Prep Redzone NJ’s 2023 Pass Defender of the Year Candidates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Happy New Year! I am back and refreshed after a vacation and ready to roll.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that champions have been crowned and Prep Redzone New Jersey's Stock Up Showcase is complete, it is now time to turn our attention to individual superlatives and recognitions. With many outstanding defenders who led their teams to outstanding seasons, here are the best of the best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Agree with me? Disagree with me? Tell me why I want to hear from you. Leave a comment on my <a href="https://twitter.com/BrendanScoutsNJ/status/1738430260759208157">Twitter</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pass Defender Play – By the Numbers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/table-import {"name":"acf/table-import","data":{"import_file":1143078,"_import_file":"field_637be8ff37223"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659ebe08ccece"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pass Defender Play – Scout's Evaluation</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["871109"],"_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":"A state champion, [player_tooltip player_id='871109' first='Jamie' last='Tyson'] is an athlete who trusts his eyes, discipline, and abilities. No play epitomizes this more than at the 3:13 mark of his highlights. An impressive play, we see Tyson playing corner against a smash concept. Playing both routes about half way, Tyson baits the quarterback into the deep throw which he rallies back on to intercept. Tyson is comfortable playing anywhere between 5 and 8 yards away from his matchup. However, make no mistake about it that he physically engages with want-to-be blockers along the perimeter in run support as he sets the edge. When playing the pass, Tyson does a nice job of gradually squeezing the air out of his opponents route as guides them to the sideline. He also does a good job of matching the speed of receivers who are adjusting to the ball as it is in mid air. With quick reaction times, it seems that Tyson gets a great break on the ball as he begins his break the moment the quarterback cocks back to throw. This season the ball just seemed to routinely find him and he is as sure-handed a defensive back as they come. Tyson appears to avoid errors when passing off coverages through zones. Lastly, Tyson tracks the him when tackling in the open field and is in aggressive pursuit of the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659ebe08cd967"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15592478/656629914bb25d0b4c44a7da' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659ebe08cda67"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1057673"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1057673' first='Jake' last='Gruzas'] is a prospect that I was really excited to watch film on. A product of Caldwell, who recently had a 30-something game winning streak broken the season, his production certainly merited a look. Unfortunately I was unable to find any highlights to write an evaluation on Gruzas' performance. I did learn, however, that he is an outstanding lacrosse player.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659ebe08cdadd"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jake_gruzas_32","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jake_gruzas_32 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1143101"],"_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":"Akin to Gruzas, [player_tooltip player_id='1143101' first='Adam' last='DeCristofaro'] had an outstanding season - his final - as Mount Olive had a deep playoff run that featured several close games. Unfortunately high school football fans across the state, DeCristofaro also does not have a highlight package available for viewing.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659ebe08cdb4a"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/adamfd44","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/adamfd44 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1143116"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1143116' first='Brad' last='Foster'] of Glen Ridge is the first junior to make today's superlative list. A cornerback, Foster typically plays off the defender at about 5-8 yards. He has shown to open up his hips correctly to adjust to the ball when it is in-flight. Foster will look to play the ball and bat it down when covering, looking to contest just about every pass. Disciplined, I did not notice him prematurely abandon a zone when the quarterback stepped up to scramble. A low tackler, Foster comes off blocks in run support with ferocity. Against T formations he actually comes inside and plays at mike linebacker depth. To me Foster comes across as an instinctual, pure football player. I have a sense that the film I watched was a bit dated. That said, I am sure Foster's athleticism has improved since then.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659ebe08cdbbd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16929659/63612fc2041e5b1540341609' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659ebe08cdbe6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1031719"],"_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":"The final candidate for Pass Defender of the Year goes to Mekhi Casseus. A player that I actually was around as a sophomore, Casseus jumps off the film as a scrappy, aggressive safety. You can see that Casseus wants to make every play on the field and that he flies around at full speed all the time. Because of this, Casseus makes tons of great things happen for his defense. Typically one of the faster players on the field, in one clip we see him absolutely hawk down a defender that was totally wide open, living to play another down and preventing a score. He harnesses his speed into power, as he does everything from jack blockers up off their feet on kickoff to bowling himself into ball carriers in the alley. That said, he has a strong sense of where he needs to be and quickly fills the alley in run support. Aggressive in that sense, Casseus looks to instinctually want to play the run first. He does possess recovery speed to get back to his correct drop. Despite his height, Casseus does look like he does have some vertical leap ability to play the ball, particularly when he undercuts defenders and keeps the play in front of him. For Casseus I want to see him to develop his discipline and IQ as a player when it comes to trusting his drops, opening the correct way, and understanding his zone responsibility","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659ebe08cdc50"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"https://share.qwikcut.com/6553caad3a18fa6897858aca/Mekhi%20Casseus","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659ebe08cdc69"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scout's Pick</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After considering statistics and watching film, my vote for the 2023 Pass Defender of the Year goes to [player_tooltip player_id='871109' first='Jamie' last='Tyson']. How do our followers and fans feel? Do you agree? Let your voice be heard by commenting on my <a href="https://twitter.com/BrendanScoutsNJ/status/1738430260759208157">Twitter</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->