “I guess I’m Rex Ryan. I’m putting it out there.”
Like the Jets, Campus Magnet has reason to be optimistic for the coming season. Each of the last six years it has progressed under Barnett, reaching the PSAL City Championship quarterfinals in November after a 7-2 campaign, the Queens school’s fourth-straight winning season.
The Bulldogs return strong-armed pocket passer Scott Gadsden under center, along with speedy tailback Wavell Wint, who ran for 974 yards and seven touchdowns a season ago, and a deep, large and physically gifted offensive line with a mixture of experience and newcomers.
The defense, which was one of the city’s best last year, may lack the dominant pass-rusher that has typified its success the last few seasons, but has two of the top five tacklers in the city back: outside linebacker-turned-strong safety Jhaleel Oswald and middle linebacker Kareem Turnage.
“I’ve never had this much strength and speed on this team,” Barnett said.
Barnett considers Eric Webb his best offensive lineman, which speaks wonders of the 5-foot-8, 250-pounder’s footwork and technique considering he will play alongside mountainous teammates. Returning starter James Driver, who will move to offensive tackle, is 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds while offensive guard Marcus Smith, a senior who is finally academically eligible, is a 6-foot-8, 350-pound roadblock.
Defensively, Marlon Sabb will replace pass-rushing demon Nmesoma Okafor, one of a select few key graduates, but the defense clearly belongs to Oswald. After two stellar years on the JV, he took the city by storm, racking up 112 tackles, best in the city at weak-side linebacker. To make him more attractive for college coaches, Barnett has moved the sculpted 6-foot, 200-pound rising senior to strong safety, where his 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash can be better used.
“This is Jhaleel’s team,” Barnett said.
Said Oswald, who has received interest from Maine and Rutgers: “To me, it’s better. I feel more free.”
The Bulldogs, though, may only go as far as Gadsden can take them. Entering his third year as a starter, Campus Magnet feels he came of age late last season, leading a last-minute comeback victory over Flushing, beating New Utrecht in the first round of the playoffs and playing superbly in the loss to Tottenville. Gadsden was hardly the reason Campus Magnet was eliminated — the three lost fumbles were — as he completed 10-of-15 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.
“I feel like I’m ready to take that next step and be better,” said the 6-foot-2 Gadsden, who has drawn serious interest from Temple, Stony Brook and Rutgers.
The coach isn’t the only one making bold predictions.
Told 19 of the 24 level 5 team members come from Brooklyn and Staten Island, and asked where the Bulldogs fit, Gadsden said “at the top.” When asked how he could top leading the city in tackles, Oswald said he wanted to lead the league in interceptions, win a city championship and go undefeated.
Just mild goals these Bulldogs have.
The confidence comes from the success under Barnett, but also the coach’s longtime assistant and defensive coordinator, Rufus Dunton, fondly nicknamed “The Mayor.” He is ultra competitive — “if we lose to the New York Jets, he would be upset,” Oswald joked — and is in the Bulldogs’ ear every day talking them up.
Dunton said he has so much confidence in this group because of the extra work the players do, from their improved work in the classroom to work ethic during the offseason in the weight room.
“The guys are buying into everything,” he said.
That doesn’t mean Campus Magnet feels it has arrived. Don’t mistake the Bulldogs’ swagger for thinking they have the city’s acknowledgement.
“We’re definitely not respected,” Gadsden said. “But we don’t want anybody to give us anything. We want to prove it.”
