2025 Rankings Update: Big-time Adds from the Watch List, Part II

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Enjoy our newest rankings release. Use promo code “mankarious30” for 30% off your first subscription to Prep Redzone New Jersey.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1099787"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66acfd4045173"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1099787' first='Anthony' last='Nittoli'] was recently covered in a piece about sleepers with film that I love; however, this does not exclude him from being one of prospects, formerly of our watchlist, who shot up the rankings. Nittoli currently sits as the #1 linebacker in the state. Despite being listed at just 5'9", Nittoli plays at an equally high level in coverage, walked up off the edge, or at standard linebacker depth. He has the speed and hustle that few other prospects from this rankings update have. A solid tackler who is always buzzing around the field and exploding into breaks, perhaps what makes Nittoli special - and perhaps what sold me on him - is that, again, despite his size, he can take on much bigger offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage, use his hands, and disengage with their blocks by hitting a move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Ranking: Watch List</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current State Ranking: 43</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current Positional Ranking: 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14627193/656cbc4ea677250bdcd95cd8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66acfd4045324"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/anthony_nittoli/status/1816901326221291809","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1816901326221291809 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1054402"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66acfd404537e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Akin to Nittoli, [player_tooltip player_id='1054402' first='Aaron' last='Melick'] was also recently covered in my recent piece about sleeper prospects whose film I loved. In a deep defensive line group, Melick is a disruptive prospect at the nose. Very active and physical with his hands, Melick always seems to be getting off moves - powerful and exaggerated rips as well as identifying and swimming low hats. He reads jboth his pressure and visual keys well, doing so to maintain his gap as it moves. Melick has a knack to get into the backfield often and has good zeroing speed when chasing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Ranking: Watch List</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current State Ranking: 86</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current Positional Ranking: 19</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18525859/656673a80660c207a4ae1833' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66acfd40453a4"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/aaron_melick66/status/1805278057554399491","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["995367"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66acfd40453e9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I expect a big season from [player_tooltip player_id='995367' first='Jalen' last='Cline']. The current Shabazz Bulldog was imported from St. Peter's Prep during the offseason and is a very good vertical runner. He has shown to have the speed to separate from defenders in the open field at the parochial school level. To restate that, he has elite, top-end speed. Cline is inclined to use the stiff arm to create space, thus setting up better angles for himself from defender. Similarly, he will slow down and accelerate, changing speeds to accomplish the same result. This speaks to his ability to breakdown and change directions - something he even does in the backfield. To tie it back together, with his speed showcased on the varsity against the state's best competition, I fully expect him to dominate Group I competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Ranking: Watch List</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current State Ranking: 56</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current Positional Ranking: 6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16276621/633b6827386387045045891b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66acfd4045408"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jalencline2/status/1633183095661686788","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jalencline2/status/1633183095661686788 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["994289"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66acfd404544a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='994289' first='Eahjay' last='McAdams'] is somewhat of a 'tweener that is currently ranked as the #12 defensive linemen in the state, but would probably be ranked much higher if he was listed as a linebacker. On film we see that McAdams alternated between playing off the edge and at mike in West Orange's 33 stack. Regardless of where he lined up, McAdams is way too fast for running backs to pick up. Moving a lot pre-snap, he is able to time his blitzes and shoot the backside window well when doing so. An absolute full speed, max effort type player, he will absolutely stick an opponent and work them backwards with textbook leg drive. The momentous force that he is, his motor has the ability to stonewall opponents in their tracks. Interestingly enough, for as downhill and full steam ahead that he is, he recognizes screens well and hustles back to them. A current Marshall commit, it will be interesting to see how and where the Mountaineers deploy McAdams this year - which may ultimately dictate where he gets ranked by season's end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Ranking: Watch List</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current State Ranking: 105</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current Positional Ranking: 12</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16859855/65497e9fb53ecb099c80daa6' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66acfd4045467"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/EahJayMcAdams/status/1806738535610769846","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/EahJayMcAdams/status/1806738535610769846 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1040432"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66acfd40454a8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">South Jersey returns their leading rusher from last year: Woodstown's Bryce Belifanti. Belifanti plays with good pad level, especially as he sinks his hips when he is prepared to make a move. He has good change of direction, and great vision to compliment it, as he will find green grass and rip off big gainers. Belifanti saves much of his speed for when he enters and rushes past the second level of a defense. Often the fastest player on the field, he runs with forward lean and has a clear burst as he rushes through the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Ranking: Watch List</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current State Ranking: 64</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current Positional Ranking: 8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12974497/655aa46ada5b5a082c844100' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66acfd40454c8"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BelinfantiBryce/status/1816593700564185153","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BelinfantiBryce/status/1816593700564185153 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->