Game Changing Athletes Vol.6: New Jersey (10/30/24)

Athletes have become a normal description now for evaluating football players with multiple skill sets. It's not enough to be good at more than one position, but be noticeably better than most and these five young men have what it takes to be noticed on both sides of the line of scrimmage.    Sonny is a speedy athlete who is offensive weapon at multiple positions. With his decent size he can run through arm tackles, and push the pile if need be. So don't assume he just relies on quickness to escape defenders. He also sees the second and third levels well and shows a lot of control on routes.     Dawg Pound Elite has a versatile prospect in [player_tooltip player_id='1543878' first='Jacob' last='Jordan']. Even though he can lay claim to also playing offense, I believe defense is where he will call home. Jordan is somewhere between an Outside Linebacker and Strong Safety with the way he reacts, reads, and responds without hesitation. The way he tracts hips. Cuts off lanes, leaves feet to make tackle, and doesn't wait to be blocked is elite level recognition. It will be fun to watch this young man mature from afar.     Mr. Hooper is a talented athlete who is a bonified threat on both sides of the football. He's long, and being physical doesn't typically come with this build, but Elijah is a dog. Playing defensive back comes natural and he has great ball skills. At running back, his balance and maneuverability is clutch when yards are needed. Kid has a lot of upside going into high school. Jersey Shore AYF has selected him as a member of it's 14U All-Star team.     Don't let Nehemiah's size full you. This young man gets after it. Top notch ball skills, and great in space whether he's splitting defenders or making an open field tackle. Fast, quick and finishing plays. If it was up to me, I would have Lewis all over the football field. He has so many talents that can be used in various situations to create unfair match ups. His passion and play making ability will take him a long way in the future.     [player_tooltip player_id='1525522' first='Akhi' last='Crooms'] is a standout athlete that will grace the big stage in December, as a member of the NJAYF 14U All-Star team. The younger brother of 2026 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='284076' first='Welman' last='Crooms'], the athletic genes are here too. Ahki is very talented as a runner and tackler. Being able to flip flop each side and turn the hit switch on and off is a gift. His frame will develop perfectly and he's not afraid of hard work. Watching him make plays with good pad level, pop out of stance, and overall total body strength is impressive. This prospect has a really bright future.

Athletes have become a normal description now for evaluating football players with multiple skill sets. It's not enough to be good at more than one position, but be noticeably better than most and these five young men have what it takes to be noticed on both sides of the line of scrimmage.