Event Recap: Trenchlab Gauntlet Defensive Linemen
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Now that the dust has settled and I have had time to condense my notes, here are some to the things I saw from the participants attending Coach Keith Alston’s inaugural Trenchlab Gauntlet. This article features the crop, where I will be…
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Continue ReadingNow that the dust has settled and I have had time to condense my notes, here are some to the things I saw from the participants attending Coach Keith Alston’s inaugural Trenchlab Gauntlet. This article features the crop, where I will be releasing my top performers and the ultimate champion at the conclusion of this series.
Incase you missed any of our event coverage from this event, our event coverage series the Trenchlab Gauntlet is below.
The Two Out-of-Towners
Chris Trumbull Chris Trumbull 6'4" | 210 lbs | LB Red Lion Christian | 2025 State MD repped the 302 and repped it to death. The Delaware native from Red Lion Christian Academy never seemed to lose speed as he turned the corner. An athlete who clearly takes care of his body and is capitalizing upon his frame, he uses the long arm well. Speed is in his toolbox too, as he converted said speed into power when he rushed, while also being able to hit the spin inside while restacking his matchup. The long arm was something he hit a few times, with leverage, successfully; however, I want to see Trumbull continue to add strength to his upper body so he can walk his matchup backwards when doing so….. Cheltenham High School’s Isaiah Brooks. During Indy Brooks showed that he did a great job of getting his hips around the cones. In competition he worked counter-moves awfully well too, stacking them to bust loose for sacks. If he felt his matchup overset to speed, Brooks would successfully spin back to the quarterback. There were two instances where he got home on the spin & pin, but the second instance the pin was extremely loud and extremely audible to everyone within earshot.
Them Jersey Boys
Triton Regional’s Jaiden Moore Jaiden Moore 6'4" | 265 lbs | DL Triton Regional | 2026 NJ probably has the ability to play both inside and outside. A great rip is arguably the foundational piece of what Moore does. He exaggerates it, as a point of emphasis on finishing and following through. One particular rep that Moore executed beautifully was when he used his speed to set up a stutter step. This from his offensive matchup and allowed himewlf the opportunity for a two-way go….. Jack McAllister Jack McAllister 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Ocean City | 2026 NJ was the first of two prospects from Ocean City to show promise. A bit younger than his teammate, McAllister had a very nice lower half of his body. You can tell that he was a bit raw, which is a good thing, as his coaches have the opportunity to mold him and coach him the way they want to, independent of any preconceived or prior teachings….. McAllister’s teammate, Anthony Gasparovic Anthony Gasparovic 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Ocean City | 2025 NJ , also had a good-looking body. For as large and well built as he is, Gasparovic showed that he was capable of winning the edge with speed. Similarly, he is able to turn the corner on the inside path as well – leveraging his size and power to capitalize and do so….. Cinque Matthews Cinque Matthews 5'8" | 175 lbs | DL Haddon Heights | 2027 NJ , one of two Matthews brothers from Haddon Heights who made the trip, had one rep that was classically quintessential. Matthews beat his offensive line matchup with his first step and get off, but then broke free from a hold with just a simple-but-effective, picturesque, classic rip move….. Hailing from way out west and probably traveling further than I did, Nick Riess Nick Riess 5'9" | 225 lbs | DL Warren Hills | 2026 NJ from Warren Hills showed that he is a student of the game. While on-deck waiting his next spin, Riess watched how his next opponent beat their current matchup. From there, Riess played him, setting up the same look and effectively countering it for the win….. Riverside’s George Branin George Branin 6'0" | 220 lbs | DL Riverside | 2025 NJ was probably the strongest interior defender out of the day’s group. Branin is able to get low – lower than his opponent – bring power, and do both on on a consistent basis. There were several instances of him locking out, extending, and snatching his opponent down and winning with the bull rush; however, once instance where he hit the lock-and-snatch was absolutely textbook….. Willingboro’s Kadeem Hatcher Kadeem Hatcher 5'10" | 240 lbs | DL Willingboro Highschool | 2025 NJ showed that he can string together moves nicely. Blessed with power, Hatcher was able to convert that power to an stunning club to which he stacked the swim off of….. Coming off of an outstanding season, Woodbury’s Camyle Carter Camyle Carter 6'0" | 255 lbs | DL Woodbury | 2025 NJ had some of the most violent hands in attendance. Aside from featuring the double-swipe and chop – which he habitually abused opponents with poor feet with – Carter also hit a beautiful inside-out move on his opponent’s hands to eliminate his access to use them on the outside. Carter also used his speed and converted it to power.