2023 AYF All-Star Practice Notes: East Defensive Standouts

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["561091"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":632692,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"If you saw Bracey on the street, you'd think he was a 20-something year-old manu002du002dcomplete with a beard and a tattoo. Also comes with a big, funny personality. His play on the field isn't so funny, as the North Carolina native is a stout interior Defensive Lineman that doesn't loose many one-on-one battles. Fires off the snap hard with a low center of gravity that typically gets him under the pads of the opposing Offensive Lineman. Does a good job of keeping his elbow in when using his hands and keeping linemen off him. His shorter, wider frame generates a lot of power and is hard to move him out of the hole. Also showed off some pretty good mobility for a bigger 2027 prospect at this point.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["632717"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"If the West squad takes a look, and decides to try and run to the other side of the East Defensive Line, it won't get much easier with big Nyeem Powell and his staggering size sitting there. Powell, a Philadelphia native, is every bit of 6-foot-3 and 330-plus pounds. If him and the West's Lex Mailangi are lined up across from each other, it'll be the immovable object vs. the unstoppable force, in real life. Up until this AYF All-Star game, I had only seen Powell play on the Offensive Line where he was obviously a very good player. However, watching him play as an interior Defensive Lineman, this is where he needs to be. Powell is your conventional Nose or 2-Tech, that typically requires a double team. If he's not moved out of the way, he has the ability to clog up multiple gaps. The East Linebackers should be licking their chops getting to play behind boys the size of Powell and Bracey.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["632828"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Within the first 35 minutes of the first practice, Bailey caused two bloody noses and put the rest of his East teammates on notice. While I didn't see the hits happen, because I was on the other field watching the West team, I heard the two hits and all the hootin' and hollerin' that proceeded them. I also had two coaches tell me about it when I came over. Hailing from Cleveland, Bailey first caught my eye in December at AYF Nationals in December, where he was a standout for the G's United team. One of only a handful of eighth-graders on that team, Bailey stood out despite being younger. He's carried that same ability to the All-Star game in Las Vegas. He's a 2027 prospect I have listed as an Athlete because he's a little undersized if you're thinking about a traditional Defensive End and because he's very quick, even playing Running Back on offense. That said, he is one of the best hitters I've seen in this class. He coils up before exploding through, up and back to make very sure tackles. He's a good looking prospect.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["632860"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"New Jersey's [player_tooltip player_id='632860' first='Rocco' last='Sosa'] looked quite good at the Middle Linebacker position for the East All-Stars. During his youth career has split some time between Defensive Line and Linebacker, but if his recent play was any indicator, Mike Linebacker seems to be the spot. Sosa is built like bulldog and would probably be the strongest kid on the team in the weight room. He's somewhere in the 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-9 range if I had to guess and likely weighs between 200 and 220-pounds. There's a lot of muscle on his frame, so he plays a little stiff at times and doesn't fly to the ball as well as some other athletic Linebackers, but he is a sure-tackler. Inside the tackle box he reads and reacts very well and his shorter frame helps him stay in a good tackling position. I think a gym rat like Sosa is only going to get better as he gets more reps under his belt at the position. Stay tuned.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["545916"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":632945,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"First saw Guertin this past December at AYF Nationals in Florida, where the class of 2027 Rhode Island prospect was a one-man highlight reel for his teamu002du002don both sides of the ball. However, it was at the Tight End position, that I really fell in love with his ability. All that said, here at the AYF All-Star game practices, he was being used primarily as an Outside Linebacker. An interesting move. He's the tallest skill position athlete on the East team at 6-foot-3 and has a huge wingspan. He can also already dunk a basketball, so the athleticism is certainly there. He certainly was getting reps on the offensive side of the ball, but the majority of his time was spent as an Outside Backer. I think the world of Guertin and don't doubt he'll have a tremendous impact in the game, but I'm curious to see how he fairs playing the position against a West team with a lot of talented backs. This will be a fun experiment to watch unfold!","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["498272"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"The East team has a nice safety net in the defensive secondary with [player_tooltip player_id='498272' first='Jael' last='Hester'] haging back there as a Centerfielder, playing Free Safety. A rangy 2027 prospect who is right around that 6-foot mark, he covers a lot of ground in the East's two-high Safety look. Wasn't challenged much at practice due to the install of runs and an emphasis, and justifiably so, on making sure blocking assignment were solidified on offense. Spent some time talking to him and some of the other Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs on the field, and he seemed to have quickly solidified himself as a favorite amongst teammates with his personality as well. Having seen him play several times, this All-Star game should be a bit of a test for him in terms of being able to run, break down and tackle. As I've mentioned several times, the West team is big into screens and the quick game. This will require Hester to come up and tackle, as oppose to run stride for stride downfield.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["551168"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_player_featured_image":633100,"_player_evaluations_6_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"After showing out at the AYF Nationals in December, Gibbs earned a spot on my 2027 National Watchlist. He was a welcomed site to see here at the All-Star game and again made some plays that made me feel secure in adding him to the National Watchlist. Just a hair under 6-feet tall, he looks the part of a budding star as an Outside Linebacker. While he doesn't have the crazy height and length of Elijah Guertin (the other Outside Linebacker), he's far from a slouch on the field. He's an active Linebacker who impresses in run support and comes down hill quickly and under control. There's a lot of beef on the inside of this East defense and he displayed a keen understanding of that by keeping his shoulder square to the line of scrimmage, should a ball carrier try to bounce a run outside.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63dd540cd821b"} /--> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Also along the Defensive front, <strong>Lorenzo Tartamella</strong> of New Jersey and promising 2028 prospect (current seventh-grader) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='547812' first='Asher' last='Ghioto']</strong> of Florida, split time at the Defensive End spot opposite [player_tooltip player_id='632828' first='Kaylon' last='Bailey']. They both used their length well and understood how to. Tartamella is billed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds and Ghioto is just an inch shorter at 6-foot-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Luke Lonczak </strong>split time between Running Back and Strong Safety, but looks to be the team's starter opposite [player_tooltip player_id='498272' first='Jael' last='Hester'] in the secondary. He's a rocked up kid who looks like he wakes up in the morning looking to hit somebody. He was a workhorse at Running Back for the Jersey Shore AYF All-Star team at Nationals in December. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mississippi Corner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442915' first='Logan' last='Drummond']</strong> looked good in the limited action I got to watch him in as well. He and Rhode Island Wide Receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476396' first='Sebastian' last='Lora']</strong> had a very competitive day at practice, with each one winning some reps against one another. It was cool to see teammates from 1,400 miles apart compete against each other</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->