The Future of the Inter-Ac: Malvern Prep Friars, Defense
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As we progress through the off-season, an complete preview of the 2023 Malvern Prep Friars will be released. For now, we will dive into the underclassmen classes at the program and what each prospect could provide in the future. The…
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Continue ReadingAs we progress through the off-season, an complete preview of the 2023 Malvern Prep Friars will be released. For now, we will dive into the underclassmen classes at the program and what each prospect could provide in the future. The Inter-Ac is quickly becoming a hot-bed of talent in and around Philadelphia. Let’s get to know the talent at Malvern Prep a bit better.
Malvern Prep Defense
When projecting what the defensive front could look like in the Fall, there are three prospects, presumably, that we can’t leave out of the equation. Those three are soon-to-be-seniors Ennis Udo Ennis Udo 6’2″ | 205 lbs | TE Malvern Prep | 2024 State PA , Phil Tabasso, and current freshman Cameron Brickle II Cameron Brickle II 6’3″ | 295 lbs | DL Malvern Prep | 2026 State PA . The top-rated defensive lineman in his entire class, Brickle is going to enter this Fall campaign with a bullseye on his back. Gone are the days of surprising opposing offenses with a young interior beast. Many equate Brickle’s skill set to that of Imhotep’s Jahsear Whittington Jahsear Whittington 6’1″ | 280 lbs | DL Imhotep Charter | 2024 State PA , I like the comparison. If you’re wondering about the young man’s offers, check out the long list on his profile page. Said list should give you a gist of just how coveted a prospect we are dealing with here. Udo and Tabasso are also highly-ranked prospects that will serve as a pass-rush presence, as well as a counterpart in the interior to Brickle, respectively.
Highlights
Highlights
Luke O’Hair
Luke O’Hair
Theoretically, that leaves just one spot left along the awesome defensive line.
If there’s one thing that’s for sure, it’s that Malvern Prep knows how to find and develop 6’2-6’3 athletes to play various positions and alignments. It’s the program’s bread and butter, take a quick look at their depth chart and you can find a 6’3 athlete waiting his turn on the sideline. You’ll see a lot of that this Fall.
Depending on how Bernard Blakey Bernard Blakey 6’6″ | 210 lbs | DL Malvern Prep | 2025 State PA works this off-season, I imagine he could pair with Ennis Udo Ennis Udo 6’2″ | 205 lbs | TE Malvern Prep | 2024 State PA as pass-rushing specialists. If not, the program has two special defenders/tight end prospects that could serve as quality starters on any program in the state, those two being Carter Ceppetelli Carter Ceppetelli 6’3″ | 200 lbs | DL Malvern Prep | 2025 PA and Anthony Borzillo Anthony Borzillo 6’3″ | 225 lbs | DL Malvern Prep | 2025 State PA . I’ve had my eye on Ceppetelli and Borzillo for quite some time, the pair can easily provide starting or package reps at DL/LB/OL/TE. This luxury is why Malvern Prep is so successful each year, along with a coaching staff that knows how to put these young men in a position to succeed.
The same can be said about Luke O’Hair, Max Mohring Max Mohring 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB Malvern Prep | 2026 State PA , and Dylan Novak Dylan Novak 6'4" | 205 lbs | ATH Malvern Prep | 2026 State PA . An additional three names at Coach Gueriera’s disposal, all three of which can play three or more positions. All three prospects project to defensive line, any one of which that progresses nicely will have his fair shot at aligning next to Brickle and Tabasso, yet I imagine the staff will have to get creative with these younger talents. It’s why Malvern Prep boasts one of the more intriguing front-sevens in Eastern Pennsylvania. Novak and Mohring both weigh under 200 pounds, I can imagine they’ll both be gauged to play tight end or wideout. Luke O’Hair is a bit beefier, a move to in-line tight-end or even offensive line could be in his immediate future. All three of which could also contribute at linebacker.
Highlights
Owen Mears
Owen Mears
Huge fan of Ben Kumpon Ben Kumpon 6’1″ | 225 lbs | TE Malvern Prep | 2025 State PA the TE, as we recently ranked him as the best TE amongst his classmates in the state. Yet, keeping with the theme of the story, Kumpon could be equally as special a linebacker prospect. Several prospects listed both below and above could land spots at linebacker this coming Fall, with 2024 Chris Lake Chris Lake 6’4″ | 200 lbs | LB Malvern Prep | 2024 State PA being the upperclassman to garner reps at OLB.
I’d be remiss to not mention two new prospects to the site, those being Owen Mears and freshman Joe Rosano Joe Rosano 6’1″ | 215 lbs | LB Malvern Prep | 2026 State PA . If Mears’ last name sounds familiar to you, that’s because he’s the younger brother of Friar standout and now PSU-commit Bobby Mears Bobby Mears 6’4″ | 225 lbs | LB Malvern Prep | 2023 State PA . We can expect the expertise at LB to be in the blood. Joe Rosano Joe Rosano 6’1″ | 215 lbs | LB Malvern Prep | 2026 State PA could surprise some. I haven’t had the chance to check out his Hudl and dissect his game, that will come in time. Expect any and everything when game-planning against this front-seven.
Highlights
The rich get richer. As if having stud after stud in the front-seen wasn’t enough, Malvern Prep will also deploy two top-100 prospects in their secondary. Those two being top-50 prospect Zade Johnson Zade Johnson 5’11” | 180 lbs | DB Malvern Prep | 2025 State PA and top-90 prospect Andrew Pellicciotta Andrew Pellicciotta 5’11” | 190 lbs | ATH Malvern Prep | 2025 State PA .
Zade Johnson Zade Johnson 5’11” | 180 lbs | DB Malvern Prep | 2025 State PA can play at pretty much any alignment in the secondary, he can also contribute at WR and DB if need be. Where Zade will be recruited, where he helps his program the most, is certainly at corner. A fantastic blend of tenacity in run-support, mixed with brains at corner to recognize and diagnose passing concepts in real-time. This is an FBS corner waiting for letters to come in. They could come this off-season, maybe after next Fall. Either way, Zade Johnson Zade Johnson 5’11” | 180 lbs | DB Malvern Prep | 2025 State PA is a name Inter-Ac wideouts will know all too well.
Andrew Pellicciotta Andrew Pellicciotta 5’11” | 190 lbs | ATH Malvern Prep | 2025 State PA is an often-forgotten prospect in this bunch. Pellicciotta is alignment-versatile, much like Johnson, yet Malvern Prep likes to deploy him at Safety. Don’t write this young man off because of his size. 50+ tackles to his name, a tone-setter that has no problem laying the wood. Great open-field tackler, great overall awareness. Can line up in the slot if need be. Great job diagnosing run and pass sets. He’s a phenomenal last line of defense as well. I usually give smaller DBs a hard time in terms of ranking, I had to give this young man his flowers after plugging in his sophomore tape. Expecting more of the same this Fall.