Mankarious’ Defensive MVPs from The PRZ Next New Jersey Camp

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last weekend I was able to link up with my old colleague and friend, the one-man industry himself&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AlPopsFootball">Al Pops</a>. Being what I consider at least, the nation's savant of identifying middle school football talent, Pops did not disappoint. These prospects, in particular, stood out amongst the rest at their respective position groups. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are my defensive position group MVPs for defensive line, linebacker, and defensive back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["836216"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"At 6'3u0022 205lbs [player_tooltip player_id='836216' first='Jackson' last='Vaughn'] certainly has the size to immediately play varsity football. After watching him live, in living color Vaughn appears that he is at least ready for a rotational role, if not more, on Friday nights. The first thing that Vaughn showed me was a picture-perfect defensive stance. Forward lean, flat back, feet placed correctly, balanced, butt above head - he looked like a cheetah ready to pounce on its prey. This foundation translated to an outright explosive get off. Because he steps-and-replaces, he routinely beat offensive linemen around the edge rep after rep. If his match was to lay a finger on him, Vaughn possessed sudden twitch to turn the corner past them with ease.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b7e9f1d1300"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1014504"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As the saying goes, anyone can pick out the prettiest girl in the room. In, easily, the defense's smallest position group of the day Iliescu stood out and looked that damn good. The shore-native is already stout enough (5'8u0022 180lbs) to crack the varsity lineup somewhere. I was really impressed with how thick his legs where. Those tree-trunks generated immense power and explosion. Iliescu had the ability to run smoothly and quickly on an angle better than everyone else as he worked to get to his pass drop. I wrote that he did this for a while actually, way down field. In a game or 7-on-7 scenario this would be inappropriate; however, he carried running backs running u003cemu003ewheel routes u003c/emu003ewhile running on an angle. Impressively he did not turn his shoulders in any of those reps. When rushers ran across the middle, he stayed on them very well, even jamming many of them, dramatically throwing them off their route in the process. For as great as he moves, Iliescu is likely not to be found out of position too often. Lastly, he looks to play the ball with his hands, rather than bricks-for-hands as some other linebackers tend to.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b7e9f1d13b1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["972833"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Whenever [player_tooltip player_id='972833' first='Sa'Vion' last='Jones'] took his you could very well witness something exciting. During indy drills it was ever-apparent that Jones was the most aggressive defensive back of the group. Very handsy, Jones felt entitled to every single ball in the air. Should his matchup make the grab Jones was sure to get his hands in their bread basket to break it up. One particular play, Jones made an astounding 1-handed pick falling backwards that had the whole arena going u0022OHHHH!u0022 What made Jones my choice for MVP at defensive back was that he did two things every singe play: compete and run. As discussed above he competed for every ball. I found that Jones never relented and jockeys with receivers over every inch of the field.  When running, he was stride for stride with everyone. He was always either in the hip pocket of the receiver or in position to drive on the ball over top and make a play.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b7e9f1d144b"} /-->