Event Preview: Jersey Juice’s Must-See Offensive Playmakers
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Our event season rolls on. For the second year in a row Prep Redzone has been invited back this weekend to Coach T. Pajic’s Jersey Juice Underclassman Showcase. Heading into the event, here are some of the defensive talent that I…
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Continue ReadingOur event season rolls on. For the second year in a row Prep Redzone has been invited back this weekend to Coach T. Pajic’s Jersey Juice Underclassman Showcase. Heading into the event, here are some of the defensive talent that I have already circled on my roster that I want to get a good look at.
Although much of his film is on the defensive side of the ball, Ryan Dunckley Ryan Dunckley 6’3″ | 230 lbs | OL Manchester | 2025 NJ must figure himself a part of Manchester’s offensive line for the coming season. Defensively we see quite a few things on Dunckley. His game along the interior beings with getting his mitts on the man in front of him, where Dunckley then extends to create space and locate the ball. Versatility along a defensive front is something Dunckley also affords his team, as we see him line up both in the middle and off the edge, where he tends to showcase a bit more speed. When pass rushing Dunckley is able to keep his lane integrity. Tweaking his stance just a tad will improve his get off; however, I am interested to see how Dunckley’s game translates to the offensive side of the ball, which is where he registered at to compete tomorrow.
As Dunckley competes for a job, his Manchester teammate Spencer Placek Spencer Placek 6’5″ | 260 lbs | OL Manchester | 2025 NJ is a returning starter at offensive tackle. From the first moment of impact Placek imposes power and force upon his opponent, to a end of driving his opponent down diagonally to his far-side linebacker. His pad level fluctuates, which is ok since I generally think all high school offensive linemen play high anyways, thus indicating that he has the ability to bend. When he is low, he is often attacking the hip of a down block assignment. When he pulls he is often asked to wrap and turn up, keeping his eyes inside when doing so, looking to demolish linebackers in the process. Placek is big and strong enough to win up top against defensive linemen. Pass setting the big man has a solid kick step and can move backwards well. For me I want to see Placek lower his pad level, particularly when pulling. His film would also benefit from showcasing clips of him powering down.
A prospect out of West Scranton, Pennsylvania, Caiden Berardi Caiden Berardi 6’4″ | 230 lbs | QB West Scranton | 2025 PA has all the measurables you look for in a big-time quarterback prospect. Berardi is at his best as a rhythm thrower. He consistently places the ball right in the chest of his targets. A threat in the run game too, Berardi makes the game a true 11-on-11 matchup with how powerful a runner he is. He is especially adept at hitting passes that are lateral in nature. This weekend I think Berardi will improve his footwork in working with the college coaches. Doing so will help him get set quicker and add distance and mustard onto his throws.
Buena Regional’s offense, like any Wing-T offense, must have a solid fullback for it to hit like it should. That is were Benjamin Cohen Benjamin Cohen 5’8″ Buena Regional | 2025 NJ comes into play. With a forward lean Cohen is able to consistently fall forward and gain cheap & easy extra yardage. He also possess surprisingly good balance for a fullback, where he can spin off of bad tackles and keep his feet when getting tripped up. Power is a part of the equation, it typically takes more than one individual to bring him down. Cohen is also more than willing to serve as a lead blocker, bringing some extra “umph” to his blocks. He will benefit from lowering his pad level when he runs. Doing so will make Cohen more difficult to bring down and add to his power when he runs, finishing them harder.
Myquan Rush Myquan Rush 5’8″ | 175 lbs | RB Barnegat | 2025 NJ is a prospect I am super excited to watch in person and has best-back-in-attendance potential. Having watched his film not too long ago as we are preparing to revamp the 2025 player rankings, I was thoroughly impressed. Rush does not rush things and is patient, letting things come to him. He follows his blockers and will make cutbacks at the second level to rip off big gainers. Once they are at the point of attack is when Rush turns on the jets. Further, he moves laterally very well when decides to bounce. Similarly, he can change directions while in the backfield and nimbly return to top speed quickly. He is too strong to be taken down by weak tackles. At times Rush keeps the ball a bit too far away for my liking – something that can easily be cleaned up.
Welcome to Jersey, Jaysen Blacknall-Farmer Jaysen Blacknall-Farmer 5’10” | 160 lbs | WR Phillipsburg | 2026 NJ ! How you doin’? Blacknall-Farmer has migrated over the state line from Notre Dame Green Pond to suit up for the ‘Liners, the Phillipsburg Stateliners that is. A true athlete, Blacknall-Farmer plays both defensive back and wideout. On defense he possesses a very good back pedal and is very balanced, as indicated by his ability to change direction in short notice very quickly. Not far from Wind Creek Casino, Blacknall-Farmer is a bit calculated risk taker (or gambler) as he breaks on the ball to make a play on it. He gets down hill well to support the run. On defense his tackling needs to be more consistent. At moments Blacknall-Farmer tackles high and with his chest, where at other times he goes low and wraps with his shoulder. In terms of offense, where he is actually registered to compete this weekend, although I would like to see him extend to receive the ball, he does catch the ball with his hands. For whatever reason Blacknall-Farmer’s hips are slightly shiftier on offense than on defense. This allows him to move in-and-out of danger with the ball in his hands. He is very dangerous in route patterns that are more lateral than vertical – which is how is prior team used him. His film would improve by including a wider breadth of routes.
Although there is no film currently available for Jack Dowling Jack Dowling 6’4″ | 215 lbs | TE Montgomery | 2027 NJ , the rising freshman has ideal size for any position within the front-7. At 6’4″ 215lbs, Coach Milich at Montgomery will certainly get Dowling right to be a two-way contributor and fixture for the Cougars for the next several seasons.