Football: GMC gridiron greats make it official

Sayreville's Jayson DeMild, the Home News Tribune 2016 Offensive Player of the Year, and Piscataway's Elijah Barnwell, the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, celebrated with their coaches, families and friends on Wednesday as they validated their commitment to their respective college, with DeMild signing a letter of intent to Campbell University and Barnwell signing with Rutgers University.

In all, 12 Greater Middlesex Conference players penned allegiance to Division I or Division II football programs.

READ: CN/HNT NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING DAY CHART

RELATED: PISCATAWAY'S BARNWELL HIGHLIGHTS SIGNING DAY CLASS

Barnwell, one of Piscataway’s most prolific running backs, will return to High Point Solutions Stadium where he willed his teammates to the NJSIAA Central Group V title against undefeated Manalapan in early December.  A dominant two-way performer for the Chiefs, Barnwell will follow the path of previous standout Piscataway players that have worn the scarlet and white for hometown Rutgers University.

Barnwell’s teammate Nazir James will continue his career at Indiana of Pennsylvania. The Crimson Hawks were ranked No. 11 in the final Division II Top 25 poll for 2016. James was one of Piscataway’s premier deep threats on offense, however, it’s his defensive prowess as a cornerback that makes him a prize possession for IUP football.

DeMild, who led Sayreville to the North Group IV sectional title, will be heading south to Buies Creek, North Carolina, to play for the Camels of Campbell University, a 2018 member of the Big South Conference. This is the same conference that the Monmouth University football team recently joined. Looks like the hiring of David Marsh as offensive coordinator on Jan. 11 bodes well for the Bombers' former signal caller, as Marsh brings a wealth of experience running an up-tempo offense like the one Sayreville employed in 2016.

Two of DeMild’s favorite targets, Jahsim Floyd and Andrew Wille, also shared the spotlight with their quarterback as the athletic 6-foot-7 Floyd is headed to St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, while the sure-handed Wille will be catching passes for the Southern Connecticut State University Owls of New Haven.

Naeem Morgan of Middlesex is committing to Dartmouth “contingent upon his formal acceptance” as the Ivy League does not participate in the NLOI. An excellent student who will major in business or economics, Morgan has been one of the GMC’s top defensive performers the last two seasons. He will play outside linebacker for head coach Buddy Teevens, fitting in nicely in the Big Green’s 3-4 defensive alignment.

German Pimentel of New Brunswick will continue his playing career at Monmouth University, joining four GMC former players who are on the current 2017 Hawks roster. Pimentel has been a part of the resurgence of the Zebras' football program under head coach Don Sofilkanich. A solid two-way performer, he can make the tough athletic catch or put tremendous pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

P.J. Barr of St. Joseph is helping to establish a tradition of outstanding Falcons linemen continuing their careers at FBS and FCS programs. Barr was instrumental in leading St. Joseph to its second undefeated regular season while competing in only its fourth year of varsity football. He will join the Bisons of Bucknell under head coach Joe Susan, a former Rutgers assistant coach and South River graduate.

Teammate Roderic Carson will be a diamond in the rough for Gannon University, which will find out that this guy just makes plays. Carson was one of the top sack masters in the GMC and was athletic enough to chase you down when teams ran away from him.

Edison’s Lance Rice and South Brunswick’s Andre Eldridge will go from being fierce Red Division combatants the past few years to future teammates as they both will travel to the Poconos to play for the Warriors of East Stroudsburg University. Rice’s Thanksgiving Day performance was one for the ages as it seemed like the PA announcer was calling his name on just about every tackle. Eldridge was a dependable two-way offensive and defensive lineman for the Vikings, helping them win the 2015 Central Group V sectional title.

Erick Negro of Perth Amboy will take his talents to Kutztown University, a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The 6-3, 225 pound tight end and defensive end led the Panthers in quarterback sacks and was one of their top defensive players, as well as a sure-handed physical receiver who was tough to take down one on one.