2025 Rankings Update: Big-time Additions from the Watch List, Part I

<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Enjoy our newest rankings release. Use promo code "mankarious30" for 30% off your first subscription to Prep Redzone New Jersey.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   As if they rose from the ashes like the Phoenix, there are prospects who seemingly come out of the woodwork. What differentiates this set of prospects from the rest is that from the ashes of the watchlist, they rose and are here to stay. Below are a handful of prospects that were watchlisted and, immediately upon film review, shot toward the top of our rankings for the class of 2025.    Since introducing him, I think I achieved the Holy Trinity of evaluating [player_tooltip player_id='995084' first='Brenden' last='Pacheco']: I watched him compete live in game action, saw him ball out at camps, and even was invited to a Somerville High School workout this offseason. That said, I would be lying if I said that I did not see his ascension coming. Pacheco has the size and frame to be a FBS quarterback with the arm strength - a 60 yard rope - to boot. Film shows that Pacheco moves well in the pocket, particularly laterally, and even gets creative when the pressure breaks the pocket and he is forced to improvise. His deep ball magistry is equally as worrisome for defensive coordinators as it is mouth-watering for college recruiters. In the same break Pacheco can slice a defense with sharp, commanding throws into tight windows when he needs to. This command, similarly, extends to his ability to throw on the run. The precision in which Pacheco delivers a ball - both in situations where only his guy can make play on it and in places where his target can accrue YAC - is an attribute that separates good high school quarterbacks from legitimate prospects Something implied about these same attributes is that it shows his unwavering faith in his teammates to make plays. He has a quick release and also activates his lower half - hence the immense arm talent. Lastly, Pacheco seems awfully careful with the ball. To start the season he went a long time without throwing an interception (1 interception in 137 pass attempts across 6 games, with that pick coming sometime during the sixth game).   Previous Ranking: Watch List   Current State Ranking: 30   Current Positional Ranking 2     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BrendenPacheco_/status/1815731375078543716 </div></figure>    When you think of perennial Group IV contender Millville, you typically think "track meet." Darian Blachewics is doing everything in his power to rebrand our thought process to a "track & field meet." Playing nose, Blachewics is extremely disruptive due to his great get off. Typically something I only coach my defensive linemen to do on clear passing downs, Blachewics' quickness allows him to club and swim the opposing center's snap arm, allowing him an unabated path into the backfield forcing either immediate A gap pressure or the opposing back to cut east-west. His get off is matched with a great motor. Blachewics also is appears to use his hands well, getting them on his matchup on every snap, controlling them, driving, and then snatching them away. Technically sound, he also does a great job lowering his pad level - particularly as he routinely works to knife apart double teams. His block recognition and ability to fight the reach opens up Millville's defensive line rotation, where at moments Blachewics also proved more than serviceable off of the edge. The agility also allows him to effectively run TE stunts as the looper. I want to see Blachewics continue to be violent, particularly by consistently ripping through when slanting. Blachewics has committed to Bryant University.   Previous Ranking: Watch List   Current State Ranking: 32   Current Positional Ranking: 6     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DarianB_1/status/1815447074801913992 </div></figure>    Honestly speaking, I am unsure how the North Jersey non-publics have not services the services of [player_tooltip player_id='773097' first='Dean' last='Mangiocavallo'] - which as an unabashed public school football fan, I commend our #8 defensive lineman for riding it out with his boys for one-last go. What separates Mangiocavallo from most defensive linemen is how low and hard he fires out - a tribute to both his twitchiness and his ability to bend. This tremendous pad level allows him to routinely play with his hands above his eyes as he engages with his pressure key. These two attributes, along with requisite strength, leg drive, and hip activation, allow him to jolt offensive linemen's heads into whiplash. Understanding how to play leverage, Mangiocavallo finishes off a turned opponent with a strong rip towards the play. We see a sudden burst when in pursuit of the ball carrier and max effort when trailing a play in pursuit. For someone 290lbs he runs very fast for a man his size, while also using proper leverage whe tackling. As a defensive line coach I may just be knit-picking here, but Mangiocavallo gets a little bit too wide when squeezing and I would like to see him be more physical with traps or kick-outs. Likely a schematic decision due to Randolph's defense, I think that Mangiocavallo has the ability and physicality to play the dent technique extremely well when spilling. As per his Twitter profile, Mangiocavallo has committed to Georgetown.   Previous Ranking: Watch List   Current State Ranking: 39   Current Positional Ranking: 8     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/dean_mangio/status/1791465606966845893 </div></figure>    As the kids say, I won't even hold you. With a name like "[player_tooltip player_id='1005830' first='Jackson' last='Jankowicz']," I was not expecting an impressive tape. Well, I was wrong 'cause this kid can freaking ball. Jankowicz shows outstanding vision and the ability to make sharp cuts on tremendously flat angles, hard, completely against the grain. Meanwhile, at other times he will be patient a slow play the hole, only to accelerate through at full speed. For me, this makes it hard to pigeonhole in him into one specific type of running style, but I would describe it overall as violent. Lastly, Jankowicz can go -1 to 1 in pass protection easily and dishes out a great level of physicality when doing so. Serving as the Raiders' kickoff returner, he has the speed for house calls and to beat linebackers on deep pass patters alike. The stiff arm is a part of his arsenal of moves and he is unafraid to lower his shoulder. I would like to see him protect the ball a bit more on his film. Defensively we see Jankowicz line up at corner where he squeezes his defender to the sideline nicely. He is a low tackler, although he does not always do so with correct leverage. When the ball is in flight, he takes good breaks and plays it as it arrives. Lastly, from what I can tell he makes correct reads in what I suspect is an even coverage read scheme.   Previous Ranking: Watch List   Current State Ranking: 61   Current Positional Ranking: 7     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jacksonjank3/status/1812539801737818296 </div></figure>    The first clip on [player_tooltip player_id='1093217' first='Enzo' last='Ferrero']'s tape might be the single-most impressive clip I have watched in a minute when you consider the context. Against a G4-caliber corner, Ferrero is pressed like crazy and the corner is stuck on him like glue. Ferrero feels his matchup's leverage and uses it against him. He broke his stem inside, but did not create much, if any, separation. Ferrero then high points the ball by extending his hands in the face of what was draping coverage and a tight, closing window, secures the ball through the ground as the defender playing his hands to break up the pass. First and foremost, this single clip shows the high degree of concentration Ferrero possesses in the moment. The hands catcher, he is apt at snatching or plucking the ball out of the air while he keeps his legs moving constantly, aiding him to break tacklers who go in low against him. Ferrero uses those hands to attacks the ball by coming. back to it and adjusts to poorly thrown balls as well. He has speed that I would describe as "better than most." His routes are solid, more subtle than sharp, although he runs an exceptional bender. With the ball in his hands he seems to run a corner very smoothly and at a sharp angle. Lastly, he might be the team's kicker as well as he included a few touchbacks on his film. Ferrero appears to be vying for Ivy School interest, having visited the likes of UPenn and Brown   Previous Ranking: Watch List   Current State Ranking: 91   Current Positional Ranking: 18     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/enzoferrero5/status/1781807755134746864 </div></figure>