King brothers lead Woodrow Wilson football

Woodrow Wilson coach Preston Brown says senior Travon King "knows everything" about the Tigers.

"Inside and out," Brown said. "Offense, defense, every position."

Travon King doesn't mind sharing his knowledge, especially with his younger, taller brother when the siblings return to their home in East Camden after practice.

"That's why it's a good thing to have him on the team," said Stanley King, a junior. "We'll go home and talk about mistakes and he'll tell me, 'You missed this tackle' or 'You got to tackle better' or 'Stop dropping the ball.'"

Asked if he accepts the constructive criticism or offers some of his own, Stanley King smiled and said, 'Both. I'll tell him if he's doing something wrong, too."

The King brothers lead Woodrow Wilson into a season of high expectations, starting with Friday night's showdown at West Jersey Football League Royal Division rival Highland.

Both siblings are tall, athletic and among the most highly recruited athletes in South Jersey. This season likely will be their last time playing football together, although they could end up at the same college.

"I think we'll probably end up playing against each other in college," Travon King said. "He's going to get recruited by bigger schools than me."

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Travon King committed to Rutgers late in August. He's a versatile player for Woodrow Wilson, seeing action at wide receiver on offense and defensive end and linebacker on defense.

Rutgers coaches project him as a defensive player. Brown compares Travon King to former NFL star Jevon Kearse.

"First time I saw him, I said, 'You ever heard of Jevon Kearse, 'The Freak?' " Brown said. "I said, 'Look him up. You got them longer arms; you're a freak …'

"You got a guy who plays defense, rushes the passer and is athletic enough to play wide receiver on offense. This a different kind of guy, a 6-4 guy with 7-foot wing span, you can write your own ticket."

The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Stanley King has scholarship offers from Rutgers, Temple, North Carolina State, Toledo and Old Dominion. But Brown said the younger King's recruitment is just starting to hit high gear.

"Midnight on Sept. 1, he got 60 different text messages from numbers he didn't recognize," Brown said, referring to the moment when a black-out period ended and colleges could begin contacting recruits again. "There must have been 200 letters that came to school, and they all were for Stanley."

Of the schools that have expressed interest in Stanley King, Brown said, "Florida, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, Stanford, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State. All of them, really."

Stanley King said he could commit to Rutgers to play with his brother. But he wants to take his time and see what other offers might come his way this school year. He hopes to major in architecture.

"It's going to be my decision," Stanley King said.

The brothers didn't start playing football until about five years ago, when they saw a neighborhood boy walking to a practice.

"He was like, 'Why ain't you playing?' " Travon King said. "We never had any interest. We just played street ball.

"But I went and signed up [for the Centerville Simbas youth program] and I loved it right away."

Along with 6-foot-5 sophomore Fadill Diggs, the King brothers are part of perhaps the tallest receiving corps in South Jersey, if not the state. They will join forces with new quarterback Nick Kargman, a 6-foot-4 junior and transfer from Pitman, in what could be a dynamic passing attack.

On defense, the brothers often are on the move. Travon King specializes in rushing the passer but can drop into coverage, and Stanley King is versatile and athletic enough at his height to play cornerback and safety on occasion but also defensive end.

"They're hard-nosed dudes," Brown said. "Dad is retired military, so they're punctual, coachable."

The brothers know this could be their last season together. That reality hits home with Travon King.

"It's great. Not many people get the opportunity to play with their brother on the other side of the field," Travon King said. "I want to enjoy every snap of it because it's my last high school season."

Woodrow Wilson at Highland, Friday at 7 p.m.

Rankings: The visiting Tigers are No. 12 in the Inquirer preseason Top 25 while the host Tartans are No. 11.

At stake: This game could decide the WJFL Royal Division, as the teams are the top two contenders.

Last year: Highland beat Woodrow Wilson, 13-7, in a game that wasn't decided until the final minute.

Debut: Woodrow Wilson quarterback Nick Kargman, a junior transfer from Pitman, will play his first game for the Tigers.

Key matchup: Woodrow Wilson's offensive line led by senior tackle Antonio Mercado will look to create time for Kargman against pass-rush pressure from Highland's defensive front, led by linebackers Naiem Furlow and Devon Starks.

Highland's wild card: Junior quarterback Brian Cooey also is one of South Jersey's top kickers, with field-goal range to 50 yards.

Pick: Woodrow Wilson, 20-17.

77 — Career touchdown passes by Timber Creek senior Devin Leary, seven shy of former Pennsville star Dylan Cummings' South Jersey record of 84, set in 2013.

2 — Interceptions by Pemberton senior Tyshene Williams in win over Lawrence in the season opener.

4 — Sacks by Camden senior Eli Sloan-El in win over Cahokia (Ill.) in season opener in East St. Louis, Ill.

10 — Catches by St. Augustine senior Shamere Collins in season opener vs. Malvern Prep.

98 — Rushing yards by Hammonton senior Sean Ryker on 12 carries (8.2-yard average) in season opener vs. Bridgeton.