New Jersey PRZ Next Combine – Defensive Line Standouts

<!-- 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 Defensive Linemen that stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">MVP(s) and Top Three</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["642555"],"_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":"A year ago, Osiris Niven won the Defensive Line MVP at the Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp as a seventh-graderu002du002dthis past weekend, nearly a year to the day, he took home co-MVP honors again. The Massachusetts Defensive End prospect traveled down route 95 several hours and he did not disappoint. Up nearly two inches and 15+ pounds from last year to 6-foot-2 and 207-pounds, Niven has been spending obvious time in the gym, as he has drastically muscled up. This was Niven's third and final PRZ Next camp before he's off to Milton Academy and he saved his best performance for last. Throughout the 1-on-1 portion of the event, he showed natural pass rush ability and the he can win with speed and/or power. Showed off a nice pass rush move arsenal, which kept the opposing Offensive Linemen off balance and guessing. In conversations, he told me he's planning to hit several college camps in Juneu002du002dI won't be shocked if he's verbally offered before the Mustangs kick off the 2024 season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["836216"],"_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":"Joining Osiris Niven as Defensive Line co-MVP at the New Jersey Prep Redzone Next Combine was another prospect who is no stranger to the PRZ Next spotlight, [player_tooltip player_id='1270594' first='Jackson' last='Vaughn']. Vaughn earned the MVP of the PRZ Next event in January and doubled down on the success this past weekend. He's also clearly been putting in the work over the last five months, up an inch and five pounds, now standing 6-foot-3 and 220-pounds. After watching him take reps against Offensive Line MVP [player_tooltip player_id='965252' first='CJ' last='Lewis'], whom I think is a sure-fire P4 prospect, I'm declaring the debate over on who the top 2028 Defensive End in New Jersey isu002du002dit's clearly Vaughn. He consistently glided past slower-footed Offensive Tackles and moved like a ballerina in the process. Has obvious power and length to use to his advantage as well. I expect him to play Edge as he moves on to Bergen Catholic for high school, as he can beat OT's with either speed off the edge or set them up with outside-in moves. He's a prospect I'd be extending a verbal offer to today, in May of his eighth-grade year.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1011769"],"_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":"The New Jersey Prep Redzone Next Middle School Combine this past weekend marked the fourth and final time I will have seen [player_tooltip player_id='1011769' first='Jesse' last='Roth'] play as a middle schooler in 2023-2024 calendar year. I've said it before but Roth appears to be a coach's dream in terms of talent on the field, work ethic, attitude and drive. Came in bigger than the last time I saw him in January, now up to 6-foot-1 and 205-pounds. While he doesn't have the height of Niven and Vaughn, he makes up for it with his versatility at the position. I don't have any weight room numbers on him, but he's built like brick...house, and his strength allows him to bang on the interior despite giving up a decent amount of weight. In my opinion, he looks more at home as a Defensive End with his speed and quickness, but he's truly capable of playing both interior and on the edge at this point. Also a wrestler, his grip strength and ability to win the battle for hand position were fully on display. The future St. John-Vianney Lancer has a very bright future in football if he can stretch it out a few more inches.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6644cb3e93554"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Additional Standouts</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='553585' first='Elijah' last='Ramirez'] </strong>| <em>Undecided</em> - I first saw Ramirez in December of 2022 then went a year without seeing him in a live setting again until March of this year. Then, this past weekend at the PRZ Next Combine, I got to evaluate for a third and final time before heading to high school. He's still a big dude, in the neighborhood of 6-foot-3 and 260-pounds. Took reps on both the Offensive and Defensive Lines, with the latter getting more work. There's potential here, but he has to get quicker and more agile. He's undecided on a high school at this point, but improving his overall athleticism will help him reach his full potential. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275923' first='Michael' last='Morelli']</strong> | <em>Pope John</em> - At the PRZ Next Middle School Combine, in a group that featured multiple prospects that have P4 projections, future Pope John Lion [player_tooltip player_id='1275923' first='Michael' last='Morelli'] did some nice things. Was one of the smaller prospects at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, but did a good job of using his quickness as an edge rusher. Took each rep intelligently and knew what he could/couldn't get away with depending on who was lined up across from him. In my notes, I jotted down that he appeared to have and use long arms to his advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1272028' first='Ralphie' last='Barca']</strong> | <em>Bergen Catholic</em> - New Jersey PRZ Next Combine Co-MVP [player_tooltip player_id='1270594' first='Jackson' last='Vaughn'] wasn't the only future BC Crusader that caught my eye, as [player_tooltip player_id='1272028' first='Ralphie' last='Barca'] also impressed me. The reigning USA Wrestling New Jersey State Champ at 190 pounds displayed the power and strength in his compact frame to win some meaningful reps. The second shortest 2028 Defensive Linemen at the event at 5-foot-8, he used his stature to win the leverage game and bully past the weaker Offensive Linemen. He may be better off long term as a Center on the OL, but he brings instant toughness to both sides of the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->