2026 Ranking: Prospects that Improved Their Rank the Most, Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <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> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After milling through countless hours of Hudl and Qwickcut film, the 2025 Prep Redzone New Jersey player rankings were in a dire need for a serious update. After rolling up my sleeves and getting to work, here are the prospects who performed at an extremely high level last fall, and thus, made the biggest jump in our official rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284058"],"_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-66d86731824df"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Previous Overall Rank: 71<br>New Overall Rank: 10<br>New Positional Rank: 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One thing that I absolutely love about [player_tooltip player_id='284058' first='Cartier' last='Canady'] is that he advertises himself as a nickel, a thing I do not see much of. Cover skills aside, Canady is a a threat off the edge as well which is aided by his superb tackling skills. On the same token, we see him bend the corner on the backside well and can play the run to his side well. Canady's hips flip very well and he is explosive, turning and running, having the makeup speed to cover ground when he is rubbed. If he is truly 190lbs, plays, and moves like he does, he will be instantly in the conversation to start at the star position in college.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15129241/6574e97f5cb3e1173c472fcb' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d867318267d"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ImCartierC1/status/1823166908092260790","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/ImCartierC1/status/1823166908092260790 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284059"],"_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-66d86731826d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Previous Overall Rank: 74<br>New Overall Rank: 11<br>New Positional Rank: 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delbarton's [player_tooltip player_id='284059' first='Chris' last='Dadas'] is another prospect that shot up the rankings during our last update. Unlike most linemen I watch at the high school level, Dadas is unique in the fact that he has a very low stance <em>and </em>a get off that maintains superior pad level. This is supplemented with his strength, where we see him fight off linemen in front of him to play either his gap or the adjacent gap. A stout-yet-skilled player, Dadas is hard to reach and also hard for offensive linemen to gallop. He scrapes down the line of scrimmage very well and avoids running upfield, making many plays at the line. Something I wish I was able to coach better, Dadas will sometimes opt to spike his knee when doubling. With a good base and strong upper body, he is difficult to move and plays like he owns the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18165703/65bd3560a0181513d4837d37' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d86731826fc"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/chris_dadas","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/chris_dadas </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212399"],"_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-66d8673182745"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Previous Overall Rank: 65<br>New Overall Rank: 7<br>New Positional Rank: 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From Don Bosco, [player_tooltip player_id='212399' first='Rhett' last='Morris'] is one of the state's top offensive linemen from the class of 2026. Morris works his hands upward and into his opponent's chest, gaining leverage and walking them backwards. We also see him keep his eyes peeled inside when pulling. In the Ironmen's screen package, Morris gets downfield well and understands his assignment, while also propelling defensive linemen upfield with an excellent club. In pass protection Morris hand fights, often batting his opponent's hands down. A physical player, he likes to really take it to people and has the ability to totally demolish down-linemen on 1on1 blocks. Lastly, and perhaps most paramount, is that Morris accomplishes this by keeping his feet moving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17949204/65523558d45e9c0ba0b39886' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d8673182769"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/RhettMorris64/status/1831307436461789211","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/RhettMorris64/status/1831307436461789211 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212395"],"_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-66d86731827ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Previous Overall Rank: 64<br>New Overall Rank: 36<br>New Positional Rank: 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a linebacker set to graduate in 2026, you will be hard-pressed to find many better than [player_tooltip player_id='212395' first='Matt' last='Occhipinti']. Occhipinti absolutely flies to the outside with passes along the perimeter, while bringing physicality to blockers along the perimeter. He also has the athleticism and speed to cover #2 in evens. When defending the pass, Occhipinti will play the hands, following through on hits bat. Occhipinti is solid when he breaks down and wraps even better. I liked how Occhipinti reads his keys, seeing and flying to the ball. He uses his hands very well, too, when disengaging and pass rushing. A good runner, Occhipinti is able to run with wheel routes most of the game and pursues the ball very well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17949212/6552688f32dc1100e442d187' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d86731827d0"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MattOcchipinti1/status/1755634783130898662","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/MattOcchipinti1/status/1755634783130898662 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->