NJ's Top Sophomores of September: Defense Edition

Onto the defensive side of the ball where the 2027 class is once again shining in the Garden State. What impresses me the most about this list is there are very few names I was familiar with before researching the class for this article. The first athlete, [player_tooltip player_id='910868' first='Benjamin' last='Carter Jr.'], is a household name, but all of the others are newcomers and the first time I am highlighting them in an article. Seeing players rise out of the masses is what makes Prep Redzone so valuable in finding hidden talent across the state.    One of NJ's best all around athletes, [player_tooltip player_id='910868' first='Benjamin' last='Carter Jr.'] is living up to the hype in his sophomore campaign. An elite edge rusher/outside linebacker, Benji's play on the field deserves statewide recognition. A defender with long arms and quick, decisive movements, Benji is able to use his length to drive linemen away from his body and also swat their arms away from him. The combination of first step quickness and a variety of hand movements allows Benji to get into the backfield unimpeded and get into the face of the QB quickly. Getting to the quarterback 3 times this far this season, Carter has a motor that never stops running and he will fight to get to the ball carrier until the final whistle.      Speed. That is the best word to describe Camaj coming off of the edge. Camaj has been terrorizing opposing quarterbacks through his ruthless pursuit and quick, dynamic movement against much slower offensive linemen. Through only four games, Camaj has been in the backfield just as much as the QBs as he has racked up 7 sacks already. As you can see from the video below, his speed off of the edge catches the offense off guard and he can put pressure on the pocket before the QB ever gets a chance to set his feet. Making 11 tackles for a loss thus far as well, Camaj may be the leader in sacks in New Jersey by the end of the season.      A force on the field, [player_tooltip player_id='1532426' first='Brody' last='Conway'] has been an absolute menace to opposing offenses. Brody has consistently put up big number performances, as he has racked double digit tackles in every game thus far this season. Brody is a strong bodied linebacker (5'10" 200lb) that is able to anticipate the play and scrape quickly to fill the gaps and bring the back to the ground. Already compiling 59 total tackles in 5 games, Brody's presence is is a constant reminder to the opponent as he is always emerging from the pile. Brody has one sack on the season as well, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had a few more opportunities to get into the backfield this season.     Boonton is 3-2 on the season with a few tough losses in their past but also have a couple big wins throughout as well. Boonton's defense has played stout in their wins, as they have let up only 18 total points in three games combined. Boonton's defense has been dominant on all fronts in those wins, but one of the players that's having a huge impact on the outcome of the game is Josiah Chaplain. Josiah a young linebacker that continues to find himself in the right place at the right time. Making plays at every level of the game, Josiah has 1 sack, 22 tackles and has picked the ball off 3 times thus far this season. In Boonton's season opener he made a big entrance as that is where he intercepted two of his three picks.     A massive presence on the defensive front, [player_tooltip player_id='1476922' first='John' last='DeVincenzo'] demands your attention. Overshadowing most O-linemen he lines up against, John is a near impossible force to stop for a full four quarters. John requires a double team if you want to slow his pursuit of the quarterback down. And even then, he can fight his way through it. Getting to the quarterback 4 times in the first four games of the season, John is able to blow up plays and make the quarterback run for his life nearly every time they drop back. Not only does John bring the pressure to the pocket, but he is a tackling machine any time the runner takes it up the gut. With 22 tackles on the season, it's best for opposing offenses to scheme away from John has he can bring some serious hurting to their backs. To top it all off, with the hard hits John delivers he has also forced a fumble on the season as well.     Size is not a factor in Tyler Fuscado's effect on the game. While Seton Hall Prep did not walk away from their Saturday game victorious, there is a lot to look forward to in this linebacker. While he may not be amassing huge statistics through the season thus far, he is making the most of his opportunities on the field and impacting the game like few others in his class. Through the first four games of the season Tyler has been able to find his way into the backfield and bring the quarterback to the ground 3.5 times. Tyler is a name to keep an on eye on as he gains more opportunities in the future.

Onto the defensive side of the ball where the 2027 class is once again shining in the Garden State. What impresses me the most about this list is there are very few names I was familiar with before researching the class for this article. The first athlete, Benjamin Carter Jr. Benjamin Carter Jr. 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH Camden Eastside | 2027 State NJ , is a household name, but all of the others are newcomers and the first time I am highlighting them in an article. Seeing players rise out of the masses is what makes Prep Redzone so valuable in finding hidden talent across the state.