Event Recap: PSR BIG Camp Series – Scout Notes Linebackers Vol. 2
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The circuit of back-to-back-to-back weekends on the road has come to a conclusion, as I was fortunate to attend Coach Nick Pennisi’s PSR BIG Camp Series on Saturday, May 11. This marks the second year in a row that I covered the…
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Continue ReadingThe circuit of back-to-back-to-back weekends on the road has come to a conclusion, as I was fortunate to attend Coach Nick Pennisi’s PSR BIG Camp Series on Saturday, May 11. This marks the second year in a row that I covered the event. Pennisi has grown his significantly from last year. With over 400 prospects registered for the event, I had my work cut out for me to identify and scout some of the event’s standouts. As I feverishly wrote notes, here are my scouting notes from the position group disclosed in this article’s title.
PSR BIG Camp Series Event Coverage
Scout’s Notebook: Linebackers
Xavier Hullum Xavier Hullum 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB North Brunswick | 2025 NJ was a prospect I previewed heading into this event. Formerly of South Brunswick yet now of North Brunswick, Hullum is clearly a prospect that has the requisite physical tools to play at the collegiate level. My guess is that he is every bit of the 6’3″ 220lbs that he claims. He is big enough to suffocate call carriers in the cat & mouse drills, big enough a body to cover, and moves surprisingly well. One area that I think Hullum has potential for growth is to playing with leverage to influencing routes patterns when he takes drops. Relatedly, Hullum got caught flat footed at moments, especially with smaller, quicker backs. He ought to keep working to his drop, open to the correct leverage, explode down hill when the ball is thrown….. Speaking of using your body to defend, Carmine Florio Carmine Florio 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Rumson-Fair Haven | 2027 NJ from Rumson-Fair Haven did this very well. On deeper routes toward the sideline Florio not only showed the ability to run and cover, but also great field awareness. He used his body to influence the receiver increasingly closer to the sideline. In the process this eliminated any margin for error in the quarterback’s throw as his throws had to be on the money or thrown out of bounds.
Another bolt moved like thunder. You know what? Scratch that. Millville’s Xavier McBride Xavier McBride 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Millville | 2025 NJ was the prospect who moved like a Thunderbolt. McBride was a prospect who ran with any back out of the backfield, carrying his coverage to any spot on the field. Additionally, McBride played with proper leverage on a consistent basis….. With his brother, Isaiah De Rosa Isaiah De Rosa 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Elizabeth | 2024 NJ , already a proven standout at the Prep Predzone StockUp Showcase this winter, how would younger brother and fellow Elizabeth Minuteman Jayden De Rosa Jayden De Rosa 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Elizabeth | 2025 NJ fair? Pretty well. De Rosa is a solid contributor on defense who got better as the day went on. Aside from running with just about everybody, De Rosa has strong instincts when breaking on the ball. The first time he broke off on an out route, he seemed to misjudge how far the quarterback would lead his receiver; however, after getting his (likely) first bit of action this spring and learning from his last rep, De Rosa never made the same mistake twice. The rest of the afternoon I only recall De Rosa successfully playing the ball each and every time. He also has the size, speed, and ability neutralize tight ends.
For the second weekend in a row Jordan Wimberly Jordan Wimberly 5'10" | 185 lbs | LB Burlington Township | 2026 NJ and I crossed paths; and for the second weekend in a row Wimberly’s athleticism shined. The Burlington Township product carried over his speed and quickness from Jersey Juice to PSR. I do not recall a single back that he could not keep pace with. Further, when rushers tried to juke and deke out Wimberly, he leered through their waste and did not ever fall victim to their failed attempts of trickery….. Javon Hudson Javon Hudson 5'9" | 185 lbs | LB St. Joseph's (Metuchen) | 2025 NJ of St. Joseph’s in Metuchen closes out this event’s linebacking report. After previewing Hudson as part of my pre-event coverage, I wish I could have gotten a closer look at Hudson’s game live as I seemed to have kept missing him. One instance I recorded of Hudson I saw him use his body leverage to shield the running back from cleanly getting to his spot on the field. This leverage forced the back to either go through Hudson (he did not) or around him (which he tried to do), compromising the precision of his route in the process. As the back crossed in front of him, Hudson made a nice play as he opened up his hips and ran, deflecting the ball from the trail technique.