Web Gems: Intriguing Prospects from the Twitter-sphere
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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…
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Continue ReadingAlthough 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.
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!
TO HAVE YOUR FILM EVALUATED FOR OUR NEXT TWITTER COMMUNITY FILM ROOM SESSION, DIRECT MESSAGE ME ON TWITTER @BRENDANSCOUTSNJ.
George Branin George Branin 6’0″ | 220 lbs | DL Riverside | 2025 NJ had me at his first clip. Perhaps the single-best highlight he could have opened with, we see Branin’s full potential on display with an immaculate forward lean. He shows that he is fearless, sticking his face into a defender, has a back so flat you could play chess on it, and gets tremendous movement on a down lineman with his posture alone. His bend stays relatively consistent throughout, and he pulls at an acceptable pad level. Branin has also shown the desire to finish each one of his blocks with authority. Defensively, Branin does an outstanding job of consistently establishing a new line of scrimmage no more than two yards in the offensive backfield. From there, Branin positions himself for a two-way go to make a play in either gap. In order to do this, the two-way star gets his hands on and keeps his feet moving – on both sides of the ball for that matter. Branin showcases his upper body strength when he wrestles with opponents up top; however, things will come with less resistance for him as he continues to develop and maintain a solid base – a foundation suitable for both sides of the ball. Branin finished last year with 32 tackles (21 solos), 7 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and scored on his only carry of the season – a 1-yard touchdown plunge.
Mandel Pettiford Mandel Pettiford 6’1″ | 265 lbs | DL Cedar Creek | 2025 State NJ , who was credited with 52 tackles (18 solo) and 7 sacks last fall, is abnormally athletic for an interior defensive lineman. To my eye, many of the plays and pressures he creates are made by going under blocks, rather than fighting through or over them. Typically, this goes against conventional coaching; however, Pettiford makes it work for him with his acceleration/closing speed and his agility, which prevents him from being out maneuvered in tight spaces. Backfield penetration is created by Pettiford’s arm-over, swimming past ducking linemen, and his rip move, that allows him to violently take his gap. In pass rushing situations, the talented interior lineman works in-and-out fakes to create two-way go’s for him to choose from. In such situations should he be unable to get home, we see Pettiford get his hands up to prevent clear sight lines for opposing quarterbacks. Lastly, Pettiford does a nice job of ensuring he gets his hands on the man in front of him. If I was Pettiford’s position coach, the one drill I would drill to death this spring is one I plan to use with my own team: stimulus-based get off, combined with tight hands on the post of the sled, while locking out his hips. Given his athleticism, an improved get off, in addition to activating his hips and improving his hand placement (half-man), will have Pettiford turn into an absolute monster ready to play college ball a season early.
Highlights
Mostly serving as a blindside tackle for Riverside last fall, Chase Perry Chase Perry 6’1″ | 250 lbs | OL Riverside | 2026 NJ will be back for some more in 2024. Perry gains a lot of his success due to his sheer willpower, refusing to be outworked and never stopping his feet. He moves fluidly and quickly when asked to pull – all the while looking for, and successfully, cleaning up his first threat. I have a few bits of feedback that I have for Perry. First is that if he wishes to play college football, he needs to clean up his tape. Take only the best-of-the-best and make sure to identify yourself in every clip. From the little bit that I know about Riverside, they are a run-oriented offense. That said, it would behoove Perry to get his hand in the dirt every play. This will force his bend to improve, and thus his pad level. In what appears to be a gap scheme, Perry’s feet should always be moving forward. Although he steps with the correct foot, his first step tends to be backwards. That foot must go forwards to gain ground.
Lining up everywhere – returner, receiver, and running back – for Nottingham is Reggie Bropleh Reggie Bropleh 6’0″ | 190 lbs | DB Nottingham | 2026 NJ , who was consistently left alone as their backside cornerback throughout the season. We see that Bropleh uses his hands to redirect receivers’ routes and position himself to play bump and run coverage. More so than anything else, Bropleh trusts his ability to run and recover. I say this because, in my opinion, he looks like he can improve his back pedal since he bails from it early. An improved back pedal will only aid Bropleh in seeing what is happening in front of him, and in turn, his ability to break on the ball. In several clips Bropleh is tested with double- or stutter-moves, where he manages to run stride for stride, matching each step forwards or backwards, that offenders may tempt him with. In terms of run support he is an outstanding tackler. Where some corners hold up defenders and wait for the cavlary to arrive, Bropleh seems to need no assistance. Although many of his clips show him covering, few are of him being tested in coverage – something colleges will ask for.
Ironman AJ Larkin AJ Larkin 5’9″ | 165 lbs | WR Don Bosco | 2026 NJ profiles as the prototype slot receiver. Serving as a very sure-handed safety valve for Don Bosco’s offense, Larkin can make awkward, falling, and sideline grabs look routine – surely choosing hand catches over body catches. Mostly used in the short-to-intermediate route tree, Larkin has shown that he can read defenders and break off his route early, knowing exactly where the sticks are, to move the chains and secure a new set of downs. Something I do not see much of on film nowadays, Larkin is used on crossing patterns, beating ‘backers across their faces and out-maneuvering them for extra yardage. Finally, Larkin has also been used as a Wildcat and on kickoff. For Larkin to add to his 20/116 receiving and 8/30 rushing sophomore season he should look to improve his ability to cut. Doing so will improve his route running, creating more space for him to operate, and also add to his shiftiness to accrue YAC against lesser athletes.