Shore's Top Wide Receivers to Watch This Season

[player_tooltip player_id='1476852' first='Nick' last='Thomas'] from Rumson-Fairhaven is a wide receiver to watch this season. Standing at 5'10”, Nick is all about separation. He's not just one of the best at creating space in the Shore Conference but arguably in New Jersey. His standout trait? Suddenness. Whether it's during route running or changing tempos, Nick excels. This ability to vary his pace is what sets him apart.   Nick's skill set goes beyond just getting open. He's reliable in traffic, showing a knack for making tough catches even under pressure. His ball-tracking skills are elite, especially on deep throws. Nick's ability to track and secure the ball downfield is exceptional. Moreover, his release of the line is another strong point. He consistently wins at the line of scrimmage, whether stacking defensive backs on deep routes or creating quick separation on slant patterns.   Last season, Nick caught 28 passes, but this year, he's expected to take on a much more significant role. With his ability to create separation, he's poised to double that reception total nearly. [player_tooltip player_id='1476852' first='Nick' last='Thomas'] is set to be one of the Shore's top receivers, and this season could be his breakout year.      [player_tooltip player_id='595191' first='Dante' last='Campagna'] from St. Joe's Vianney. At 5'10” and 170 pounds, Dante excels in the finer details of the game, often setting himself apart from others. Two standout traits define his play. First, his ability to find and exploit holes in the defense. Dante consistently finds open space, settles in, and makes critical catches. Second, his deceptive quickness. While he may not have elite speed, his acceleration is sharp, and he gets upfield fast, often creating yards after contact. With his first offer from McDaniel College, Dante is poised for his best season yet. Expect to see more of his complete route-running skill set on display this year.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/dante_campagna3/status/1827868088546566384 </div></figure>      From Red Bank Catholic, [player_tooltip player_id='1608095' first='Johnny' last='Williams'] splits time between wide receiver and running back; Johnny is best positioned as an athlete. As a receiver, he thrives in the short to intermediate areas of the field, becoming particularly dangerous once the ball is in his hands. His real strength lies in his ability to create yardage after the catch. With solid speed and quick acceleration, Johnny excels when he can make defenders miss in open space. His elusiveness is a crucial asset, allowing him to win one-on-one matchups consistently.   Johnny uses his speed when lined up as a running back to take advantage of the edges. He prefers running to space rather than between the tackles, where his ability to win one-on-one with his agility shines through. Johnny's versatility on the field is reminiscent of former Eagles great Darren Sproles, with his knack for impacting the game both as a running back and in the short passing game. With the departure of Emmanuel Ross to Syracuse, Johnny will be looked upon to take on a more significant role in the offense. He's a player to watch closely, as his performance this season could lead to him earning an offer.      [player_tooltip player_id='781001' first='Royalty' last='Riley'] is a 6'1”, 160-pound wide receiver who excels on special teams. As a kick returner, Royalty flashes his speed and elusiveness. He's a long strider, but he moves surprisingly quickly and can find open lanes for his size. Every time he touches the ball on a return, he's a threat to take it to the house.   As a wide receiver, Royalty boasts a well-rounded game. Though there's room for improvement in his route running, especially given his frame, he still manages to shine in contested situations. He's reliable in 50-50 battles, particularly downfield, and does most of his damage in the short to intermediate areas. His ability to catch the ball in traffic stands out, showing the same skills he uses as a returner to make plays after the catch. For a player his size, Royalty is impressively elusive. He also has dependable hands, whether it's tracking the ball deep or securing key passes in the red zone for touchdowns.   Royalty holds offers from the University of Temple and Delaware State, and his versatility makes him a player to watch this season.      Marquis Goins Jr. from Manchester Township is a 5'9”, 155-pound athlete who excels at wide receiver and cornerback. Despite his size, Marquis plays an incredibly physical brand of football. As a wide receiver, his standout trait is his play after the catch, particularly his contact balance when facing defenders. His stout lower half and solid upper body make him difficult to bring down, allowing him to shrug off would-be tacklers easily. Marquis isn't afraid to go over the middle, make tough catches, and lower his shoulder to take on any defensive back. His physicality defines his approach to the wide receiver position.   On the defensive side, Marquis brings the same level of toughness, tenacity, and physicality to the cornerback position. While his coverage reps are limited, he's made his presence felt with big plays in the run game, blowing up screens and forcing fumbles. His tackling ability is solid, showing he can handle the physical demands of the position.   Marquis is a dynamic two-way player down at the shore, and there's a lot of excitement around what he'll bring to the field this season. With his physical play on both sides of the ball, Marquis is poised to have a breakout year and potentially earn some offers.