NXGN Orlando: Middle School Standouts – Part 2
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Tavares Ward HEIGHT 5'9" POS DB CLASS 2027 Tavares Ward Coming out of the powerful Miami Gardens Ravens youth program, Ward put in work in Central Florida and earned an invite to The Show for his efforts on Sunday. Comfortable…
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Continue ReadingTavares Ward
Tavares Ward
Coming out of the powerful Miami Gardens Ravens youth program, Ward put in work in Central Florida and earned an invite to The Show for his efforts on Sunday. Comfortable pressing, showed good eye discipline and only was locked onto the receivers hip, and was fast enough to cover the deep ball while quick enough to break down and react to comebacks and hard-breaking routes.
Nearly seven months to the day after turning a dazzling performance at The Show in June, Powell was back in a NextGen uniform and did it again. Unquestionably one of the top backs in the country for the class of 2027, he’s a player that will be offered early. He tests off the chart and his on-field ability matches it, or surpasses it. From speed to balance, and finesse to power, there isn’t much he can’t do.
Joe Sykes
Joe Sykes
An unknown to us at Prep Redzone Next ahead of the NextGen camp, Sykes was clearly the Linebacker standout of the middle school group. A thick, yet athletic prospect, he moved very well in space against some pretty good backs in drills. That’s probably for good reason, as the Palm Beach Gardens native carries the rock on offense. Also plays basketball and participates in track and field, when not training in the weight room.
Antonio Dickey Jr.
Antonio Dickey Jr.
What Dickey Jr. gives up in size, which is considerable, he more than makes up for with effort and ability. If I’m taking an undersized Corner on my team, Dickey Jr. has to be near the list of kids to look at taking. Another Defensive Back who battles at The Show last June and came back to defend his selection this past weekend. He’s gnat-like with his quickness and plays fearlessly against Wide Receivers that should “Moss” him, but don’t. He also runs track.
AJ Chung
AJ Chung
An absolute field general for being just a class of 2028 prospect. Despite being a seventh-grader, a time in life where being timid and unsure is very common, Chung is a leader on the field. Foot work, accuracy, coachable and hardworking are just some of the words that come to mind after getting reports back from our scouts at the camp. Chung, who was QB1 for the West Orlando Jags this year, trains with coach Baylin Trujillo. Trujillo is emerging as a game-changing private QB coach, whose clientele is impressive. Stay tuned on here.
Rounding out the top performers on the Middle School level (class of 2027-2029) that impressed at the camp and earned invitations to The Show, were:
- Camden Morton Camden Morton 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Creekside | 2027 FL | 2027 | RB – A two-way player at Running Back and Linebacker, the eighth-grader was explosive and did a great job at the event. The Running Back position is traditionally underserved at camps/combines, but he made himself known with his ability to catch out of the backfield as well. He did a nice job.
- Izaac Williams | 2027 | DL – Impressed at the Trench King Challenge to open a lot of eyes. Williams, an eighth-grader, was one of only two middle school linemen to earn an invitation to The Show this summer. In fact, he was the lone lineman from the defensive side of the ball to earn the honor.