Dominant North Jersey Defenders: Part I

Onto the defensive side of the ball where we will dedicate multiple parts in the series to cover the best players North Jersey has to offer. While I typically break the coverage down positionally, I decided for these next few articles to focus on defenders as a whole to get a blend of different positions as well as skillsets. North Jersey has very strong and prominent names on the defensive line, but I think there are more players that can become uncovered in the secondary as well as at the linebacker position. Because of this, the next article will focus mostly on those two positions in the next part of the series.    A smaller D lineman lining up on the outside, [player_tooltip player_id='910908' first='Jayden' last='Ciullo'] is one of the northern defenders to pay attention to in 2024. North Jersey is crowded with defensive line talent, making it tough for players coming from smaller schools to get any recognition. Jayden is a constant presence on the outside that offenses need to contend with play in and play out. He is quick off of the line and can accelerate towards the runner or QB when the opportunity arises. Jayden may not be the biggest or quickest, but he does an exceptional job shutting down the run on the outside and bringing the play to an end. Jayden is fit for a program looking for a dedicated player that doesn't stop until the whistle is blow.      One of the most explosive defenders you will find in northern New Jersey, [player_tooltip player_id='994289' first='Eahjay' last='McAdams'] is on a mission to prove he should be considered one of the top talents in the state. The total package for a linebacker, Eahjay really excelled in 2023 as he racked up 80 tackles and got to the QB 3 times. Extremely athletic and having an instinct for the ball, Eahjay is absolutely destructive to a offense's game plan. It is scary to see how Eahjay plays the position. Very few players can fly around the field and cover ground as quickly as he can. He is one of those defenders that constantly has his feet moving, always prepared to move in any direction to make a big play.   Committing to Marshall in June, Eahjay is another one of those players that I think other programs will try to pry him away after they see what he does during his senior campaign.        A linebacker that put up incredible stats in 2023, [player_tooltip player_id='999505' first='Nick' last='Kurilko'] is returning for his junior season where he will extend the success he started a year ago. Nick is one of those commanding defenders that can truly take control of a game and stop any momentum an opponent is starting to build. Flying all over the field in 2023 to rack up 102 tackles, Nick is a name you will hear often when you attend one of Newton's games.   No matter where the play is being made, Nick is in on the tackle. With the natural instinct to find the ball and anticipate the play, Nick is able to disrupt the play early on as he can shed blocks, get skinny, and come in low for the tackle. A sneaky fast defender, Nick can cover a lot of ground quickly and prevent the runner from getting to the outside, and stop the QB from scrambling out of the pocket. Nick is one of the top defensive talents in NJ and deserves that type of recognition.      The only player on this list not honing from a public school, Nazeem is in a position to get immediate recognition when he steps on the field for Paramus Catholic this fall. The #3 ranked LB in the NJ 2027 class, Nazeem is an impressive athlete with a ton of upside. To me, it looks like Nazeem is made to play the strong safety position. Versatile on the defensive side of the ball, Nazeem is a valuable asset in pass coverage as well as in run defense. Nazeem is quick and reactive to the play, having the ability to drop into coverage with speed and keep up with the top receivers on the opponent's offense. In the defensive run game, Nazeem can recognize the play quickly and charge up field to make a play on the outside.   A phenomenal open field tackler, very few runners get away from Nazeem once he's within arms reach. He is extremely fast in his attack, closing in quickly on the runner and swiftly bringing them to the ground before they ever get a chance to make a move. Always itching for a big hit, Nazeem can deliver punishing tackles to any runner or blocker heading his direction.        The final defender to cover in Part I of this series, [player_tooltip player_id='777888' first='Hunter' last='Chlodnicki'] is another talented linebacker coming from far up north in Sparta. Another destructive force, Hunter is terrorizing to opponents as his quick reflexes and instincts elevates him above his competition. What sets Hunter apart from other linebackers in the state is his ability to pounce at an opportunity when he sees an opening.   Hunter is a constant presence in the backfield. He can get skinny and dart between blockers to get into the backfield before anyone even notices the play's ending. On top of that, Hunter absolutely flies to the ball carrier. He can truly cover sideline to sideline, able to pursue the runner with impeccable angles to prevent them from gaining positive yardage. Hunter may be a smaller linebacker, but that shouldn't prevent him from playing at the next level. He is such a natural athlete that he could easily reposition himself as a strong safety or a rover. Either way, Hunter is arguably the most impressive hidden gem in all of Northern NJ.

Onto the defensive side of the ball where we will dedicate multiple parts in the series to cover the best players North Jersey has to offer. While I typically break the coverage down positionally, I decided for these next few articles to focus on defenders as a whole to get a blend of different positions as well as skillsets. North Jersey has very strong and prominent names on the defensive line, but I think there are more players that can become uncovered in the secondary as well as at the linebacker position. Because of this, the next article will focus mostly on those two positions in the next part of the series.