Top Underclassmen from the Big Central’s Liberty Silver Division
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A division that had three of its four teams finish as top 5-or-better playoff seeds – and where the fourth team was the first team out of the playoffs – would be considered a gauntlet. That is exactly what happened…
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Continue ReadingA division that had three of its four teams finish as top 5-or-better playoff seeds – and where the fourth team was the first team out of the playoffs – would be considered a gauntlet. That is exactly what happened in the Big Central Conference’s Liberty Silver Division last fall.
Without a doubt, such top-heavy playoff teams were flush with players making big time plays all over the field all season long. Today we break down the film of some of the top underclassmen talent from these teams and how they delivered.
Cameron Montague
Cameron Montague
If Watchung Hills was the setting for a 1980’s action movie, Hunter Seubert Hunter Seubert 6’0″ | 260 lbs | OL Watchung Hills | 2023 State NJ and his teammate Cameron Montague would play the roles of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. These two big, beefy linemen set a nasty tone for a physical three-man front of the Warriors. Coming in at 6’4″ 260lbs, Cameron Montague finished the season with 20 tackles and 3 TFL. These stats do not tell the entire story for this threat who alternated between NT and NG.
The tape shows us that Montague has a great get off. It is quick, sudden, and violent. He also has great muscle memory out of his stance because he explodes low-to-high. This dram shop reaction causes him to jolt smaller defenders back and establish a new LOS in the backfield. When unblocked, he is well coached and squeezes down the line. The next level in Montague’s game is to work on incorporating his hands. This will make shedding blocks easier for him and add to his tackle totals.
With another year pumping iron like the Terminator did, Montague will have opposing running backs yelling to “get to da choppa!”
Ala-meen Watkins
Ala-meen Watkins
Consider this scenario: with a sophomore QB at the helm, the Plainfield Cardinals were the first team out of their playoff bracket last fall. That QB is Ala-meen Watkins. Standing tall at 6’2″ 215lbs, he slashed 1531/14/3 passing and 73/635/7 rushing. Watkins also plays basketball for the Cardinals.
Whether it is fades or verticals, up the seam or down the sideline, Watkins is adept at throwing the deep ball. He frequently hits his WRs in stride for big plays and places the ball where only his guys can make the play. It looks like is asked to run RPOs. When scrambling, he keeps his eyes downfield and looks to pass first; however, when he either decides to tuck and run or on designed runs, he sets up his blockers nicely.
Being so young, I want to see Watkins stay the course and keep refining his mechanics. By doing so he will be able to execute a multitude of throws and open up the Cardinal’s intermediate and short passing game more than he already has.
While teammates Michael Schmelzer Michael Schmelzer 5’11” | 185 lbs | QB Montgomery | 2024 State NJ and Matt Davino held down the offense in 2022 for the Montgomery Cougars, it was LB Brady Post Brady Post 5’11” | 210 lbs | LB Montgormery | 2024 NJ who held it down for the defense. The 5’11” 195lb LB who goes by “Brady” totaled 69 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, and 2 FR. In a limited role on offense, he rushed 14 times for 77 yards and 3 TDs.
Post does an exceptional job at reading and trusting his keys. He quickly recognizes pass and will get into his drop; he also reads the feet of the OL and gets in position to make the play. While flowing to the play, he will not over pursue the ball carrier either. When called to stunt, he times his blitzes extremely well, leading to a number of free shots on the back in the backfield. One bit of advice I would impart on Post is to keep driving his feet through contact. He does a nice job of this when carrying the ball, but if he does it on defense routine plays will start to look like all-state plays.
With a strong core of players returning, expect the Cougars to pick up right where they left off.
Highlights
Yasir Wyatt
Yasir Wyatt
The Plainfield Cardinals had an explosive player line up for them at tailback last fall. That player was Yasir Wyatt. Wyatt is a bit smaller of a back (5’8″ 145lbs), but certainly can scoot all over the field. In 10 games he carried the ball 103 times for 814 yards and 7 TDs. This equates to a 7.9 ypc average.
In the samples of film I was able to watch, you notice that Wyatt gets to the hole in a hurry. It seems almost as if he is at full speed within his first step. A subtle thing that he does, which I am a big fan of, is that he carries out his fakes with fidelity. This is an under-appreciated aspect of an offense. It holds defenders, helps open up seams, and sets up plays for the play caller. Blessed with speed, I think it would benefit Wyatt to develop patience as a runner. This will allow his blocks to set up, making for bigger plays and easier yardage more frequently.
Being able to control the game by pounding the rock is the type of game the Watchung Hill Warriors like to play. Having a 6’3″ 170lb WR who can win matchups when needed is a luxury that earns you a top-five playoff seed. For the Warriors, that pass catcher was Jack Clintock Jack Clintock 6’3″ | 170 lbs | DB Watchung Hills | 2024 NJ . Clintock, who also plays lacrosse for the Warriors, caught 21 passes for 425 yards and 4 TDs on the season.
The film shows us that Clintock does not give up on plays. Even when his QB is scrambling, he is always fighting to win the route. He does a great job adjusting to the flight of the ball when it is under thrown. He also looks to exclusively catch the ball with his hands. He also has the ability take the top off the defense of undisciplined and unathletic teams. Clintock would benefit from an offseason of skelly periods and 7on7 competitions. If he keeps refining his craft and working his routes, he will be an even more formidable matchup in 2023.