Top Young Starters from the BCC United Silver Division in ’22

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the last several weeks' scouting of the Big Central Conference, I am not sure there has been one division that played as many impact, non-seniors as the United Silver Division did in 2022. Between Carteret, North Plainfield, South Plainfield, Governor Livingston, and JP Stevens, there were an impressive total number of juniors and sophomores who not only played and started varsity, but where the highest performers on their team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we will look at some of these standouts who are the building blocks of their team's success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["376634"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Leading the way for the Carteret Rambler's defense was the 6'3u0022 205lb LB/WR Sir Hezekia Ragland. Ragland seemed to tackle everything in front of him en route to 122 tackles, 25 TFL, 2 sacks, 4 hurries, and 2 PBUs on the season. He caught 15 balls for 309 yards and 4 TDs, while rushing once for one yard and one TD. He also plays basketball for the Ramblers.rnrnRagland is dedicated to his read step, he takes a split second to diagnose, then flows over the top for most of his stops. When he is backside, he has shown the ability to read and react to make TFLs by shooting the window. He times up the snap well when blitzing. He also commands the defense by making sure people are in the correct places. We need to see more clips of him in coverage to evaluate that part of his game.rnrnWhile split out wide, Ragland runs a very sharp slant route. It is quick and sudden. Because of his size and due to his ability to adjust to the ball, he typically wins fly routes for big plays. On film, he seems like he waits to fully utilize his speed. Once he opens up, he turns loose.rnrnA big part of Carteret's offense and defense is returning with Ragland. Special things are yet to come.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16161495/636b25f91600f600808358fdu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ee65eaa016b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kwabena Afrifah","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"JP Stevens","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"When a team struggles in recent seasons, there is reason for optimism when you have three underclassmen who earned postseason superlatives. Having one of those pieces up front in the trenches makes the rebuild that much easier. This is where the 5'10u0022 270b two-way linemen Kwabena Afrifah, who also wrestles, is a building block for the Hawks. Unfortunately JP Stevens only reported offensive yardage statistics in 2022 so we are unable to report on any related stats for the two-way talent.rnrnAfrifah does a solid job when down blocking. He keeps his feet churning and attacks the side/oblique area of the defender to move them off their spot. Defensively he gets his hands on defenders and follows his keys, flowing to the direction of the play, thus giving him a shot at making plays. We must see more film on Afrifah to get a real sense of how he performs.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16221607/Kwabena-Afrifahu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ee65eaa0224"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1054378' first='Jahad' last='Thompson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Carteret","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Small in stature, yet big plays made. That is the modus operandi of Carteret's 5'7u0022 150lb playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='1054378' first='Jahad' last='Thompson']. This WR/DB hauled in 44 catches for 618 yards and 6 TDs, while rushing 8 times for 20 yards. On the defensive side of the ball he made 45 tackles (5 for a loss) and picked off 3 passes - one of which he returned for a TD.rnrnAs a DB the film shows that Thompson likes to play off in coverage. This allows him to keep route combos in front of him. Perhaps a product of his off-coverage alignment, Thompson does a nice job making plays on the ball, breaking up passes, tipping balls, and batting balls down. He is also a hustler. He chases offenders all over the field making those hustle plays as coaches we all love to see.rnrnWhen lined up at WR he can absolutely burn slower, less athletic defenders. He has a little shake u0026amp; bake Ricky Bobby to him as well, allowing him to spring loose and bust a big play open; however, he practices discretion with this ability and uses only when needed. His signature move is the jump-cut.rnrnWith the elusiveness and speed of Thompson and the big target lining up opposite him in teammate Sir Hezekia Ragland, the Ramblers have their own version of thunder and lightning in the passing game.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16512868/6366b4669a9b6e04ec0a15ffu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ee65eaa02c8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1017480' first='Owen' last='Chait']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Governor Livingston","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Governor Livingston's offensive attack was led by a strong ground attack. Anchoring that attack was 5'8u0022 160lb tailback named [player_tooltip player_id='1017480' first='Owen' last='Chait']. Chait rushed 85 times for 331 yards and 2 TDs. He also played LB for the Highlanders, registering 44 tackles, 7 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 Int.rnrnWhat I noticed about Chait was that he always seems to manage to fall forward for an extra yard or two. I believe this is due to him running with a slight forward lean and keeping his legs buzzing through contact. On stretch plays he does a nice job finding seams along the offensive line and hitting them when they open. This discipline keeps him running inside-out, rather than bouncing too early.rnrnDefensively, Chait does a good job of keeping his head on a swivel when in coverage to pick up crossing patterns. He is capable of getting to his spot and making a play either on the ball or in coverage. I want to see him develop more trust in what he is keys tell him. Trust your reads and go full speed to make plays.rnrnChait has upside as a player and will certainly be a key cog for the Highlander's, on both sides of the ball, this coming fall.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/13502802/Owen-Chaitu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ee65eaa0367"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Quadir Johnson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"JP Stevens","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The beneficiary of running behind talented teammate Kwabena Afrifah is sophomore RB Quadir Johnson. Coming in at 5'9u0022 180lbs, Johnson led the Hawks rushing attack last year. In just 7 games, he totaled 71 carries for 491 yards, and 3 TDs. This averaged out to 6.9 YPC.rnrnAlthough a bit limited, both in games played and touches, his YPC average speaks to the explosive nature of this athlete. Unfortunately the Hawks season did not go as planned and they were forced to rely on the passing game early in games. Johnson also played LB for JP Stevens, however there were no defensive stats available.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/18106675/Quadir-Johnsonu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ee65eaa03f8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->