4 Best Prospects on Carteret’s Cancelled Football Schedule

Scheduling football games in New Jersey remains a fluid situation as the delayed October start looms. Losing games against expected opponents has already happened for teams on the schedules of the four school districts with a full cancellation of fall sports. Whether or not these games will be lost entirely remains to be seen, making it a good time to get ahead on scouting these schools and their opponents. After studying at a pair of 2022 prospects that lost a big opportunity with Piscataway, a look at Carteret’s football schedule reveals four players we won’t see against the Ramblers - who will have no fall sports this season. Two such prospects are a pair of 2022 teammates from Somerville. <strong>2021 LB [player_tooltip player_id="20283" first="Corey" last="Walker"], Hillside </strong> Walker is a transfer into the Hillside program, playing out his senior year with offers from Rutgers, Maryland, West Virginia, Penn State, and Temple. Playing in all three phases for Barringer as a junior, Walker’s patience at the line of scrimmage make him an adept linebacker and running back. Handling direct snaps as well as special teams duties makes Walker one of the most versatile defensive prospects in north Jersey. Capable of taking on blocks at middle linebacker, Walker is at his best when free off the ball. His closing speed and ankle flex to turn the corner stand out here. When Walker gets his hands on a ball carrier, they usually go backwards. A square build with a thick upper frame, Walker is ranked 39th among 2021 prospects. <strong>2021 ATH [player_tooltip player_id="27957" first="Rashon" last="Bradford"], Rahway</strong> Bradford scored nine touchdowns for Rahway as a junior, six through the air and another three on the ground. He also intercepted two passes and returned two kickoffs for scores late in the season. As a running back, Bradford reads his blocks well and destroys the angle on second level defenders with blazing speed. When breaking long runs for scores, Bradford is typically still gaining ground on chasing defenders after he crosses the goal line. The suddenness to Bradford’s game suits him well at defensive back too. Changing directions well, Bradford can play as a true middle of field safety, breaking on routes with ease. The speedster isn’t afraid to cut down runners as a tackler either. Representing the best of what high school football can be, Rahway finds plenty of touches for Bradford and allows their best athlete to take over games. Though he won’t get to do it against Carteret, fans and scouts alike can hope Bradford sees plenty of field time this fall. <strong>2022 WR/RB [player_tooltip player_id="28018" first="Tristan" last="Garcia"], Somerville </strong> Garcia was used more as a runner than a receiver last season for Somerville, carrying the ball 37 times for 340 yards and four touchdowns. A power runner with good acceleration in the open field, Garcia is a north-south runner that gets up field with purpose. For his size, Garcia turns the corner well and runs with solid pad level. Getting a clean shot on Garcia proves difficult for a defense, as he surprises on the second level with quick footwork. Garcia should still see plenty of time as a lunch pale type prospect that rarely leaves the turf, doubling as a strong side defensive end that sets the edge with strong leverage. [player_tooltip player_id="28018" first="Tristan" last="Garcia"] is the 60th ranked player in his class. <strong>2022 DL [player_tooltip player_id="28030" first="Owen" last="O’Neill"], Somerville </strong> O’Neill is a pass rush specialist up and down the defensive line for Somerville. His versatility to rush from a variety of stances at both end and tackle make him a match up problem for opposing offenses. What’s most impressive about O’Neill is that he goes into every pass rush rep with a plan to attack his blocker, something college coaches will love. Whether it’s bending the corner, taking on a double team with a bull rush, or using his pad level to stun the lineman and finish, O’Neill is a disruptive force in the backfield. Even when being blocked, O’Neill’s change of direction ability allows his teammates to get free thanks to the blocks he occupies. There were plenty of reps where O’Neill goes unblocked rushing from the three-technique position, using top end closing speed to shut down an offense. O’Neill sits at 72nd in the 2022 rankings, but his position as the 16th ranked defensive lineman out of 17 should change as Somerville gets into the season. <hr /> Look out for more content featuring the prospects that could be facing challenges to their schedules, as well as continuing updates on what football will look like in New Jersey this fall.