Division Returners: Freedom Blue

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Passaic Tech absolutely dominated the regular season as they finished it undefeated and made their way all the way to the state championship before falling to Toms River North. Passaic Tech is losing a ton of talent at the skill positions, leaving the door wide open for another program to come in and compete for the top spot in the division. Two of those teams that could rise in 2024 are Paterson Eastside and Clifton. Though both ended 2023 with a losing record, the returning talent and experience may give them a chance to excel next fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1210990' first='Justin' last='Gaviria']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Clifton ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1210990' first='Justin' last='Gaviria'] is a disruptive defensive end honing from Clifton. Racking up 27 tackles, Justin consistently blew up plays before they could get started last season. Gaining leverage under the shoulder pads of the blockers, Justin can drive them backwards and out of the way easily as he makes a play on the runner. Rushing hard off of the edge, it is not an easy task to get away from Justin's grasp.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a0be"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16231645/65327c8ef55f9c0ac4e63f29' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656d2413bc470"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["990209"],"_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 name you will become more familiar with in 2024, [player_tooltip player_id='990209' first='Justin' last='Griffin'] is a rising RB in the class. Rushing for 1150 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2023, the Passaic product is a clean runner that can cut and carve through the secondary with agility that trips up defenders. With speed that can divide a defense down the middle, I am thoroughly impressed with not only Justin's top end speed but his ability to maintain the speed for the full distance of the field. With strong legs to go with the speed, Justin ranks in my top 5 RBs in the NJ class.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a169"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18701725/655288a86898e9135c5ff604' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656d2413bc520"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402248"],"_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":"Competing with [player_tooltip player_id='990209' first='Justin' last='Griffin'] for my highest ranked RB in the division, [player_tooltip player_id='402248' first='Zahir' last='Weatherington'] is a quick twitch runner that is extremely explosive at the onset of the play. Zahir's vision and ability to see the field in its totality really sets him apart from other runners within the state. As he's running through the defense he is able to see the field open up and sprint his way to daylight. With lateral quickness that allows him to navigate smoothly through would-be tacklers, Zahir is a slippery runner that is difficult to get a clean hit on.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a1de"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17020644/634c522d9677de136091afb1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6573b8a818f84"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1029759"],"_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 menace in the middle of the field, [player_tooltip player_id='1029759' first='Zaiden' last='Hughes'] is a rising 2026 linebacker for Clifton. Earning 1st team all division, Zaiden made crucial tackles all season long as he amassed 78 tackles and a sack to go with it. Quick out of his stance, Zaiden reads the play quickly and can meet the runner in the hole before they can make their way past the line. A player that is not easy to get away from, Zaiden has a rare amount of speed and athleticism from the linebacker position. With a huge amount of upside, Zaiden is dynamic enough to even play from the rover or safety position in the future.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a24e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19584649/6533d713a681080224e16930' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a26c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1029742"],"_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 two way athlete for Paterson Eastside, [player_tooltip player_id='1029742' first='Exavier' last='Cuevas'] is looking to step up in a big way in 2024. Rushing for 339 yards and 3 touchdowns last season, Exavier is a runner that could easily see his rushing totals double next season. A speedster out of the backfield, it is hard to catch him once he gets going. In the secondary, Exavier is able to cover a lot of ground as he plays a pivotal role in the pass defense game (1 interception last season), and can come up towards the line of scrimmage quickly to bring the play to a stop. Keep an eye on Paterson Eastside next fall.rnrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a2cb"} /-->