Shore Bets: Returning O-linemen From the Shore Conference
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For those of you from out of state, in Jersey we do not go to the beach – we rather go down the shore. As the season’s turn from a cold winter to a promising spring, we are all dreaming…
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Continue ReadingFor those of you from out of state, in Jersey we do not go to the beach – we rather go down the shore. As the season’s turn from a cold winter to a promising spring, we are all dreaming of our own little summer paradise. However, there is a group of young men that reside in Monmouth and Ocean counties that spend their summers in their own paradise – the iron paradise – so they can dominate in the fall.
Today we take a look at the Shore Conference’s returning, rising underclassmen offensive linemen entering the fall 2023 season.
When we talk top O-linemen in New Jersey, the conversation begins and ends with Ja’elyn Matthews of the Toms River North Mariners. At 6’7″ 295lbs, Matthews has both the size and film to be a bonafide Division I college athlete and is arguably Jersey’s top recruit from the 2025 class.
Matthews has film playing both LT and RT. He consistently “wins with his head” when making blocks, sealing defensive pursuit with his positioning. Impressively, Matthews is capable of making backside, gap-on-hinge blocks on LBs. This is an extremely rare and difficult block to make for high school O-linemen. When he inevitably does get to the second level, he easily jolts back defenders when he lays so much as a finger on them. When Matthews and his adjacent linemen make a combo block, nobody needs to come off for LBs because the down-lineman is hand-delivered into his LBs lap. In pass protection, he quickly turns his pass set into a drive block without much effort. Matthews also will pin down defenders ripping inside of him. For Matthews to be college game day-ready, I am rooting for his feet to further develop. He took a small handful of false steps at times and will need a quicker reach step when he eventually plays big time college football.
It is worth stating again: when we talk top O-linemen in New Jersey, the conversation begins and ends with Ja’elyn Matthews. Full stop.
The Red Bank Catholic Caseys are fortunate to have this strong, stout, and sturdy bookend of an O-lineman returning this fall. At 6’2″ 270lbs, the Caseys often look to Patrick Magee Patrick Magee 6’2″ | 250 lbs | OL Red Bank Catholic | 2024 State NJ when tough yards are needed.
Something very subtle that Magee excels at is is understanding and anticipating the timing of a play. One particular rocket screen he blocked perfectly. He worked a chip, climbed to the second level quickly, engaged with the LB, and worked his hands to gain and maintain inside leverage. When on the line, he is savvy enough to adjust his head positioning if he temporarily loses his gap leverage. Magee possesses quick feet in pass protection while keeping his head on a swivel. One area that will push him to be an elite high school lineman is having a more consistent leg drive.
Magee has very good film and the physicality college coaches desire. Given his size, I think he projects out as an interior o-lineman in at the next level.
Pressure up the middle, whether running or passing, will stall an offense. Having a confident and poised center does a lot to pacify his side of the ball. That is exactly what the 6 foot 210lb Jack Mauthe Jack Mauthe 6’0″ | 210 lbs | OL Rumson-Fair Haven | 2025 NJ brings to the Rumson-Fair Haven Bulldogs.
A bit of a bulldog himself, Mauthe gets hands on defenders every play. More importantly, he will keep working for inside leverage to control his man. He will not often get pushed back and would rather be a martyr for the team’s cause taking a fall and going down, but also taking his opponent down with him. Mauthe is a grinder too that keeps working. In pass protection he keeps his eyes up when uncovered and picks up running blitzers. If I was Mauthe’s coach I would emphasize his feet, reminding him to constantly buzz them and make sure to step-and-snap simultaneously.
With a sophomore starting at center who played in a Group II state final under his belt, Rumson-Fair Haven is in outstanding position to compete for the state title the next several years. Wihtout a doubt, Mauthe’s experience and pedigree will be a big part of those title runs.
Jackson Memorial enjoyed a very strong season, finishing as the #6 seed in their playoff bracket. With only a one-score loss and a loss to a parochial school on their ledger, the Jaguars eventually lost to NJ’s Group IV champion Millville. Leading the offensive charge for Jackson was the 6 foot 215lb LT Harold Mee Harold Mee 6’1″ | 215 lbs | OL Jackson Memorial | 2025 NJ .
In limited clips, Mee has some strong fundamentals engrained in him. For instance, he does an outstanding job of keeping his hands in close and elbows tight. This prevents defenders from batting his hands off of them. Mee also leverages 3-points of contact (hand-hand-head), with his head to the chest of his machup. To drive them, he pumps his feet. Already equipped with strong fundamentals, Mee will gain more movement up front should he maintain a strong base and play with lower pad level. Combining this with his desire to pump his feet, he will move defenders and gain ground with every step he takes.
With Mee leading the way, expect the Jaguars to jump on their opposition early and often.
Although Toms River North gets much of the hype – and deservedly so – there is plenty of talent on the east side of town. James Lynch James Lynch 6’4″ | 200 lbs | OL Toms River East | 2025 NJ lead his Raiders last fall. Coming in at 6’4″, Lynch also wrestled at 215.
The talented LT, forms a nice pocket in pass protection when he is locked on to a defender. He will either create a stalemate or allow defenders to rush upfield past the play. Lynch nicely gets his head around on reach blocks, setting the edge. To level-up, Lynch should keep moving at all times. Whether it be pursuing a play down field, driving his legs, or in pass protection, more active feet will pay dividends.
Toms River East is a motivated team to be THE team in town. With Lynch leading the way, the Raiders are ready change the tied and claim township bragging rights.