The College of New Jersey Men's Football

Edwards' aggressive defense was on full display in 2022, when the Lions led the entire country in tackles for loss at 9.2 per game and ranked eighth in sacks at 3.56 per game. Senior edge rusher Nick Celli was a dominant force, averaging 2.2 tackles for loss per game to rank 5th in the nation. TCNJ was also 16th in Division III in first-down defense. The Lions held four teams to 17 points or fewer and made history in a 33-2 win at William Paterson, when they did not allow a single first down.  The Lions' defense held its opponents to under 20 points in four games in the first season under Edwards. The Lions ranked 80th in the nation in rushing defense, which was a 66-place improvement from 2018 when TCNJ ranked 146th. Edwards coached safety Xavier Santos to an All-NJAC honorable mention. Defensive lineman Erik Graham also earned First Team All-NJAC honors, as well as D3football.com Second Team All-East Region recognition.  Edwards came to TCNJ following a stint as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Kings (Pa.), his alma mater. Goff coached Edwards at Kings during his senior season in 2010.   Edwyn was impressive then and is even more impressive now, Goff said. His knowledge of the game, his maturity and his ability to communicate with the players will be invaluable to this team. I am beyond excited to be reunited with Edwyn and for him to run our defense.   In 2018, the Kings pass defense ranked third in the MAC in passing yards allowed at just 184.7 per game. That ranked in the top third nationally, and it was an 80-yard-per-game improvement over the teams average in 2017. The Monarchs also ranked fifth in their conference in interceptions and third in sacks with 30. Edwards coached Charles McCall to all-conference honors at linebacker. McCall and Elijah Demosthene were each selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week under Edwards tutelage.

aron Mershman was hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in the spring of 2022. Mershman comes to Ewing after four seasons at Misericordia University, where he spent the prior two years as offensive coordinator. During that time, he helped guide the Cougars to a pair of appearances in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series. Mershman served as offensive line coach for the first two years of his Misericordia tenure. In 2018, the Cougars enjoyed a breakout campaign that included an 8-3 mark, a program-record 177.9 rushing yards per game, and a scoring offense (32.6 PPG) that averaged more than 10 points per game over the previous year. Mershman produced four all-conference players as O-line coach. I'm excited to work with Coach Mershman again, said TCNJ coach Casey Goff, who was head coach at Defiance in 2016 before leaving for TCNJ, when Mershman took his previous post. He is going to bring a new level of intensity, enthusiasm, and energy to our offense. We have a staff that's as good as any I have ever been around and we're anxious to get rolling in 2022. Before his time at Misericordia, Mershman spent three seasons at Defiance College, during which the Yellow Jackets boasted 15 all-conference players and the best record in a decade. Mershman started as offensive line coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2016 and to head coach in 2017. I am thrilled to be back with Coach Goff in a program with so much potential and opportunity for growth, Mershman said. This was a perfect opportunity for me and my family to become part of a great community and an institution with so many talented student-athletes. I am excited to work with our players and to help them reach their potential both on and off the field. Mershman also worked as an offensive graduate assistant at his alma mater, Ball State, as well as a defensive graduate assistant at Bowling Green, where he was part of a MAC title in 2013. Mershman was a three-year letter winner as a fullback at Ball State, compiling 18 receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns in his career. During his senior season, the Cardinals finished 9-4 and played in the Beef O Bradys St. Petersburg Bowl.