PRZ Next New Jersey Camp: Athlete and Linebacker Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the PRZ Next Middle School Camp at the Superdome in Waldwick, New Jersey this past weekend, it's time to begin highlighting some of the prospects from the camp. The 2028 linebackers and athletes below made their presence known in front of a collection of scouts, media members and college/high school coaches. Here's a look at some of the top ballers from the camp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other writeups from camp:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em> </em></strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/class-of-2029-2030-standouts-from-new-jersey-prz-next-camp/"><strong>Class of 2029/2030 Standouts</strong></a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/prz-next-new-jersey-camp-running-back-standouts/"><em><strong>Running Back Standouts</strong></em></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/prz-next-new-jersey-camp-offensive-line-standouts/"><em>Offensive Line Standouts</em></a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Lead Dawg - Linebacker</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- 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":"Much like the offensive line group we highlighted yesterday, there weren't a ton of linebackers in terms of numbers, but it was a very good position group from top to bottom. As part of a reoccurring theme in this write up, [player_tooltip player_id='1014504' first='Niko' last='Iliescu'] was part of the New Jersey 14U AYF All-Star team this past December. I've seen him play live multiple times since over the last two calendar years and his performance has always been excellent. At the New Jersey Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp, Iliescu certainly looked the part of a future standout middle linebacker. Seeing him without pads/helmet and in a camp setting, you can appreciate the muscle mass he already has. As Mike linebackers should do, he moved very well in quick bursts, with his 5-foot-8, 185-pound frame clocking a 4.72 in the shuttle. Other linebackers may have tested a bit better, but the combination of his still-very good times and performance in drills earned him the MVP.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b167a3676f4"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Headliners - Linebackers</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1014503"],"_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 twin brother of Niko, [player_tooltip player_id='1014503' first='Lukas' last='Iliescu'] was the other linebacker to get some MVP consideration in the groupu002du002deither way it was staying in the family. As was the case with his brother, this was the fourth time I've seen Lukas in a live setting since September. Measuring in at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, the athletic ceiling is very high, here. He has the same impressive muscle and build, but is taller and longer. I'd argue that in 1-on-1's against the running backs coming out of the backfield, Lukas had the best coverage skills of all the linebackers there. Again, having seen him play several times, I knew he moved well but was impressed with his recorded 4.69 shuttle.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1140580"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"When it came to the testing portion of the camp, nobody had a more stellar day than [player_tooltip player_id='1140580' first='Tommy' last='Pellicciari']. Leading up to camp, as I still do currently, I had Pellicciari as one of the top running backs in New Jersey for the class of 2028u002du002dbut he came to camp as a linebacker. The stocky 5-foot-6, 160-pounder finished either first or second in the forty, shuttle, broad jump and L-Drill. No other player can say that for their position group in the entire camp. Again, long term, I think the Bergen County prospect will be a very productive running back. However, he showed he can play some serious linebacker as well.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b167a36777a"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Lead Dawg - Athlete</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["991975"],"_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":"I've been covering/evaluating middle school football players since 2010, but I still get that rush of excitement when I see athletes that look like [player_tooltip player_id='991975' first='Tahj' last='Gray']. At 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, he looked like he could be playing varsity football at any school in New Jersey right now. He took part in the New Jersey Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp as a wide receiver, which is also the position I had him listed on the initial New Jersey 2028 Watchlist. However, after his performance I'm listing him an as Athlete because of how freaky he is. He didn't partake in every combine test, but finished near the top in both the broad jump and shuttle. I honestly can see Gray playing receiver, tight end, linebacker, defensive end, strong safety, etc. Whatever high school gets to mold this clay, will go a long way to finishing this masterpiece.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b167a36780f"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Headliners - Athletes</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1095979"],"_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":"Like [player_tooltip player_id='991975' first='Tahj' last='Gray'], another 2028 prospect that looks to be one of the more exciting ATH's coming out of New Jersey is [player_tooltip player_id='1095979' first='Chase' last='Winterborne'] of a Cinnaminson in South Jersey. Coming into camp, I knew Winterborne was capable of playing a number of different positions and he proved that. He signed up for the camps as a quarterback, did drills with the running backs, but ultimately wanted to compete with the linebackersu002du002dwhich led to a little confusion on my end. Nonetheless, he was one of the first jersey numbers I wrote down while watching the athletes warmup and get into combine testing. The future St. Joe's Prep Hawks (Philadelphia) measured in at 5-foot-10 and 153 pounds and ran a 4.81 in a cold bubble. His speed and agility were evident from the onset of camp. My gut says he's a crazy-athletic outside linebacker down the line, but wherever he fits, he's a nice piece of the puzzle.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1020465"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"When talking about impressive combine testing numbers, the conversation better start with [player_tooltip player_id='1020465' first='Khalyd' last='Goodman-Ware'] and the camp-best 3.85 he ran in the shuttle. Proving it wasn't a fluke or bad time, his other rep in the shuttle was a 4.0, which was the second best. Regardless of class or positionu002du002dhe finished atop of the leaderboard. Like the Iliescu brothers above, he is another prospect that I've seen play a bunch of times since September with the New Jersey 14U AYF All-Star team. Goodman-Ware is one of my personal favorites because of his personality, but his play on the field also dictates praise. He signed up as a defensive back, which is the position I had and u003cemu003eu003cstrongu003estillu003c/strongu003eu003c/emu003e have him listed at, but he took a lot of reps with the wide receivers and made it a point to come up and tell me that he wanted to prove he was more than just a corner. I never once doubted that, and watching his route running and hands on the other side of the ball, was fun. He's going to be a plus in all three phases of the game in high school.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b2708d2942c"} /-->