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

<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>Having mentioned [player_tooltip player_id='345431' first='Nicholas' last='Rossi'] by name a few times by now, you should realize that he is a standout linebacker who plays the game with a fire, passion, and the right way. Perhaps he was born to play in a different era of football, you could say of Rossi's game that <em>"they don't make 'em like this no more."</em> Rossi is a linebacker who flies down hill and is smart, keeping his head out of the tackle. He will also execute a squared-up hit, wrap, drive tackle. Seeing his keys well enough, he gets to the direct of the play with ease and tracks the ball carrier's hip extremely well. He is efficient with his movement and, perhaps my favorite thing about his game, Rossi is excited and fired up to make big plays and play the game of football.</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/NicholasRossi26/status/1818357805143015716 </div></figure>    <p>Another prospect that needs to be on the radar of more schools is Union City's [player_tooltip player_id='829410' first='Omar' last='Tillman']. Coming across as an instinctive end who is coached very well, we see that Tillman reads his keys and reacts accordingly, swimmingly low hats, fighting the reach, or squeezing when unblocked. When squeezing against option, he is quick enough to surf and also take away the quarterback keep against less athletic quarterbacks. Tillman also has the strength to extend and lock out on weaker offensive linemen, has the discipline to spin back when the quarterback step sup in the pocket, and also stacks offensive linemen's heels when he gets behind them. Lastly, the Union City signature is ingrained in his DNA: hands on, step, squeeze, wrong arm, and u-turn. Every. Time.</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/omartillman13/status/1792987978681254168 </div></figure>    <p>In recent memory from what I recall of watching Summit's film, there key players are damn good. [player_tooltip player_id='1002364' first='Oscar' last='Marx'], a safety, fits that mold. Marx reads, and thus supports, the run extremely well and tackles with the correct leverage, and can pick-up-and-dump a ball carrier. Similarly, he can set a hard edge to either make the play or force a play. Lastly, Marx flies up and plays short passes as if he was reading run. With the ability to totally smack someone in the open field, Marx is unafraid of contact, often looking to stick you when in the box. Asked to play cornerback at times, Marx can run and squeezes his receiver to the sideline.</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/OscarMarx13/status/1820170029163573321 </div></figure>    <p>A linebacker who, contingent upon his senior season, may earn himself more notoriety is Red Bank Catholic's [player_tooltip player_id='829417' first='Patrick' last='McGonnell']. Often used as an edge, McGonnell uses his hips to generate power and jolt an offender back while he works to create separation in his upper half. McGonnell will use his body when coming from space and be physical with oncoming blockers, blowing things up in the process. A good tackler, McGonnell gets low and breaks down. In coverage he will get hands on his opponent to disrupt the timing of their route. Lastly, and a big positive, is that McGonnell can run with receivers on switch/wheel concepts way downfield. </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/PMcGonnell34/status/1812961610375295332 </div></figure>    <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1300093' first='Peter' last='Donini'], where have you been? Previously unaware of this tremendous physical talent, I only came across on the camp circuit this spring. Phyiscally he checked all the boxes, ranking in the top 15% of campers in the broad jump, pro agility, and 40-yard dash. His long arms also enabled him to create and maintain separation from his defender, keeping them at bay. Basketball may have been in his background too, as film shows us Donini has really light feet that allow him to kick step gracefully and slide well. These feet, combined with his length, allow him to reach block effortlessly. In my opinion, it is only a matter of time before Donini busts through on the national recruiting scene. </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/PJD_46/status/1798417856658587720 </div></figure>    <p>I cannot believe I am saying this, but I do not expect Weequahic to have too much of a fall off from Rashawn Marshall's legendary career and last two seasons. [player_tooltip player_id='1093218' first='Reynaldo' last='Carter'] is the reason. Carter runs with a unique blend of speed, power, and explosion. Powerful, Carter will lean forward and lower his shoulder as impact nears. A disciplined runner who will follow his track and run as the paly was designed, Carter has a burst and different gear he can achieve in the open field. Carter has balance as a runner, breaking poor tackles and staying upright for additional yardage. At times his hips can be shifty when he has to quickly change direction. Two last things that often go understated that I appreciate about Carter's game is that he will protect the ball with two arms as defender's claw at it and also serves as a willing lead blocker near the goal line, sacrificing his body to blow up defenders.</p>

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