Returning Contributors: The Westfield Blue Devils’ Skills

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jim DeSarno era in Westfield started way back in 2006. Since he took control of the program it has experienced unprecedented success. Entering his 19th season at the helm DeSarno's tenure has been highlighted by a 38-game winning streak and consecutive North II, Group V sectional championships in 2015, 2016, and 2017.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All that said, most programs would be celebrating a 6-5 season and the #7 seed in the North V playoff bracket. Not Westfield though. Below are a handful of prospects who are coming back to build upon an already stellar campaign by most standards in hopes to compete for a state championship.</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-the-bridgewater-raritan-panthers-linemen/">Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers' Line</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-clifton-mustangs-skill-positions/">Clifton Mustangs' 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-hackensack-comets-skill-positions/">Hackensack Comets' Skills</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-the-ridgewood-maroons-skills-line/">Ridgewood Maroons' 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/2024/03/returning-contributors-st-joseph-metuchen-falcons-linemen/">St. Joseph (Metuchen) Falcons' Skills</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-the-union-city-soaring-eagles-skills/">Union City Soaring Eagles' Skills</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:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-west-orange-mountaineers-skills/">West Orange Mountaineers' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1093217"],"_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":"Although he went 54/925/11 with 2 fumble recoveries for the Blue Devils, I had not had the opportunity to yet watch film on [player_tooltip player_id='1093217' first='Enzo' last='Ferrero']; yet, after doing so I was elated about what I saw. Appearing as somewhat an unassuming receiver, Ferrero has better speed than most and the ball skills to match. I was utterly impressed by the first clip of his highlight film where we saw him line up against a press corner with several FBS offers. We see Ferrero feel the corner's press leverage, break that way, go up high for the grab with said corner draped all over his back, absorb a hit from a second defender in the tight window, and maintain possession through the ground. That is something Ferrero is astute at: going up vertical for the grab. Moreover, he is an absolute exclusive hands catcher and abstains from using his body and demonstrates a high degree of concentration when the ball his thrown his way. Tapes shows us that he also comes back the ball and adjusts to the ball's flight nicely. Ferrero is apt at running benders/posts. Lastly, I would describe his route running as more subtle and not necessarily sharp.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e215cbecf2c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16525502/65654e0ca681b113647f52ff' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e215cbed00c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1198349"],"_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":"With two interceptions last year and solid film, [player_tooltip player_id='1198349' first='Nicholas' last='Russo'] is a prospect that the Big Central should be aware of. Like blanket, Russo covers receivers closely and stays completely on top of poor route runners. Russo's most endearing trait to a defensive coordinator is his will to fight for the ball, often either ripping it out of the hands of receivers or batting in down while defending. The film shows that Russo does have ups and that Westfield trusts him to be on an island, 1-on-1 with a receiver, all by himself. In run support Russo does a nice job engaging with perimeter blockers, fighting them off, and maintaining his run fit. Additionally, if a lazy receiver does not bother to show a release he disregards them and immediately comes up to play run with tenacity. One area as a boundary corner. Although he appears to play his run fit correctly, one element Russo should be contentious of is his leverage when tackling, avoiding getting his head across the ball carriers body as nobody is outside of him.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e215cbed073"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16844274/6568fa65578d3002a8e44f4e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e215cbed094"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1198348"],"_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":"Lining up on the other side of Ferrero is teammate and fellow wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1198348' first='Sebastian' last='Magherini']. Magherini added 31 catches, 402 yards, and 3 receptions to the Blue Devils' arial assault last fall. Whatever Westfield coaches their receivers to do, they many of the same abilities out of both their returning targets. Magherini does a great job making catches exclusively with his hands. Much like Ferrero, he also adjusts to poorly thrown balls without a hitch. Relatedly, he also aggressively comes back to the ball to secure the grab and runs receiver screens u003cemu003every u003c/emu003ewell, as he works his way back toward the hash or midfield flawlessly. Despite protecting the ball when it is secured in his arms, Magherini can typically make the first man miss by shaking him off of his body. Much of Magherini's route tree seems to revolve around out-breaking routes. I would love to see Magherini's foot speed improve, thus allowing him to expand his route tree and knock a few ticks from his speed times as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e215cbed0f1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17829845/65651dd3a681b113647f3e93' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e215cbed113"} /-->