New Jersey PRZ Next Combine – 2029 and 2030 Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past weekend the NJ/NYC PRZ Next Combine took place, and over 100 prospects in the classes of 2028-2030 took the field. It was one of the most deeply-talented middle school camps I have personally ever been to. Off the top of my head there were nearly two dozen athletes that currently project to the D1 level. Here's a look at the young guns that stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["409942"],"_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":"Kemp has been a youth football super star during his middle school career with the Brick City Lions and has opted to reclass to become a 2029 prospect. Kemp was the lone 2029 prospect to be selected as a Top-3 performer as a Running Back at the New Jersey PRZ Next Middle School Combine. Elite footwork and speed right now, to the tune of a hand-timed 4.69 and 4.59 in the forty. After several nice grabs during 1-on-1 drills, I jokingly told him he's going to be out in the slot some day. He's got a ton of ability, we'll see how everything plays out.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1272681"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The Quarterbacks weren't one of the main positions I was responsible for watching at the New Jersey PRZ Next Middle School Combine, but I obviously saw a lot of what was going on. After speaking with another evaluator there, there was a consensus that [player_tooltip player_id='1272681' first='Justin' last='Merriman'] was the top 2029 signal caller at the event. Merriman, a talented multi-sport athlete, is also a reclassed prospect. Merriman is a tall, good-looking prospect at 6-foot and 155-pounds with a near flawless throwing motion. He's also the son of former three-time NFL Pro Bowler, Shawn Merriman. I fully expect him to have his choice of high schools to attend after another year on the youth level, and wouldn't rule out an early offer, either.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":[972768],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"After having watched him on film for nearly a year, I got my first chance to see the newly reclassed [player_tooltip player_id='972832' first='Keeanu' last='Darji'] play in person. This past season he was at the helm of a very talented Woodbury Steelers squad and will return as QB1 for the 14U team in fall 2024. Watching him at the New Jersey PRZ Next combine, he shined early and often, throwing a beautiful deep ball and looked very athletic on the field. He measured in at just 5-foot-7 and 145-pounds, so hopefully the bonus year allows him to continue to mature physically.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1016186"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Continuing to ride the wave of reclassed Quarterback prospects, [player_tooltip player_id='1016186' first='Rahmir' last='Rivera'] also continued to check boxes at the New Jersey PRZ Next Middle School Combine last weekend. The 5-foot-8, 170-pounder improved by leaps and bounds between 2022 and 2023 and appears to be destined for another climb during the 2024 off-season and pending regular season. Put a ton of touch on the ball on deep shots, in addition to some mustard on the quicker-developing routes. Again, Quarterback wasn't one of the main positions I was tasked with watching at the event, but when I did get my eye on some of Rivera's reps, how still and composed he kept his upper body while getting ready to throw, was something of note.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1277801"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The Glassboro football program is in a very good place from the high school level down to the youth level. Last year saw 2027 prospects [player_tooltip player_id='426571' first='Xavier' last='Sabb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='431328' first='Tasheem' last='Butler'] win MVPs at a PRZ Next Middle School event; This past weekend 2028 prospects [player_tooltip player_id='965252' first='CJ' last='Lewis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1273787' first='Aveyon' last='Warfield'] take him the honors. Not to be outdone, 2029 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1277801' first='Nadir' last='Smith'] also opened some eyes. There's room for improvement in terms of overall athleticism, fluidity and quicknessu002du002dbut you can't teach the size and length that the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder currently has in just the seventh grade. He has all the makings of an excellent Defensive End, once the speed and explosion catches up to his size.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1158930"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"The Empire State gets on the board here, with a great performance out of Running Back [player_tooltip player_id='1158930' first='Blake' last='Dominique'] at the New Jersey PRZ Next Middle School Combine. He was on my list of prospects from New York to get a look at this spring/summer and he didn't disappoint. After a great 2023 season with the Brooklyn Chiefs, Dominique came out to the combine and tested very well, finishing second to only [player_tooltip player_id='409942' first='Gabe' last='Kemp'] in every combine drill when looking at 2029 backs. One could argue that his 5-foot-9, 175-pound body is the most high-school ready of all the 2029 prospects in attendance.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1273850"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"I was fired up to see Schulyer Travis on the list of the 100+ prospects signed up for the New Jersey Prep Redzone Next Middle School Combine last weekend. First saw him at the SportzFarm tournament over Easter weekend as a member of the AIP Elite squad, then got eyes on him again at our event. There's no denying the physical stature of the East Windsor, New Jersey native. Certainly looks the part at 6-foot, 190-solid pounds. Really impressed with his ability to change direction at full speed. He's got another year of youth ball to figure it out, but the real question is what position he ultimately ends up playing.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["1020479"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"The New Jersey PRZ Next Middle School Combine was the third time I was able to see [player_tooltip player_id='1020479' first='Max' last='Juliani'] play in person in 2023-2024, but also the first time since December and first time in a camp/combine setting. There was a ton of good out of getting to see him on the field again, up close. His speed and quickness numbers were excellent - clocked at 2029 WR-best 4.81 (hand-timed) in the forty. Also showed off the same reliable hands I witnessed as a member of the NJ AYF All-Stars in September/December. The one glaring thing, by minimal fault of his own, is that he measured in at 5-foot-9 and 165 (solid)-pounds instead of the 6-foot, 150-pounds he was previously reported at. Nonetheless, another year on the youth level will bring natural growth. Make no bones about it, he's one of the top receivers in the Shore region.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6647b6a8ba6a4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Additional 2029 Standouts</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1141040' first='Davian' last='Roman']</strong> | Wide Receiver | <em>New Jersey</em> - My first time getting an opportunity to watch him play live (I believe) and liked what I saw out of the reclassed Wide Receiver. Really good hands and was much faster/quicker than I anticipated prior to the event. A fiery competitor that was, and will be again this upcoming season, one of the battery-mates of QB [player_tooltip player_id='972832' first='Keeanu' last='Darji'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277853' first='Amar'e' last='Ratliff'] </strong>| Running Back | <em>New Jersey </em>- In a very solid Running Back group from top to bottom, featuring an eighth-grade heavy stable, Ratliff managed to impress me a bit. Not the biggest, nor the fastest 2029 RB at the event, he was well-balanced and ran with some assuming power throughout cone drills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277915' first='Mason' last='Smith']</strong> | Defensive Back | <em>New Jersey</em> - If Smith was any bigger than the 5-foot-3 and 112-pounds he measured in at, there would have been some serious consideration for him to be in the group of Top-5 Defensive Backs at the New Jersey PRZ Next Middle School combine. Clearly gives up a ton of size at this point, he's got some dog in him. Competitive, with some really good CB fundamentals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103386' first='Anthony' last='Youngblood']</strong> | Quarterback | <em>Maryland</em> - A Quarterback with a big arm, and an even bigger upside out of Maryland. Suited up for the nationally-recognized Maryland Heat this past season and looks poised for a breakout 2024 season. He's listed at 5-foot-10 and 5-foot-9 on social media, but measured in at 5-foot-7 at the New Jersey PRZ Next Middle School Combine. Has long arms and a crisp throwing motion that delivers the ball with some pop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1278005' first='Fred' last='Smart-Wise']</strong> | Defensive Line | <em>New Jersey</em> - I saw some very nice things out of the Burlington County native. Has some decent size for this level, at 5-foot-7 and 230-pounds. Showed off a couple different pass rush moves, which tells me he working on his arsenal for the future. Also, used his hands well and had pretty active feet for a young interior defensive lineman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1278074' first='Noah' last='Rivera']</strong> | Wide Receiver | <em>New Jersey</em> - Rivera played a very smooth style of receiver and opened some eyes during the one-on-one period. Prior to that, he tested very well during the combine portion of the event. At a long, 5-foot-9 and 135-pounds, he ran a 5.0 (hand-timed) in the forty--twice. More impressively, he popped a lightning-quick 4.52 in the shuttle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Early 2030 Names On The Horizon</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277961' first='Nymir' last='Hawkins']</strong> | Defensive Back | <em>New Jersey </em>- Quick-twitch kid. Younger brother of former Virginia Tech, now Sam Houston State, Defensive Back Nyquee Hawkins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277970' first='Caleb' last='McNair']</strong> | Defensive Line | <em>New Jersey </em>- Already 5-foot-8, 245-pounds. Younger brother of current of current Holy Cross Offensive Lineman Cam McNair and Defensive Lineman Caron McNair</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277979' first='Austin' last='Marchetti']</strong> | Quarterback | <em>New Jersey</em> - Mature kid for his age and has a good amount of potential as a Quarterback. Impressed at the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/scouts-notebook-quarterbacks-from-prz-nexts-new-jersey-camp/">winter camp</a>, and again in the spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1278083' first='E'san' last='Stokes-Rider']</strong> | Wide Receiver | <em>New Jersey</em> - A young prospect that did some nice things, despite being one of only three 2030 Wide Receivers there. Played for NW Broncos this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->