2025 Sleepers: Prospects with Great Film That I Loved, Part I

<p><strong><em>Enjoy our newest rankings release by using promo code “mankarious30” for 30% off your first subscription to Prep Redzone New Jersey</em></strong>!</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <p>Perhaps the single element of being on our ranking team that I enjoy the most is the opportunity to unearth hidden gems that are either overlooked, under recruited, or not yet on the radar. Creating media buzz, notoriety, and calling attention for deserving prospects that are is a selfless joy I partake in. That said, independent of any agenda, here are some player's tapes that I really enjoyed and are simply and outright good football players. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1054402' first='Aaron' last='Melick'] is a two-way lineman that plays nose on defense and tackle on offense. He has the size and strength to rush a shoulder and can identify when to swim a low hat - which seems to be his go-to move given his height against the rest of the competition. Melick appears at his quickest when he is in the backfield and demonstrates strong closing speed. A defender who uses his keys well, he also exaggerates his rip when slanting in hopes to draw holds. Offensively he can hold his gap when opponent's cross face him and does a nice job of mirroring pass rushers. Able to log on kickouts, he seems to know his assignment, but will give up some technique in order to fulfill it. More bend and strength will allow Melick to take his game to a new level.</p>     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/aaron_melick66/status/1805278057554399491 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">As we went through the evaluation process, I realized that I like linebackers who are aggressive with their read steps. [player_tooltip player_id='1031717' first='Alex' last='Grippo'] does just that. Additionally, Grippo can win in the open field by using his speed. Grippo moves forward and backwards very well and is able to hold up ball carriers while he awaits for the calvary. With a well rounded skillset, Grippo is a solid player. He also plays wingback in a Wing T attack.</p>     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/alex_gripp5241/status/1798880680794849724 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">There are good receivers, linemen, defensive backs, et cetera; and then there are simply good football players. Enter [player_tooltip player_id='539076' first='Alex' last='Orecchio']. Having scored a 34 out of 36 on his ACT, he certainly has the smarts to match his athleticism and will probably end up being a coach one day if he so chooses. Orecchio plays quarterback and cornerback for Old Tappan. A bit of a stockier player who may not have elite speed, he steps up in the pocket and moves very well. When running as a quarterback he reminds me more of a true athlete than anything. That said, on film it seems as if the ball jumps out of his hands, able to throw it roughly 50 yards of air distance and also throw against his body. Used occasionally as a target, he can make concentration catches. When contact approaches, Orecchio will chin the ball to avoid turnovers and is willing to lower his shoulder to run someone over. Defensively he high points the ball nicely and is able to adjust to poorly thrown balls. Based only on his style of play, I would describe Orecchio as playing as if he was a wrestler. Although I am not sure exactly where he will play in college, I know that he will certainly help a team at the next level.</p>     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/alexorecchio/status/1815784238781792369 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Another athlete I think we not sleep on is Montville's [player_tooltip player_id='1012783' first='Anthony' last='Feaster']. As a receiver Feaster can stretch the field and track the ball over his shoulder way down field. Conscientious of possession, he will protect the ball as he breaks through the line of scrimmage when used out of the backfield. Using his hands to catch, Feaster will also side step over pursing defenders. Blessed with good vision, he uses this to is advantage in the open field to gain serious yardage. Feaster is apt at running skinny posts as he works to split and get behind the safeties in cover 2. When used in stretch or outside zone plays, Feaster can cut on a quarter and get upfield. I think he can lower his shoulder and/or pad level when breaking through the line. This, in addition to improved balance and strength will make him a ball carrier that is more difficult to take down.</p>     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/antfeaster3/status/1808234881597473172 </div></figure>    <p>Despite his height, [player_tooltip player_id='1099787' first='Anthony' last='Nittoli'] is a linebacker whose film I fell in love with. Nittoli is one of the quickest, fastest, and most agile linebackers in his class. If he were an animal, I would say he moves like a gnat - quick, fast, small, and hard to catch. This said, Nittoli is extremely quick off the snap of the ball and accelerates very well. His hustle is evidenced on kickoff, where he is routinely the first man down the field. An explosive player, he gets to his pass drops in a hurry, buzzes, and pursues like no other. Additionally, Nittoli is a good form tackler. As much as you can measure intangibles on film, Nittoli appears to have the desire to make every play on the field. Not to harp on his size again, but he can take on offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage and disengage with them by hitting a move. All-in, Nittoli is currently the #1 linebacker in New Jersey's class of 2025.</p>     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/anthony_nittoli/status/1817289876028768673 </div></figure>    <p>Although he is not the original B-Diddy from the Golden State Warriors, [player_tooltip player_id='819145' first='Baron' last='Davis'] has some bounce to him - in both his legs and his arm. As a quarterback he is extremely athletic and moves in the pocket nicely and also hit spin moves in the open field. While keeping his eyes downfield throughout the play, he can launch the ball roughly 50 yards upfield. Unafraid, Davis is willing to take a big hit to deliver the ball. I would say that Davis is at his best when he improvises on plays, breaking the pocket and looking to create plays with those eyes downfield. More than half the time he delivers a ball that allows for his targets to accrue YAC. I think Davis can speed up his release a bit and begin to look off receivers; however, as untraditional a quarterback I might think he is, he can certainly play. I think he could be a game changer in an 11-on-11 offense.</p>     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/thebarondavis/status/1816793498659811723 </div></figure>

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