2026 Rankings Update: Scout’s Favorite Film, Part V

<!-- 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>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> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212387"],"_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-66e048ff8a76d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although I am unfamiliar with the quarterback situation last season at Randolph, [player_tooltip player_id='212387' first='Jackson' last='Magley'] was one of two quarterbacks to got significant burn and looked like a capable quarterback who is also capable of much more on the football field. As a standard drop-back passer, Magley appears relaxed in the pocket, and at his best, can hit his target in stride. Aided by a quick release, defensive backs do not have much of an opportunity to break on the ball. Under the duress of a crumbling pocket, we see the junior keep his eyes downfield until the last moment when he decides that there is no more time to buy. All this speaks to his capabilities his standard quarterback skillset, now let us address the "much more" part of his game. Often times Randolph featured two quarterbacks on the field at any given moment. First, Magley was used in the return game, taking one to the house. This demonstration of speed also was utilized on jet motions from the slot and option plays. A good runner, Magley's dynamism and versatility is sure to spur on the imagination of offensive coordinators. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18075020/664fb7ebe60130f88f729a7e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e048ff8a8f9"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JacksonMagley/status/1817212718568423539","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/JacksonMagley/status/1817212718568423539 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["829435"],"_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-66e048ff8a94f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A top-25 prospect in his class, [player_tooltip player_id='829435' first='Matthew' last='Alvarez'] had film that I certainly enjoyed. With two seasons yet to play, expect him to rise in the rankings over the course of those two seasons. First, Alvarez does an outstanding job weaponizing the snap count, using it to his advantage to bully down linemen. His bully tendencies are only augmented by his tendency to fire out low and hard. Quick feet are also a big part of his game, making him able to easily reach playside and handle speed rushers alike. Should he get cross faced, expect his matchup to take a dive due to Alvarez's instincts to bury his matchup with a down block. Hand placement is important to Alvarez too, as we see his hands stay tight into his opponent's chest. Lastly, Alvarez does an outstanding job finishing is double teams before coming up to seal the second level - often not having to do much of it due to the displacement he achieves. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19747652/651b90968cdddb12284eedf2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e048ff8a970"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/59M4tt/status/1832512628620505303","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/59M4tt/status/1832512628620505303 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284065"],"_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-66e048ff8a9b6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It should really come as no surprise that the state's #1 overall prospect for the class of 2026 has outstanding film. [player_tooltip player_id='284065' first='Jordan' last='Thomas'], a cornerback, does an extremely good job of playing bump and run. His tight, glue-like coverage might only be outdone by the tremendous break on the ball he gets on a consistent basis, often finding himself getting under the receiver's route to make a play on the ball. A long defender with long arms, he can jam receivers well and not let go of them. Lastly, Thomas has bursts of speed, tackles with correct leverage, and flies up, tackling low when doing so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18759638/651a1232b534d311a0cd9894' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66e048ff8a9d5"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jordanthomas_21/status/1817203668141162757","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/jordanthomas_21/status/1817203668141162757 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->