Bernards’ David Silva not only plays football, but coaches the 8th graders, and takes home CJSR Leadership Award

Playing football in high school is a time-consuming affair. There’s weight room, film study, practices, travel to games, and all of that is on top of the typical school work there is to be done.

But playing and coaching? For Bernards’ David Silva, it’s no problem.

So in addition to being a solid lineman on a very good defensive squad for the Mountaineers – with 67 tackles, drawing double teams so his teammates could make plays – Silva helped coach the school district’s eighth grade team this year.

Couple that with the fact he played soccer in the fall up until his sophomore year, the senior College of New Jersey commit – and native of Brazil – did more than enough to earn Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Leadership Award for 2024.

He also happens to be a heavyweight wrestler, and a thrower for Bernards’ state championship track team.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Chris Tsakonas talk to Bernards senior David Silva:

Honorable Mentions:

• Nahjae Smith, Elizabeth: Thee sophomore caught 32 passes for 640 yards and a touchdown, ran for 47 more and a score, while recording 84 tackles from the defensive backfield, with two pass breakups and a pick-six for 53 yards. What’s more impressive is his 4.45 GPA, and six major scholarship offers. Head coach Eugene Kline says he’s an “excellent teammate, who genuinely cares about the program, his teammates and coaches.”
• Max Nuzzi, Somerville: At tight end, he recorded 18 catches for 218 yards and five touchdowns, while logging 108 tackles (60 solo), 3 1/2 sacks, eight TFLs and a pick six from his linebacker position. Head coach Matt Bloom says he’s “not afraid to tell his teammates the truth” and calls him “the beast leader I have ever coached.”
• Max Austin, Bernards: While Silva won the award, his teammate certainly was in the running. Austin, a senior D-back/wide receiver, had six picks on defense, as well as 22 catches on offense, along with four touchdowns. Coach Jon Simoneau says he drew the top cover assignment every week and didn’t allow a passing touchdown all season.