PRZ Next New Jersey Camp: Defensive Line Standouts
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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 defensive linemen below made their presence known in front…
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Continue ReadingAfter 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 defensive linemen 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 run stuffers and pass rusher from the camp.
Other writeup’s from camp:
The Lead Dawg
Off the top of my head, Vaughn has attended three Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camps over the last few years and this was by far his best performance–earning him an MVP award in the process. At 6-foot-3 and 199 pounds, he looked like an athletic power forward playing the defensive end position. Vaughn, a reclassed prospect, opted out of all combine testing and stuck to the individual sessions and the 1-on-1’s to make his mark. I strongly dislike comparing athletes at this stage to well-known NFL or NCAA prospects, but to help frame his skill set for readers, I see a lot of similarities to future NFL Hall of Famer, Julius Peppers. The length, speed and basketball-influenced footwork made him nearly impossible to block for the offensive tackles tasked with stopping him from coming off the edge. While I was bouncing around the field and didn’t see every rep he took, I didn’t see Vaughn lose a rep during the 1-on-1 portion of camp. He was really impressive.
Highlights
The Headliners
I’m just going to go ahead and call Chafin my co-MVP at the defensive line position group, because he was absolutely spectacular. The Massachusetts native was a varsity starter this year at Buckingham Browne & Nichols as an eighth-grader and picked up an offer from the University of Massachusetts Minutemen in the process. Attending his third Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp in New Jersey, he took part in every combine test and also shined on the field. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds with long arms, he can play defensive end or defensive tackle at a very high level. His testing numbers were a cut above in nearly every drill, too. His performance was highlighted by a position-group best 7.47 in the shuttle and 7’10” in the broad jump. For good measure, he also finished tied for second with a 4.47 in the shuttle. It was nothing short of a banner day for Xzavier Chafin Xzavier Chafin 6’1″ | 230 lbs | DL Buckingham Browne & Nichols Ma. | 2028 New E .
Highlights
Big Jackson Reuter Jackson Reuter 6’2″ | 230 lbs | DL was a South Jersey prospect I was very excited to finally get to see play live at the New Jersey Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp. On film he dominated local play for Clearview over the past two years, and he followed suit at camp. Reuter measured in at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds and looked to have slimmed down from the last pictures and clips I saw of him. For being one of the biggest kids there, he moved very well–running a 5.35 in the forty (tied for third) and a 4.56 in the shuttle, which was a top-five time for the position. There’s a ton of upside with Reuter given his size and physical tools. He’s obviously been coached pretty well as he has some basics down with hand placement and stance–but still has some sharpening to do. Right now he’s a bit of a tweener right now; He has the length and straight-line speed that screams defensive end, but his broad shoulders and the way he played during 1-on-1’s looked like a defensive tackle to me. Either way, he’s a bright spot.
Speaking of kids who are a bit of a tweener at this point, Pennsylvania’s Kaleb Davidson Kaleb Davidson 6’1″ | 245 lbs | DL PA is a 2028 prospect that really did a great job at camp. The Abington-native lives is less than hour from Philadelphia, but came up to North Jersey and was a straight up bully. Measured in at 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds with a ton of good muscle mass like a defensive tackle should, but then turned around an clocked at 5.34 in the forty, which was good enough for second in the position group. I’m not sure of where he’s going to high school at this point, but I have to imagine all the private schools in the greater Philadelphia are licking their chops. At one point I was standing behind him, and his traps and upper back were so big that it appeared as if he was wearing pads already. On top of the physical traits that were obvious to anyone with looked, he played with an edge to his game. He was violent and didn’t stop the rep until he won it. Like Xzavier Chafin Xzavier Chafin 6’1″ | 230 lbs | DL Buckingham Browne & Nichols Ma. | 2028 New E (listed above) Davidson also had very long arms. Another thing worth pointing out was how good of a job he did staying low and firing off the ball. I knew he was a wrestler coming into camp, but it was very obvious that the skill set translated to his ability to rush the passer.
Standing On Business
From an athletic standpoint, I don’t think there was a more versatile and capable 2028 defensive linemen at the New Jersey Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp, than Roth. At 6-foot and 205 pounds of all muscle, Roth was a lot to deal with for the offensive line. His speed and quickness was in a class of its own, as he dominated the combine testing portion of the camp, highlighted by a position group-best 5.16 in the forty and 4.47 in the shuttle, which was tied for second amongst all defensive linemen. One of several members of the New Jersey 14U AYF All-Star Team to attend camp, I don’t think there would be a single person to say that Roth continues to prove he’s one of the top 2028 defensive line prospects in New Jersey. One more note to add about Roth, by all accounts he seems like a coach’s dream, too: Comes with all the physical tools, work ethic and it’s hard to get more than a few words out of him. He’s just a super talented kids who consistently lines up to punch people in the mouth and win reps.
Nearly back to full strength after a knee injury in November, Evans had a strong showing. He measured in at 5-foot-10 and 221 pounds, but looks and plays significantly bigger than that–I’m legitimately surprised. No stranger to the headlines of Prep Redzone Next after good showing this December as a member of the AYF National Champion-New Jersey 14U All-Stars, Evans had a nice showing at the New Jersey Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp last spring and did even better this time. He has been, and looks to continue to be, one of the better defensive tackles in the state for the 2028 class. Did a good job of getting violent in the trenches and mixing up push/pull moves in with classic rips and swats, to defeat the opposing offensive linemen. While other defensive linemen noticeably shied away at times, Evans took every rep he could get. He looks to be hitting his stride at the right time, as high school ball looms in the not-so-far distant future.
Highlights
A regular season teammate of Xzavier Chafin Xzavier Chafin 6’1″ | 230 lbs | DL Buckingham Browne & Nichols Ma. | 2028 New E (listed above) at Buckingham Browne & Nichols in Massachusetts, Fischer also brings varsity experience, having picked up some PT this year as an eighth-grader. He passed the eye test right away at 6-foot-2 and 197-pounds. A lot of length and lean muscle already, make him a 2028 defensive end prospect with a ton of upside. His 7’9” in the broad jump was a glimpse inside the explosive power he has in his lower half, placing him second best in the position group, landing just behind Chafin. I didn’t see really take a bad rep during 1-on-1’s. When he won, he did his thing and was able to use his length by locking his arms out and not allowing the offensive lineman to get his hands on him. When he lost, the rep it came from allowing the offensive line into his chest. Either way, there was no shortage of effort and fight when the rep wasn’t going his way. There’s a lot to like about Fischer as a prospect and I don’t’ see any reason to believe he’s anywhere near his ceiling.
Highlights
The amount of raw talent that Melvin Clark Melvin Clark 6’0″ | 220 lbs | DL NJ has should be enough to get every private school in New Jersey excited for what could be coming their way. At 6-foot and 220-pounds, he was one of the kids I was most excited about getting to see bump live. I watched him very closely throughout the day and my biggest takeaway is just how raw he was. From combine testing drills to one-on-one battles, there is so much untapped potential in him at this point, it’s scary. He won a lot of reps during 1-on-1 by simply being more physical and unrelenting than some of the offensive linemen he worked against. At this point, doesn’t have much of a pass-rusher move arsenal nor does he have his upper body and lower body working in tandem—and he still won reps. His two broad jumps were the worst two of the group, but I promise you he was likely a top-five kid in terms of overall athletic ability, he has just (assumingely) never been taught how to do the drills. Once he gets some serious coaching, I think there’s a bright future for Clark if and when he puts it all together.
Highlights
The Best Of The Rest
– Got a chance to see Musa Bangura Musa Bangura 5'7" | 230 lbs | DL PA , a Pennsylvania prospect, play several times with the Newark-based Brick City Lions 13U team this past season. It was my first opportunity to interact with him and he’s a really likable kid. Did a great job on the interior defensive line at camp in terms of movement. For being a stout 5-foot-7 and 230 pounds, his 4.65 in the shuttle was a top-five time among this position group. He also took some quality reps on the offensive side of the ball, and was hungry for work.
– Darnell Wilson Darnell Wilson 5'7" | 240 lbs | DL Bergen Catholic | 2028 NJ was a new name and face to me, and I liked what I saw out of the 5-foot-7, 240-pounder out of Teaneck. Was built nearly identical to Musa Bangura Musa Bangura 5'7" | 230 lbs | DL PA (listed above) but was noticeably bigger—specifically in his lower half. Played with good power and strength as a defensive tackle. Has to improve his speed, agility and overall mobility to become more than just a run-stuffer. He’ll be off to Bergen Catholic in the fall.
– Kayden Stokes-Chism Kayden Stokes-Chism 5'10" | 200 lbs | DL PA is another Pennsylvania prospect who crossed state lines to plays for the Brick City Lions, along with Musa Bangura Musa Bangura 5'7" | 230 lbs | DL PA and others. Stokes-Chism camped as a defensive lineman and had a decent day. His effort is consistent, but here’s room for physical development in terms of strength. Has some good fundamental pass-rush moves, but I can see him becoming a better center on the offensive line, if he decides to go that route.
– Like Darnell Wilson Darnell Wilson 5'7" | 240 lbs | DL Bergen Catholic | 2028 NJ (listed above) Emilio Barranco Emilio Barranco 5'9" | 180 lbs | DL Pope John | 2028 NJ was a new name to me—thus is the benefits of getting out to camp in front of the right people. Barranco, who attends Pope John, came to camp as an offensive linemean but got some quality work on both sides of the ball. Didn’t do one particular thing at an elite level, but did a lot of little things well and won some 1-on-1’s.