Rivalry Road: Top Returning Starters off of Route 1 & 9
In this article:
Just or unjustly, often times along county lines there are fierce rivalries. Neighbors become enemies. Families split amongst allegiances. Friends? No more. Today we take a look at some of the top returning starters who fight for superiority and county…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingJust or unjustly, often times along county lines there are fierce rivalries. Neighbors become enemies. Families split amongst allegiances. Friends? No more.
Today we take a look at some of the top returning starters who fight for superiority and county bragging rights along the Middlesex-Union county borders. Their teams reside off of US Route 1 & 9.
The term “dual-threat QB” gets used somewhat liberally now a days; however, Jaeden Jones Jaeden Jones 5’11” | 190 lbs | DB Colonia | 2024 State NJ of the Colonia Patriots truly is electrifying in both phases of offense. This 6’0″ 190lb junior signal caller lit the turf on fire in 2022, passing for 1059 yards, 6 TDs, and 4 Ints; he ran for 1661 yards, 6.7 YPC, and 19 TDs. Maybe most impressive is that he had 9, 100-yard rushing games in 10 games played. Further, Jones finished second on the team with 80 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 Ints, 2 PD, 1 FR, and 1 FF. Jones can also score from the triple-threat position on the hardwood too, as he plays basketball for Colonia.
Lining up at QB, has shown the ability to run read option both with frontside and backside reads. When running, his hips are shifty and he can change directions by stopping on a time. This shiftiness combined with his vision as a ball carrier allows him to rip off big gains almost at will. When dropping back to pass, he has a subtleness to his movements that help him evade would-be tacklers in the pocket. Whether it be to set up a designed run or dropping back to pass, he does a nice job looking off defenders in order to move them and create seams in the defense.
Playing mostly from a two-high safety set, he explodes down hill to make tackles for minimal gains in the alley. He takes his drop step then flies up to contest short passes as well. He does not allow receivers to get past him and has soft hands. He flows sideline-to-sideline and takes good angles to the ball carrier.
One thing I think would add to the dynamic play of Jones is to keep his eyes downfield as he scrambles. Yes, he rips off big plays keeping the ball in his hands, but as defenders creep up to stop him receivers downfield will be running open. If he hits them, this scary playmaker will give opposing coaches nightmares before and after the game.
Highlights
There are few LBs in the Big Central Conference that match the explosive athleticism of the Linden Tigers’ Myles Hamilton Myles Hamilton 6’3″ | 190 lbs | LB Linden | 2024 State NJ . He cannot help it. It is in his genes. The 6’3″ 190lb junior is brothers with former Rutgers 5 star prospect Darius Hamilton. The younger Hamilton was busy on defense with 124 tackles, 17 TFL, 9 sacks, 13 hurries, 1 FF, 1 FR, and 1 PD across 10 games.
If it where a question between the hammer and nail, Hamilton is definitely the hammer. He routinely delivers the blow and punishes ball carriers with full-force tackles. I noticed the fluidity in how he moves too. When he takes his pass drop, he gains ground in every step and then explodes forward to cover his assignment. He is very quick off the snap of the ball when he blitzes, and utilizes his hands effectively, to elude would-be blockers who don’t stand a chance.
Hamilton’s film showed a lot of him blitzing and in run support. Based on his productivity, he is clearly one of the Tiger’s best pass rushers so the staff accents his strengths in their weekly game plan. I would like to see a few more instances of Hamilton dropping in coverage or playing man to evaluate that skillset from his LB position.
Regardless, Hamilton is an explosive player who cleans up everything in front of him and lowers the boom when doing so. He is a tough assignment who has the ability to single-handedly wreck offensive game plans.
Alex Donic
Alex Donic
Lining up next to Myles Hamilton Myles Hamilton 6’3″ | 190 lbs | LB Linden | 2024 State NJ is his brother-in-arms LB Alex Donic. Not to be outshined by his teammate, Donic did more than hold his own during his 2022 junior year. Donic measures 5’10” 175lb and amassed 88 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 hurries, 1 safety, 1 FR, and 1 PD. Pitching in offensively, he carried 51 times for 200 yards and 5 TD, while hauling in 4 receptions for 45 yards and 1 TD.
As a LB I would describe Donic as a “lunch pail” type of player. He is the type that keeps chasing and pursues relentlessly. This sort of hustle allows him to make plays at any part of the field that an average player would not make. When his number is called to stunt, he does a nice job scraping, clawing, and knifing in order to shed blocks and will himself to make plays. He also possesses good closing speed when zeroing on the QB.
Where his determination meets his effort is what will lead to big collisions. Donic will benefit from a big offseason in the weight room to add more stopping force to his tackles. In his senior mid-season highlights I also would like to get a better sense of how he is in pass coverage.
Looks like the Linden Tigers have their own high school version of Lawrence Taylor-Harry Carson at LB entering the 2023 season. Opposing offenses have been put on notice.
Aiden Derkack
Aiden Derkack
Colonia QB Jaeden Jones Jaeden Jones 5’11” | 190 lbs | DB Colonia | 2024 State NJ ‘ favorite target this last year was freshman WR Aiden Derkack. Making his varsity debut, Derkack registered 30 receptions for 389 yards and 2 TDs. He finished first on the team in receptions, second on the team in receiving yards and TDs in one less game. He started opposite a senior WR.
Derkack has a tall, lean frame as he measures in at 6’4″ 170lbs. This makes him the ideal jump ball candidate in the end zone. Few DBs will be able to compete with his height. Interestingly enough, the freshman also plays basketball for the Patriots and reportedly holds a scholarship offer to play hoops at Merrimack.
A freshman registering such a large share of the passing offense for Colonia bodes well for the 2023 season. Let’s see the kind of jump Derkack makes in between his first and second year on the varsity lineup.
Luke Colon
Luke Colon
Jaeden Jones Jaeden Jones 5’11” | 190 lbs | DB Colonia | 2024 State NJ and Aiden Derkack would not have been able to put in work on the field without the unsung support of their offensive line – notably junior Luke Colon.
Standing 5’10” 215lbs, Colon possesses ideal size for a high school guard. He is stout in a good way. Colon is low enough to win with his pad level and big enough to bend easily without sacrificing much strength. He mainly played OL last fall, but he did contribute on the defensive line by making 10 tackles in three games.
Inevitably more will be asked of Colon this year. Coming off of an 8-2 season and returning 3 cogs in their offensive attack, the Patriots are hoping for a deep playoff run this fall.