Freshman Getting Reps in Early

Very few freshman ever get the opportunity to suit up on Friday nights for their varsity squad. If they do, you know there's something worth noting in that player. This holds true after Week 0 (and 1). These players did not need a slow, progressive exposure to the varsity squad. No, these five players stepped right onto the field in Week 0 and made an immediate impact.    I've been shining a lot of light on [player_tooltip player_id='992003' first='Chaz' last='Cusimano'] as of late, and it's all for good reason. I had a feeling a Delbarton freshman would see the field this season, but I was not expecting one to make such a big impact in their first game at the varsity level. Chaz made his presence known early in his career as he racked up 6 tackles and picked off the ball as well. All of Chaz' hard work in the offseason is paying off on the field. He balled out at multiple camps and combines and really elevated his status by competing with the best the state and country has to offer. Chaz's quick reaction time, buttery smooth hip movement, and acceleration out of a back peddle really sets him up to be a top defensive back in the class. This is a player I think will get offers early on in his career.     Nicholas Prato is a freshman player that I am not familiar with, Prep Redzone is not familiar with, and has no social media or highlights from previous seasons or camps. That beg the question, how did Nicholas make the list? When you look at the state as a whole after week 0, any player that pulled in multiple interceptions in the first week of the year is going to stand out to you. And it's going to draw your intention even more if you come to realize that player is a member of the 2028 class. Nicholas Prato intercepted the ball twice in his first game at the varsity level, and that alone puts him on my radar and should be a player every scout should keep an eye on the rest of the season.     Don't look now, but St. Thomas Aquinas may have found their quarterback of the future. [player_tooltip player_id='751653' first='Zymere' last='Weaver'] stepped right into the most difficult and important position in the sport and flourished immediately. St. Thoms Aquinas may not have come out of Week 0 victorious, but they have gained a lot of confidence and a clear vision for their future. Zymere started his career off throwing 12 for 15, 179 yards and 2 touchdowns to go with it. Size, strength, speed and pure athletic abilities; these are the best ways to describe Zymere, as he has the potential to truly be one of the best QBs coming out of NJ in 2028. What was fascinating to see is Zymere's patience in the pocket in his first game at the varsity level. It looked like he was a veteran with how calm he stood in the pocket and how he wasn't flustered when flushed to the outside. St. Thomas Aquinas has a young squad that will get even better with time.      How often do you come across a freshman that led the team in rushing, receiving, and second in tackles in his first time on the field? [player_tooltip player_id='1548605' first='Patrick' last='Randolph'] made a statement last weekend as he became the focal point of Park Ridge's success on both sides of the ball. With over 150 total offensive yards and a touchdown, Patrick stepped right into a large role for Park Ridge's offense and delivered with every opportunity he was given.   Defensively, Patrick is one of those defenders that has a nose for the ball and always has a sense of which direction the play is heading. He was able to get involved in a lot of the stops, as he racked up 12 total tackles. Not only did Patrick fly to the ball for tackles, but he also made an interception as well. [player_tooltip player_id='1548605' first='Patrick' last='Randolph'] may be the full package.      It only took one carry for [player_tooltip player_id='1295599' first='Kenneth' last='Sharperson'] to potentially alter his usability on Morristown's offense. On his first run on the varsity level, Kenneth took it to the house for a long, 50 yard touchdown. This carry alone probably gave the coaching staff more confidence in handing the freshman the ball. On the limited carries I have seen out of Kenneth, he reminds me a lot of a very impactful freshman in New Jersey in [player_tooltip player_id='284069' first='Najee' last='Calhoun']. I was very high on Najee 2 years ago, and he is now the star running back for Bergen Catholic. [player_tooltip player_id='1295599' first='Kenneth' last='Sharperson'] may be on a similar trajectory if he continues showing his skills at such a young age. Kenneth looks like he has the traits necessary to separate from defenders in the open field, and also the agility and ability to bounce the play to the outside if he runs into trouble. Keep a close eye on Morristown this season.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Ksharp27/status/1829901996519768541 </div></figure>

Very few freshman ever get the opportunity to suit up on Friday nights for their varsity squad. If they do, you know there's something worth noting in that player. This holds true after Week 0 (and 1). These players did not need a slow, progressive exposure to the varsity squad. No, these five players stepped right onto the field in Week 0 and made an immediate impact.