Weekly High School Spotlight: Northern Highlands

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">In Coach Dave Cord's first season leading Northern Highlands, the Highlanders went 9-4 traveling all the way to the Group 4 state championship game where they lost to Millville 14-18. As the foundation has been set, Coach Cord and his team seek to reach a second consecutive state championship game, but this time bringing home the title.</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Student athletes who come from Northern Highlands are built on a winning tradition that forces them to compete on and off the field, including in the classroom and the community. In the state of New Jersey, the Highlanders play one of the hardest schedules in the state resulting in hard fought competition week-in and week-out. According to NJ.com, they rank as the 10th best team in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since Coach Cord took over in Allendale, he has created a foundation where his team stands for three main principles: Work Ethic, Preparation, and Discipline. These three pillars are in place to develop his student athletes as players and people to help them grow and learn as individuals for life after football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As Northern Highlands look to reload after sending 5 players to the FBS or FCS levels, here are some of their players we are watching to play a major part in the team's success this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Danny Schmiechowski","_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":"6'0u0022","_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":"Northern Highlands","_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":"Danny Schmiechowski is a great athlete who plays both ways on the football field as a WR/TE and safety. He also is a tri-sport athlete who plays football and baseball and participates in track. When he is on the gridiron, on offense, his natural and soft hands as well as his speed are the first things that catch your eye. Schmiechowski shows great acceleration to hit his top speed quickly and run past his opponents with ease. When playing safety, he displays great range to get to all points around the field and good ball skills to track and pull it down. Given the opportunity, he showcases his physicality and quality tackling ability to get receivers and runners down in the open field. He is a very exciting player to watch on both sides of the ball as he brings tremendous value on offense and defense. Be on the lookout for his name climbing up recruiting boards this Summer and Fall as he continues to prove how good of a football he is to the masses.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"John Abboussleman","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Northern Highlands","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"John Abboussleman is another player with high quality playing both ways for the Highlanders. On defense, as a linebacker he shows his high motor to constantly run down the runner no matter where he is on the field. Abboussleman is a good tackler with solid technique and uses his toughness to take down the opposition to limit their yards gained on contact. On occasion, he can tackle high, but will still bring down the ball carrier as he never gives up on the play. As a running back, he shows good vision and feel with the ball in his hands to anticipate and hit open holes. After he runs through them, he braces himself for contact as he uses his strong lower body to churn his legs and gain yards on contact. Overall, as stated previously, Abboussleman is an impressive player whose motor and toughness shine above his competition. He will continue to have a major impact on the team this Fall as a great and reliable player.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Matt Boydell","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Northern Highlands","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Matt Boydell is a solid young cornerback who can play in off and press coverage. He displays good ability to mirror receivers at the line of scrimmage to stay on their hip to be in the best position as possible to cover his opponent. Boydell, unlike many young cornerbacks, plays through the ball well, so even if the receiver gets his hands on the ball there is a good likelihood of him knocking it out for an incompletion. As a boundary corner, he is capable of playing in man and zone as he shows good discipline and awareness to identify route concepts and watch the eyes of the quarterback. Boydell plays well beyond his age and, as a sophomore, it will be exciting to see how he develops with 2 more seasons under his belt to continue to develop.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Nate Johnson","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Northern Highlands","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Nate Johnson is a dual-threat quarterback who can burn defenses with his legs or arm. He has a quick release with solid arm strength to hit throws all across the field. After watching his film, it is clear as day that he has a good connection with his playmakers. Johnson's toughness to stand in the pocket, take a big hit, and throw it 30+ yards down the field is very impressive. He shows good technique throwing on the run running outside the pocket. Overall, Johnson displays great command for the offense the Highlanders are running and plays with confidence. He is a great player and he will be on my watchlist over the next 2 years as I can't wait to see the strides his game makes over the rest of his high school career.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Freddie Kanning","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Northern Highlands","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Freddie Kanning is a big, athletic weapon who can be utilized in a plethora of ways in the Highlanders offense. He shows good acceleration off the snap to get up the field quickly on all types of routes on the route tree. Kanning has good hands to catch the ball on and away from his body as well as wide open or in tight coverage. At his size, he uses his physicality to his advantage and has the capability to run past the player in coverage. While watching his tape, Kanning demonstrates the ability to run all sorts of routes and is not limited to the classic gos, curls, and screens seen in most high school offenses. In the end, he is a vital part of the Highlanders offense and he will be a key player for the team next season.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"JR Walley","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Northern Highlands","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"In the 5 games JR Walley played last season, he showed a lot of characteristics you like to see from a quarterback. Passing the ball on intermediate routes, he throws with great touch to get the ball in between the linebackers and safeties. Walley is comfortable in the pocket and feels pressure well. He can climb the pocket, roll out, and side step around defenders. In addition, Walley is tough as nails as he is willing to make a play for his weapons while taking a big hit. The quarterback battle between him and Nate Johnson will be fun to watch as the competition will only make both players even better in the long run.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"John Golden","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Northern Highlands","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"John Golden is smaller in size, but is the perfect center in the Highlanders offense. He has a 4.1 GPA and displays his football intelligence every snap he is on the field. Even given his size, Golden anchors well and competes every play no matter how big or tall his opposition is. His toughness is unmatched as he keeps his head on a swivel searching to block someone and knock them in the dirt. Golden's film is a lot of fun to watch as he is very athletic who can block in a normal setting as well as in space. He is a very effective screen blocker as he can get out in the open field quick and set the lane for the runner as soon as they catch it. I am looking forward to watching Golden next season as he shows his passion every player seeming to run with his hair on fire.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6424b123d9e8d"} /-->