AYF National All-Star Game: East Team First Look
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PRZ Next National Scouting Director AL Pops & Keaton Donnelly collaborated to a look at the East Team roster The AYF National All-Star Game features some of the most elite prospects in the country. All of these athletes played for…
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Continue ReadingPRZ Next National Scouting Director AL Pops & Keaton Donnelly collaborated to a look at the East Team roster
The AYF National All-Star Game features some of the most elite prospects in the country. All of these athletes played for an AYF-sanctioned team and spent the regular/post-season as class of 2028 (currently in eighth-grade) prospects. This is one of the deepest 60-man All-Star Games I have EVER seen. Both teams feature kids that you will be hearing about for years to come.
The alumni base stretches well into the NFL, but if looking at the class of 2024 Seniors who played in this game in eighth-grade (2020), you may recognize these names: Peyton Woodyard (Alabama), Kyngston Viliamu-Asa (Notre Dame), Ryan Puglisi (Georgia), etc.
Here’s a look at the East Team members, listed in the position group they presumably will play–but all bets are off once they hit the turf.
Quarterback
– Played for the 13u NC Giants at AYF Nationals this year.
– Will likely play primarily Quarterback, but don’t sleep on his ability as a Safety.
– Really impressive looking athlete that screams future D1 player right now right now.
– Played for the Gwen Cherry Bulls this year.
– The definition of a dual-threat quarterback. May eventually turn into more of an ATH (athlete) than anything else.
– His brother Kamren Kinchens was an All-ACC safety for the Miami Hurricanes and is a likely first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Running Back
– Played on 13U Brick City Lions at AYF Nationals this year.
– Recently, after the season, reclassed to become a 2029 prospect.
– Has been one of the best kids in New Jersey non-independent ball the last few years.
– Played for the 13U NC Giants at AYF Nationals this year.
– Really talented Running back and Strong Safety.
– At this point, he’s the total package at running back. Great size/strength/speed/vision.
Highlights
– Played for the 13U Beacon House Falcons this year.
– While Beacon House was at AYF Nationals this year, he was in a boot and couldn’t compete.
– Passed the eye test right away. Had several people I’ve known for years tell me he’s the truth. His clips from this year back it up.
Athlete
– Played on the Central Mass Chaos 13U All-Star Team at AYF Nationals.
– Regular season, played for the Worcester Cowboys, one of the top youth program in Massachusetts.
– I did NOT have him written down as a standout from what I saw at AYF Nationals, but there’s a reason undrafted free agents make the NFL & walk-ons get scholarships. We miss, too!
– Played on 13U Brick City Lions at AYF Nationals this year.
– First saw him play in the spring after his sixth-grade year and I’ve never wavered on him being one of the best in New Jersey.
– Tall, long kid. Super athletic and can play anywhere on the field. Specifically a safety, outside linebacker and wide receiver. With the latter being my pick as to where he belongs.
Highlights
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
– Played for the Matawan Huskies this year.
– First saw him in sixth-grade and couldn’t believe he was so young. Traits of explosive, fast and dynamic have followed him through his youth career.
– Has attended two Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camps thus far. Most recently, earned Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp MVP with his performance in late January.
– Played on the Central Mass Chaos 13U All-Star Team at AYF Nationals.
– Such a great body type for a 2028 wide receiver: tall, built and long.
– A stretch the field vertically, threat. He was the brightest star on a very good All-Star team at AYF Nationals.
Highlights
– Played for the 14U Miami Gardens Ravens this year.
– Really good looking athlete with a lot of muscle mass. Very quick and has excellent ball skills.
– His older brother Cleveland Gary III is a 2026 prospect with offers from Syracuse and Florida International, as of this writeup.
– Was a teammate of Calique Gary and played for the 14U Miami Gardens Ravens this year.
– Simply put, he’s on film, he’s one of the best route runners I have ever seen at this age group.
– Comes with elite speed and is shifty. Put plenty of future D1 players from Miami on roller skates, this past season.
– Played for the 14U Mississippi Wolfpack this year
– Was a standout member of the Wolfpack team that won AYF Nationals in 2022-2023, despite being one of the younger kids on the team, as a seventh-grader
– He’s listed under this Wide Receiver/Defensive Back umbrella because he can play the slot. But, make no bones about it: he’s a corner. I love him as a cornerback. He can hit and cover with the best of them. Complete player.
Linebacker
– Played on 14U NJ AYF All-Star Team at AYF Nationals.
– Throwback, muscled up, classic middle linebacker that is best roaming the tackle box freely.
– Not just a statue in the middle, plays against the pass well. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him get a pick in the game if he reads a play quickly enough.
– Played for the 13U Maryland Heat this year.
– Fast, versatile kid. Looks to be a little shorter than his regular season teammate Santana Williams Santana Williams ATH MD , but a similar player.
– Listing him with the linebackers right now because I think he’ll play outside in this game. Long term, can see him as a strong safety because of his coverage skills and ability to tackle in the box.
– Played on 14U NJ AYF All-Star Team at AYF Nationals.
– Depending on scheme, he has all the skills to play both inside and outside linebacker right now.
– Also a productive running back on offense, he’s a good-looking athlete right now. Speed, strength and downhill tilt make him tough to deal with.
Linemen
– Played for the 14U Boca Braves this year.
– Physically gifted kid with a better, more muscular build than most high school upperclassmen right now. Comes with a lot of strength.
– Played Right Tackle and Defensive Line at AYF Nationals, but I think he’s best suited to play along the defensive line. Strong enough to play inside as a Tackle, but athletic enough to play Defensive End.
– Played for the 13U Beacon House Falcons this year.
– Loved him at AYF Nationals. Was easily the biggest prospect on his team. Really good height and carries his weight well.
– Can play defensive tackle at a high level, but I think his future is as an Offensive Tackle with his frame.
– Played for the 14U Mississippi Wolfpack this year.
– Was a standout member of the Wolfpack team that won AYF Nationals in 2022-2023, despite being one of the younger kids on the team, as a seventh-grader.
– One of the shortest linemen on a team of giants, he’s built like a tank that fires out low and rolls over the opposition. Expect him to make a number of TFL from the interior defensive line.
– Played for the 13U Maryland Heat this year.
– Absolutely enormous for a 2028 prospect with freakishly long arms, listing himself at 6-foot-5.
– Another young lineman with an ideal frame to be molded into a future D1 Offensive Tackle.
– Played for the 14U Mississippi Wolfpack this year.
– Can play offensive line too, but shines as a versatile defensive lineman that can nose, tackle or end.
– Uses his hands exceptionally well and looks nearly identical to his older brother, highly-coveted 2025 defensive lineman Reginald Vaughn.
Highlights
– Played for the 13u NC Giants this year at AYF Nationals.
– Tall, bigger kid who comes with a ton of athleticism for his size. Was actually a short yardage running back during the year.
– While he can run the ball, to me his future is as a defensive lineman. A nice mixture of size, agility and quickness, he could be an ideal 3-4 defensive end. Then again, depending on how he grows, I could see a world with him as a tight end.
Highlights
– Played on 13U Brick City Lions this year.
– Like his Brick City teammates Xavier Rodriguez and Gabe Kemp, has been a stud since I first saw him in sixth grade.
– Bigger 2028 prospect with excellent feet for a kid his size. Played Right Tackle during the year, but is more than capable to play guard with his quickness. Also, don’t be surprised if he makes some plays as a defensive Tackle.
– Played for a North Philly Blackhawks this year.
– Very similar skill set to Amos Varnado (listed above) on the defensive line, just a little taller
– Strong and compact on the interior defensive line, with improving quickness. Has gone from a run-stuffer to a prospect who can get after the quarterback on third down.
– Played on 14U NJ AYF All-Star Team at Nationals this year.
– Just a week or so removed from a standout performance at the Prep Redzone Middle School Camp in New Jersey.
– Kid is one big muscle that plays with elite quickness on the offensive and defensive lines. With his speed and agility, look for him to play guard on offensive and/or both defensive end and defensive tackle, depending on the down and distance.
– Played for the 919 Chiefs this year.
– Absolutely massive for a 2028 prospect, with his size listed anywhere between 6’3″-6’4″ and 280-315 pounds.
– Spent most of the season playing Right Guard and I expect him to do the same in this game. That said, he has offensive tackle size and may also get some burn as a defensive tackle in short yardage situations.
Highlights
Kicker
Cole Celeste
Cole Celeste
– Played on the 14U NJ AYF All-Star Team at Nationals
– Consistent kicker that helped add an exclamation to the highest-scoring 14U All-Star team at AYF Nationals
– Not just a kicker–he’s an athlete that also plays lacrosse. Plays wide receiver and defensive back too, but focus will be on handling the kick duties