NJIC Liberty Division’s Top Returning Talent

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Waldwick holding the lone winning record in the division last season, there are plenty of teams looking to step it up in a big way next season. The two programs I see that have the greatest potential to excel are Lyndhurst and New Milford. Both are returning young talent that should help them to more victories in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1085729"],"_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 spark of energy for Secaucus,[player_tooltip player_id='1085729' first='Noah' last='Santos'] is a running back that needs to gain more attention within the division. Rushing for 1001 yards and 14 touchdowns, Noah is a small, quick back that forces bad angles on defenders. A player that runs downhill as he hits the hole, Noah darts across the line with strong legs and determination. With his low center of gravity, Noah makes it extremely challenging for any defender to get a clean hit on him. Look for Noah to put up some big numbers again in 2024.","_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/3/16104663/6546ae4b38636f0f7c33cac1' 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_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='1550963' first='Jake' last='Johnson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"New Milford","_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":"A two way starter for New Milford, [player_tooltip player_id='1550963' first='Jake' last='Johnson'] has been a dominant force regardless of what side of the ball he lines up on. As a sophomore defensive end, Jake was able to make 32 tackles and 6 sacks as he terrorized the QB game in and game out. With big clubs as arms, Jake forces pressure quickly on the quarterback as he is able to drive through blockers to get into the backfield.rnrnOffensively, Jake excelled at the tight end position as he caught for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns. Few defenders can outcompete Jake for the ball, as [player_tooltip player_id='1548608' first='Jerzey' last='Ryan'] is able to toss it up and let Jake box the defender out. With strong hands to reel the ball in, Jake is ready to make some big time plays next fall.","_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/3/18128128/6578ba5f02bc8414c0cacffb' 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_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='1548608' first='Jerzey' last='Ryan']","_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":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"New Milford","_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":"A rising QB in the division, New Milford's [player_tooltip player_id='1548608' first='Jerzey' last='Ryan'] was able to throw for 1173 yards and 9 touchdowns last fall. While New Milford suffered a losing record in 2023, Jerzey gives them hope for a better outcome next season. While he isn't the biggest QB, Jerzey is very mobile and has the ability to extend the play and give his guys time to get open. So far, I am thoroughly impressed with his arm strength and precision on the run, he can place the ball right in front of the receiver to hit them in stride. I expect some big numbers out of Jerzey in 2024.","_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/3/16444347/6580b5fe23472f03cc61649d' 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":["1022239"],"_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":"Equipped with arguably the strongest arm in the division, [player_tooltip player_id='1022239' first='Shawn' last='Bellenger'] is another QB looking to lead his team to a winning record in 2024. Tossing for 1345 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, Shawn was able to dice up defenses by fitting the ball into tight windows regardless of where he placed it on the field. A mobile threat as well, Shawn was able to rack up 382 yards and 2 touchdowns last season. 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Amassing 60 tackles and 2 sacks, Dylan displayed quick play recognition as he pierced through the offensive line to make a play in the backfield. With strong arms and upper body, Dylan is able to fight off blockers with ease as he pursues the runner. Great size for his age and position, Dylan is a bona fide run stuffer that opponents need to worry about.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a2cb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17786803/65602ac1c11b9001d040193c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656741a275c00"} /-->