Must-know Freshmen Entering their Sophomore Campaigns this Fall

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am proud to be the first to introduce to the New Jersey high school football scene our top rising freshmen from the class of 2026. Many, of course, will be new names that you might be familiar with; however as the late great, rapper The Notorious B.I.G. once said, "if you don't know, now you know."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshmen are the lifeblood of a program's talent. I have been on coaching staffs where a promising freshman crop are the reason "ole ball coach" hangs around for <em>just one more year</em> - which actually ensues to be four more years. They are a source of pride for their town, as aspirations and dreams of state championships manifest and are spoken aloud.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A short year ago, these talents were identified on Prep Redzone Next's watchlist as 8th graders by my guy <a href="https://twitter.com/AlPopsFootball">@AlPopsFootball</a> (give him a follow, he is the man). Now they are ready, if not already, to bust loose onto the varsity scene.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This class offers size, speed, talent, and savviness. Above all else, they offer excitement. The state of football talent in New Jersey is ripe and abundant. <br><br> Regardless, remember that you heard about them here <strong><em>first</em></strong> with Prep Redzone NJ. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284069"],"_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":"The list of 2026 New Jersey RBs might begin and end with one name: [player_tooltip player_id='284069' first='Najee' last='Calhoun']. The 5'11u0022 185lb back ended up attending Donovan Catholic. As a varsity player, the young Griffin totaled 942 yards on 152 carries, while scoring 13 times. He also caught 12 balls for 27 yards. He converted one, two-point play and punted 24 times for 846 yards.rnrnOne thing Calhoun does, which is a telltale sign that he is a true RB, is that he seems to slow down in the middle of the hole. He does not panic when doing this, but he is merely looking for daylight to spring a big play. Calhoun is disciplined in following his track towards where the play is designed to hit. Aside from having outstanding balance to tightrope down the sideline, Calhoun absorbs contact from low-tackling defenders and bounces off of them. He leverages his stiff arm to create space from incoming tackers too. Being so young, I am certain the following will come with age. Calhoun should loosen up his hips this offseason. By doing so, he will become more shifty and agile, while also generating more power and becoming even faster.rnrnThere is certainly time for other backs to emerge from the class of 2026; however, if I was a betting man I would put my money on Calhoun to be the best of them.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421e2a9121f5"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16912817/6372d3b3664c890520dda35f' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421e2a91225f"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jeecalhoun","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jeecalhoun </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284057"],"_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":"Traditional TEs are something of a relic in today's game. However, when you have one, u003cemu003eespeciallyu003c/emu003e that has NFL-caliber size, it presents mismatch nightmares for defenses. This is precisely what the St. Joseph (Montvale) Green Knights have in [player_tooltip player_id='284057' first='Brady' last='Shust']. This man-child came to campus at 6'6u0022 235lbs (I know!). I believe he only played freshman ball last fall.rnrnTime-after-time you see that Shust abuses teams by catching the TE pop pass. He is too big and fast for any LB or safety to match up with him. Shust is athletic enough where he is able to line up in the slot to demonstrate said athleticism. He catches with his hands and can adjust to make catches on balls thrown behind him as well. Shust does more than just catch passes though - he is totally into blocking too. The intensity he brings when blocking is leverage to his OC's playbook. Many times you will see Shust block and then nicely time out his release for a quick slip screen. Shust, on u003cemu003eseveralu003c/emu003e occasions, completely annihilates unsuspecting LBs who do not have their head on a swivel when he is called to crack block. Two things that will make Shust a blue chip, D1 prospect ready to play that fall in a few years is sharpening his route running and engaging with 3-points of contact (hand-head-hand) when in-line blocking.rnrnShould Shust commit against his coach's four-year plan for him, a metamorphosis will happen. Shust will transform from u0022Baby Hueyu0022 to a bonafide, Divison-I prospect with his pick of colleges lining up for his services.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421e2a912318"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11580918/638a7ef73deb6409c8c29bdf' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421e2a912340"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/shustie13","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shustie13 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402193"],"_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":"There is something brewing over at St. Thomas Aquinas. The Trojans just completed a 9-2 campaign with a head coach who was appointed very late in the summer. Without a doubt, one player figures to be a huge part of what they do over the next 3 seasons. Perhaps their QB of the future, 5'11u0022 170lb [player_tooltip player_id='402193' first='Anwar' last='Witherspoon'] got major run at safety last year for the Trojans and did not disappoint. He was credited with 10 tackles, with 2 for a loss.rnrnWitherspoon plays mostly rolled down near the LOS, akin to a 4-4 LB. With this said, he is physical with kick-out blocks and plays full speed. He will look to jack-up defenders and make the play whenever possible. He is well coached and disciplined, as he forces the play back inside, thus protecting the perimeter, and then pursues from there. In one clip Witherspoon takes on an incoming blocker with his hands; however, later in the season he adjusted, throwing a text-book wrong arm, getting inside the blocker, and making the play. This adjustment shows that the young talent is highly coachable. Witherspoon walks out over the slot receiver and plays cover two as well. With age, he will naturally become more physical. In the meantime, I think Witherspoon's film will benefit from having clips of him in pass coverage.rnrnWitherspoon is an interesting prospect. Recruited and listed as a QB, we will see if he steps into the spotlight as St. Thomas Aquinas' starting QB this fall. If he should not, he has the size to play either LB or safety at a very high level. Witherspoon is definitely a prospect to stay glued to this fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421e2a9123c2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17796483/63719065c1250a07c0f24974' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421e2a9123f3"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/AnwarWtherspoon","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AnwarWtherspoon </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402196"],"_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":"The Glassboro Bulldogs certainly have a bulldog of their own patrolling the yard the next three seasons. There is much to be excited about after witnessing [player_tooltip player_id='402196' first='Brandon' last='Simmons Jr.'], the 6'2'' 260 DT, just complete his freshman year at the varsity level. Simmons made 46 tackles (13 TFL), 7 sacks, 2 FR, and 1 PBU. This is certainly an active stat line for a freshman interior defensive linemen.rnrnSimmons gets it done by winning from the snap. He times up the snap very well to gain an advantage on the offense and disrupt plays. For his age, he is masterful when it comes to working his hands - particularly when executing the swim move and shedding blocks. He is either a natural or well coached because their is u003cemu003enot a single play u003c/emu003ewhere he fails to get hands on the man in front of him. When O-linemen pull, like a 4-year letterman, he follows the puller to make the play. One thing that will propel Simmons to a true, Division-I prospect level is to focus on establishing a new LOS in the opponents backfield. He is halfway there at this point. He gets his hands on somebody and sheds well, now he just needs to drive them backwards. Should he do this, college recruiters will be drooling on themselves as he will make u003cemu003ecountless u003c/emu003etackles in the backfield.rnrnAs a line coach myself, Simmons is the type of prospect I would kill to work with. God-given size, discipline, and savviness for the game. He is a young stud we MUST keep an eye on in 2023.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421e2a912441"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18162361/63589d42c124590714d36eec' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421e2a91245d"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Brandon7Simmons","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Brandon7Simmons </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402191"],"_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":"The future is bright for the Pennsauken Indians. Fresh off of an undefeated regular season and top-4 playoff position, they are only retooling with the presence of DL [player_tooltip player_id='402191' first='Alex' last='Parker'] waiting in the wings. At 6'2u0022 220lbs, the young talent has all the physical size to be a staple in their lineup for years to come.rnrnIn limited clips, we see Parker get off the ball quickly and gets hands on someone immediately. When unblocked, he will squeeze - not to just occupy a blocker, but destroy the blocker, blow up the play, and create chaos behind the LOS. Parker does an effective job of shedding his man and being in position to make a play in either gap. He also pursues and hustles, chasing down plays. An area of focus for Parker this fall is to commit to playing half-man matchups. I noticed him attacking the shoulders of the O-lineman, rather than the shoulder and the u0022Vu0022 of his neck. If he makes this subtle change, he will consistently make a new LOS in the backfield and dominate.rnrnHopes are high for Pennsauken, in particularly with Parker in the fold. Stay tuned to see what heights this team and prospect achieve in 2023.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/18128156/Alex-Parkeru0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421e2a9124aa"} /-->