Returning Contributors: The Clifton Mustangs’ Skill Positions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past half-decade or so the Clifton Mustangs have been a staple in the North, Group V playoff picture. Culminating in a North, Group V Regional title game appearance in 2021, Clifton has made the playoffs and had records of 3-7, 5-5, 10-3, 7-4, and 8-3 over the last six seasons when the playoffs held.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For this level of sustained success two things must be true: a prevailing culture, standard, and way of doing must be established and you must have a baller or two. Here are some of those ballers Clifton will be relying on in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Returning Contributors Series</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be sure to catch up on my entire returning contributors series by clicking through on the link to the articles below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-bayonne-fighting-bees-skill-players/">Bayonne Fighting Bees' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-bridgewater-raritan-panthers-skills/">Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-elizabeth-minutemen-big-men/">Elizabeth Minutemen Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-linden-tigers-skill-positions/">Linden Tigers' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-montclair-mounties-skill-positions/">Montclair Mounties' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-morristown-colonials-big-men/">Morristown Colonials' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-passaic-county-tech-bulldogs-skills/">Passaic County Tech Bulldogs' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-phillipsburg-stateliners-skills/">Phillipsburg Stateliners' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-st-joseph-metuchen-falcons-skills/">St. Joseph (Metuchen) Falcons' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-st-thomas-aquinas-trojan-skills-line/">St. Thomas Aquinas Trojans' Skills &amp; Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-union-farmers-linemen/">Union Farmers' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-watchung-hills-warriors-linemen/">Watchung Hills Warriors' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-westfield-blue-devils-linemen/">Westfield Blue Devils' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["345433"],"_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":"It seems as though [player_tooltip player_id='345433' first='Romelo' last='Tables'] has been a fixture in the North Jersey public high school football scene for years now. Now, finally, Tables is a senior going on his last ride. In the 2023 season he was credited with 42/90 passing for 428 yards with 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, while also rushing 83 times for 307 yards and scoring 3 times. Tables is the type of quarterback who likes things hectic. Much of his performance comes from when things break down in the pocket. A maestro at buying time, we see that Tables has the ability to run back-and-forth and evade numerous tackles when his protection dissipates. The escape artist also has a quick release that allows him to avoid tackles for losses in such situations; however, he seems to typically want to keep the ball in his hands when he breaks the pocket. With the ball in his hands he is agile and can make cuts to get upfield against more cumbersome linebackers. Timing is also to Tables' benefit - as when he has time in the pocket he has synchronous timing with his receivers. If Tables can improve his pocket presence he has all the raw, physical abilities to be amongst the state's statistical leaders during his senior season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d79736cd3a3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15513722/64fe7407e97bbd0608fb3afb' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d79736cd459"} /--> <!-- 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":"One of the class of 2026's more exciting backs, [player_tooltip player_id='402248' first='Zahir' last='Weatherington'], may have found a home and has a job that is his to lose. After transferring out of Paramus Catholic and into Clifton ahead of his sophomore season, he was the 'Stangs' third-leading rusher - behind Tables and a graduating senior tailback - with 237 yards on 64 carries. Unfortunately I was only able to find tape from Weatherington's freshman season in 2022, and therefor my evaluation is based on that film.rnrnWeatherington has this unique ability to come full-stop in the hole, change directions, and regain full speed in a hurry. His moves are swift, and I would describe the cuts he makes are as if he is gliding across the turf. On plays with pullers, he follows his blockers to the intended hole and bounce to the outside once he clears the scrum; whereas on zone plays he tends to look to bounce to the outside and gain the perimeter as soon as he can. Speaking of which, teams u003cemu003ecannot u003c/emu003eallow him to gain the perimeter, unless they want to get gouged for chunk plays. As explosive as Weatherington is I want to see more of his ability as a pass catcher. And Clifton might be best served to get the ball into his hands as many different ways as possible.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d79736cd4c5"} /--> <!-- 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-65d79736cd4e7"} /--> <!-- 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":"The lone defender to make this evaluation for Clifton is [player_tooltip player_id='1029759' first='Zaiden' last='Hughes']. Last fall Hughes was credited with 78 tackles - 43 of which were solos - along with 1 sack. A thickly-built mike linebacker, he does an outstanding job gobbling up ball carries in the run game. Hughes does a solid job of committing to his initial read step to diagnose where the ball is going. He then typically makes most of his tackles within the offensive tackle box. As he prepares for next season Hughes would benefit from embedding the following three words into his head: hit, wrap, drive. Should he do these three things, ball carriers will go become shell-shocked and stopped dead in their path.rnrnu003cstrongu003eHudl: u003c/strongu003ehttps://www.hudl.com/profile/19584649/Zaiden-Hughes/highlights","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d79736cd538"} /-->