Downstate Classic: Pod 2 and Pod 3 Top Performers Part 1
Later in the afternoon for day number 1, the big men in the trenches got some work in and went head to head with pads on which was incredible. Then in pod 3, we saw the skill players show off…
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Continue ReadingLater in the afternoon for day number 1, the big men in the trenches got some work in and went head to head with pads on which was incredible. Then in pod 3, we saw the skill players show off their talent once again. These pods continued to show the amazing players that were at the event and there were some statements made by these prospects I highlighted.
He was overall the top player in Pod 2 and it wasn’t very close. Regis was extremely dominant and I’m not sure if he actually lost more than 1 rep the entire event and he had plenty of matchups. He had the most impressive rep when he completely put an offensive lineman on his back. Regis showed his combination of power and quickness to make things look very easy. His get off was incredible and he also clocked in his top speed at 19.5 MPH.
Highlights
Arguably the most athletic receiver in a pod 3 that had some incredible talent. Lovinsky’s acceleration was some of the best I’ve seen this summer. He made a couple of very impressive sideline catches making sure to drag a foot and holding onto the football. His release also had to be one of the best at the event, he exploded off the line and he relied on his superior route running skills to continuously torch cornerbacks, he put on one of the top performances of the day.
Highlights
Every time I’ve seen the Hills East product this summer, I’ve walked away impressed. The deep ball placement Heyman showed was really impressive at the downstate classic. His timing was also some of the best on his throws, you can tell how much more experienced he is with an entire season under his belt. The reps with his wide receiver Lucas Martin Lucas Martin 5’11” | 170 lbs | ATH Half Hollow Hills East | 2026 NY were terrific and he also showed consistency with other receivers during the event, keep an eye out for the strong armed QB.
The steady center was one of the strongest players at the event. He went against some big defensive tackles and Harris overpowered them. He strung together a bunch of reps that resulted in dominance. When the pads came on, I saw how violent Harris can get and he was moving the opposition out of the way without any trouble. Play after play he was one of the most consistent offensive lineman.
Highlights
Initially I was surprised to see Parisi with the defensive lineman, but when the 1v1’s came he was impressive. Parisi is one of the best block shedding linebackers in the state and it translated well to his matchups. He had a very effective spin move that gave lineman trouble. Most linebackers in this class wouldn’t be the best matchup for left tackles, but Parisi’s strength guided him to win his matchups and physically overpower his guy.
Highlights
After coming from his championship track meet, Nartey didn’t miss a beat. Although he got off to a slow start, he bounced back in a huge way. His mentality after losing a couple reps was incredible, Nartey became lockdown for a ton of the 1 on 1’s as the day went on. He made plays on the ball and read routes well. His pure speed and his technical skills made him one of the top players out of the group and he was one of the smoothest cornerbacks out of the entire showcase.
Highlights
Everywhere he goes, the St Anthony’s product seems to impress. His technique and footwork standout. He was one of the more polished offensive lineman and had some of the best feet. He was the only player in this pod to give Sebastian Regis Sebastian Regis 6’1″ | 280 lbs | DL East Islip | 2024 State NY any sort of trouble. He moved very well and was able to get his hands in the right places to control his defender and he let his strength do the rest. McGregor proved that he is a good matchup for all sorts of defensive lineman.
Highlights
Big play Sal took his talents to the downstate classic and he showed why he is a nightmare for linebackers in the open field. His first step was one of the best out of all the running backs I saw and he was continuously winning his reps. He exploded on quick and realistic routes against defenders and he’d easily haul in passes. He quietly is going to be one of the top running backs this upcoming season.