Back with Force: Headline-catching North Jersey ‘Backers for 2023
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Having a strong linebacking corps mades life miserable for an offense. They can neither run nor pass the ball. What are they left to do? This next crop of linebackers from the Super Football Conference make offensive coordinators second question…
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Continue ReadingHaving a strong linebacking corps mades life miserable for an offense. They can neither run nor pass the ball. What are they left to do? This next crop of linebackers from the Super Football Conference make offensive coordinators second question their career choices at times. Big things are expected from this group of prospects this fall. Will they rise to the occasion?
The West Orange Mountaineers have a standout at LB to go along with teammate and stud DB Chaas McCoy Chaas McCoy 5’11” | 180 lbs | DB West Orange | 2024 State NJ . Returning to build off his 87 tackle (13 for loss), 4 sack, and 1 FR campaign is 5’10” 190lb Christopher Barrino Christopher Barrino 5’11” | 205 lbs | LB West Orange | 2025 NJ .
Barrino is smooth and moves very well in space. His hips change direction well and he always seems to be in position to make a play on the ball or the ball carrier. He possesses great closing speed, which is helpful as he reads the flow of the offense. Barrino is a “kill-shot” guy. He loves to make a big hit on the QB and clean up piles. Colleges will love to see his film and begin to gush about it as he adds more solo tackles and pass coverage clips in the mix.
West Orange has some unfinished business this season. The Mountaineers will rely on Barrino and company will look to settle the score in 2023.
Highlights
Pequannock has two Panthers on the prowl coming back for 2023. We already broke down the film of DB
Andrew Rivera
Andrew
Rivera
6’1″ | 160 lbs | DB
Pequannock | 2024
NJ
and now we do the same for
James Bonner
James
Bonner
LB
Pequannock | 2024
NJ
. At 6’1″ 207lb this ‘backer make 8 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 FF on the season.
Bonner is an absolute run stuffer. He stops the run full-force like a ton of bricks, stopping ball carriers cold in their tracks. In several clips you literally see the ball carrier’s head jerk back like whiplash from a fender bender. Part of how he doles out de-cleating hits is by keeping his feet through contact. Should he get blocked, he has the presence of mind to fight to get an arm free to make a stop. In pursuit of the ball Bonner knows to swipe at the ball and try to punch it loose. No doubt he is a run stuffer, but should Bonner want to play LB in college it would be beneficial to see clips of him in pass coverage.
Back for more and to stop scores, Bonner and the pack of Panthers look to be more than just division contenders this year.
Ridgefield Park High School was the beneficiary of one LB who had his way on defense all year long. This Scarlet was the 5’7″ 160lber named Nick Buda Nick Buda LB Ridgefield Park | 2024 NJ . For the season Buda made 121 tackles with 4 tackles for a loss, 1 FR, and 2 FF.
In limited clips we see Buda be relatively physical at the LOS. He willingly takes on blockers with his shoulder and then looks to make plays. Buda also appears to be a disciplined player in the sense that he waits to play cutback before pursuing the ball. This allows for him to basically accept backs with open arms for easy tackles. An area of focus for this coming camp for Buda is form tackling.
Buda has the upside for a serious breakthrough campaign this fall. Be on the lookout as his number is sure to be called early and often.
Tahir Davies Tahir Davies LB Weequahic | 2024 NJ suited up for Newark West Side’s Roughriders last fall. The stout 5’9″ 219lb linebacker made 76 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 FF, and 3 FR on the season.
On film we see that Davies is not asked to blitz all that often, but when he does he times the snap well and leverages his quickness to beat stiff, slow linemen. Not too many ball carriers escape his clutches because he goes in low for tackles. Davies has a sense for the game, sniffing out screens well and pursuing down the line to squeeze the air out of the play and make easy tackles. Near the goal line, Davies wins with leverage and blows up plays before they even have a chance. Finally, Davies is physical with lead blockers. As a prospect I would like to see Davies have more clips of him dropping straight back to defend the pass.
Davies is a rough-and-tough throwback LB. He plays with energy and passion. He has a rare combination of stoutness and speed to be a dynamic player in any front 7.
Joining teammate Jovan Tyrell Jovan Tyrell 6’1″ | 185 lbs | DB Passaic County Tech | 2024 State NJ in the back-7 of the Passaic County Tech defense is LB Trashon Dye Trashon Dye 6’0″ | 195 lbs | RB Passaic | 2024 State NJ . A two-way starter, Dye rushed for 1276 yards and 11 TDs on 247 carries; defensively he was very active, making 138 stops (9.5 TFL), 4 sacks, 4 FF, and 2 FR. Although he is immensely talented as a back, the 6 foot 205lber is being evaluated as a LB today.
Dye absolutely explodes through the line when called to blitz. He is quicker than just about any lineman he is matched up against. If he does not stop the play in its tracks, he pursues and screams down the line. He also does a nice job strafing when facing option coming directly at him. If he cannot get to a pass, he knows to get hits hands up and try to tip it. What I actually love the most about Dye’s game is how he squares up and makes perfect form tackles every single time. Nobody ever escapes his clutches. Coaches could probably do a whole tackling session at a clinic using his film alone. Dye, too, would benefit from having more clips of him taking pass drops in his highlights.
The Bulldogs are a team loaded with returning talent and should have a big chip on their shoulder entering the season. This is unquestionably a team to keep tabs on this fall.