National Silver's Top Returning Talent

Another division to get excited about, Big Central's National Silver has some big names with huge play making capabilities. While North Brunswick dominated the division in 2023 with an 8-1 record, they fell to Freehold in the state quarterfinals. Close behind North Brunswick was Sayreville, which finished the season with an 8-3 record and a loss to Mt. Olive in the sectional semifinals. Both of these teams have the ability to maintain control of the division, but other teams will look to increase the competition in 2024 and give them a run for their money.    [player_tooltip player_id='1259106' first='Jahir' last='Dawud'] may be the most college ready player in the entire division. An elite athlete on both sides of the ball, any program that gets a hold of Jahir will be blessed with a top tier talent. With offers from schools such as Cornell, Georgetown, Penn and many others, Jahir is sure to gain more attention after the 2024 season begins.   What stands out the most from Jahir's tape is his ability to excel on both sides of the ball. Some players have quickness, but Jahir is a level above the norm. He expresses pure speed and acceleration as he lines up as a receiver and in the secondary on defense. On offense, Jahir's speed alone creates disasters for defenses. Without help overtop, Jahir can shake corners off of his route and be left completely open downfield for an easy catch and throw. Defensively, Jahir showed off his speed again with his ability to break on the ball and consistently beat the receiver to it. Jahir's safety skills extend from sideline to sideline and from the line to the end zone. He can cover an immense amount of territory, and rarely lets a receiver get by. Get offers out to Jahir immediately.      The second player you need to watch out for from North Brunswick, Abdul Kargbo is a linebacker with a ton of next level potential. Lining up on the outside, Abdul is a terror to all backfields he comes up against. Standing at 5'11" 200lb, Abdul is one of the most aggressive defenders you will come across within the division. Not only does he deliver punishing hits to runners, but on his way to the ball carrier Abdul drives his should pads hard into the blocker in front of him, clearing them out of his path.   Abdul is a linebacker that can cover ground much quicker than your average backer. His lateral quickness allows him to shut down runs to the outside, as he's able to beat the runner to the corner to bring them down behind the line. It is extremely impressive to see how quickly Abdul can shut down a play in the backfield. He's able to scream into the backfield and absolutely blow up a play before it can get started. There is a lot to like in how Abdul plays the linebacker position.      A phenom of a freshman in 2023, [player_tooltip player_id='1532324' first='Shaun' last='Garland'] is on a path to football excellence. A rising star on both sides of the ball, Shaun got plenty of playing time lining up as a tight end and defensive end last season. Topping over 200 receiving yards last season, Shaun showed early signs of being a dominant presence for Edison. He has everything he needs to become a highly regarded tight end, and with time I believe he has the potential to be revered in the state. Shaun's dimensions are the first thing that lead me to believe he can be a true receiving threat. Shaun has this athletic build that is equipped with a long reach but also a bigger frame. This combination of size and catch radius will make Shaun deadly not only as a pass catcher but in the run blocking game as well.   On the other side of the ball, Shaun's looking to become a feared defensive end within the division. Coming quick off of the edge, Shaun brings the pressure from a low starting position and can collapse the pocket early in the play.      If there is one thing Franklin needs to do in 2024, it's feed the ball to Unisa Kumara often. Unisa is a star in the making from the receiver position. He has the ability to not only be a deep ball threat, but can also hurt defenses when the offense lets him loose on bubble screens and shorter routes. Unisa's speed through his routes allows him to fly by the secondary and make the athletic catch over the top. DBs better not try to undercut Unisa's short routes either, because if they guess wrong you can be sure Unisa will tear on by downfield for the easy catch. Getting Unisa involved in the run game is a must for Franklin next season. This will only elevate Franklin's offense to the next level and make Unisa a bona fide weapon.      If you're noticing a trend, it's because North Brunswick is loaded with talent returning to the field in 2024. [player_tooltip player_id='402192' first='Anthony' last='Walker'] is another player added to the list of players that needs our attention within the division. Another two way starter that has the potential to play on either side of the ball at the next level, Anthony showed he can dominate on the ground and be a threat coming off of the edge.   Defensively, Anthony can line up anywhere across the line and find success. Coming hot off of the edge, Anthony explodes out of his stance and can round the edge with the speed necessary to beat the tackle off of the line. He can also line up interiorly and use power strikes to get leverage on the blocker and drive them backwards into the quarterback.   Offensively, Anthony can carry over the same skills he uses on defense to overpower any defender trying to wrap him up for the tackle. He's the type of back that picks up steam as he heads downfield, making it progressively more challenging to bring him to the ground.

Another division to get excited about, Big Central's National Silver has some big names with huge play making capabilities. While North Brunswick dominated the division in 2023 with an 8-1 record, they fell to Freehold in the state quarterfinals. Close behind North Brunswick was Sayreville, which finished the season with an 8-3 record and a loss to Mt. Olive in the sectional semifinals. Both of these teams have the ability to maintain control of the division, but other teams will look to increase the competition in 2024 and give them a run for their money.