Web Gems: Intriguing Prospects from the Twitter-sphere

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although I am not the best at Twitter, Tweeting, or X'ing (whatever Elon calls it now a days), more times than I like to admin I will often stop and watch the film of a prospect who posts it. After getting lost in the depths of Twitter I will find the light, the light brought to me by a prospect that I am impressed with. When these opportunity to find diamonds in the rough come about, I cannot help but want to scout them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the first time I will be trying out the Prep Redzone New Jersey Twitter Community Film Room Session where I evaluate and do a write-up on those prospects. Read more about these prospects below!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>TO HAVE YOUR FILM EVALUATED FOR OUR NEXT TWITTER COMMUNITY FILM ROOM SESSION, DIRECT MESSAGE ME ON TWITTER&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">@BRENDANSCOUTSNJ</a></em></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1227917"],"_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":"Originally a defensive end prospect, Demarest's [player_tooltip player_id='1227917' first='Marco' last='De Croce'] is an emerging offensive line talent. At left tackle we see De Croce do an outstanding job working his hands up-and-under an opponent. This, combined with his short and choppy steps, allows him to get outstanding displacement on down linemen. Another outstanding attribute of De Croce is how well he moves laterally. This shows with his light-yet-powerful kick step and confidence in his ability to power down to the B gap if an opponent takes an inside rush. With a bit of a nasty streak to him, De Croce looks to finish his blocks by burying defenders with him pinning them down. A few things that I think De Croce could add to his film to make it more complete would be, first, to show more clips of him working double teams to the second level and in pass protection - things college would awe at. A skill set to add to his toolbox would be to work to refit his hands in the middle of a defender's chest. Showing his ability to pick up flowing backers or walking linemen into 'backers laps will leave no question about his physical dominance.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660772bae6968"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16156496/635eeca73deaa50aecfc01f9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660772bae6a10"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["342132"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='342132' first='Joel' last='Amegatcher'] is an interior defender who deserves his props. Equipped with an arsenal of moves that he achieves success with (rips, bull rush, and swim), he has the ability to pass rush with a plan and give offensive linemen different looks during each snap. Something someone his size should not be able to do, when Amegatcher rips he is able to dip his shoulder low to the ground so offenders cannot touch him. Once in the backfield, we see him breakdown at no more than 2 yards deep to force bounces and eventually corral ball carriers. Should Amegatcher get his shoulders turned, he does a solid job of fighting back into the gap he is responsible for. Right now, Amegatcher does an exceptional job of coming off the ball and penetrating into the backfield. Although he does not get driven off the ball, for Amegatcher to make the jump into the next strata of interior defensive linemen in his class, I need to see instances of him controlling the line of scrimmage. To me, this looks like hands-on, half-man, and walking linemen into their own backfield.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660772bae6a76"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15881308/6519a3870dc0570110bc23b7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660772bae6a96"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["270963"],"_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 thing that I immediately liked - even before watching any tape - about [player_tooltip player_id='270963' first='Jayden' last='Polk'] is that he had two tapes out: season highlights and top plays. To me, this indicates that Polk has a u0022put-up-or-shut-upu0022 mentality. So, naturally, I elected to watch the top plays. In the 80-second film we see much of what Polk is capable of. First, a rarity in many high school defenses today, Polk plays at a variety of depth - including in your face with no cushion - again, u0022put-up-or-shut-up.u0022 From there, we see a fiery demeanor to him, as he does go around, above, or under perimeter blockers, he simply goes through them with a full head of steam, violently lighting them up on his way to a tackle. Polk also double-dog-dares quarterbacks to, again, u0022put-up-or-shut-upu0022 when they try to put him in a bind. Against a smash concept, we see Polk's tremendous ability to bait the quarterback into throwing the flag by coming up to take away the hitch, but then bail, go back on the ball, and play the flag from underneath while showcasing his tremendous leaping ability in the process. Not one to take plays off, Polk remains engaged and active, making plays as the wide receiver across from him opts to take a play off. Field awareness is another attribute Polk showcases, as he squeezes receivers to the sideline, taking away any room they have to catch a pass in-bounds. Lastly, although he tackles a bit high for my taste, Polk shows that he makes tackles - nearly exclusively mind you - maintaining appropriate leverage. For me, as Polk improves his backpedal, we will see more clips of him getting jumps, breaking on the ball as soon as quarterbacks start their throwing motion. When this inevitably happens, Polk will fly up the rankings.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660772bae6afc"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18118690/65c630e18cd47a05d4def28c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660772bae6b1d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["345431"],"_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 bit hard for me to strictly categorize as one motion, let along project where a college will play him, [player_tooltip player_id='345431' first='Nicholas' last='Rossi'] is simply good at playing football. However for his current team, Old Tappan, Rossi is a linebacker and running back - a running back who profiles as a power back in a spread scheme. Rossi runs with a forward lean and prioritizes protecting the ball at all times until he breaks into the back-end of the defense's second level. Watching his tape, he has surprising speed and equally delightful feet. These feet allow him to maintain balance as would-be tacklers try to trip him up and change direction when needed. As a straight-away runner, we see Rossi lower his shoulder to gain extra yardage and run with a solid pad level. He also serves as a more-than-willing/borderline eager blocker on QB lead plays. As a linebacker it is as clear as the sky is blue that Rossi loves, and is excited about, playing football. With disciplined eyes, we see Rossi read his keys and get to the point of attack quickly, always putting himself in position to make plays. More importantly, he does not second-guess himself. He manages to wrangle ball carriers down, yet could improve his tackling technique some. Two things I need from him on defense: clips of him in coverage and using his hands to block shed. Add these two elements to his tape and who knows where he will wind up in the fall of 2025. As a junior in 2023, Rossi slashed 106/918/15 on the ground and made 74 tackles (43 solo) with 5 for a loss on defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660772bae6b7b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16682440/655fc5dc15f75f044013ff58' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660772bae6b99"} /-->