Midseason New Jersey Pass Rusher of the Year Candidates

With just over half the season past, it is time that we look at some of the top pass rushing play from across our great, Garden State. Below you will breakout candidates and a brief case as to why they deserve to be the top player at their position.    Season Stats: 47 tackles (24 solo), 13 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick, 1 safety   Best Game: 10 tackles (2 solo), 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick vs. Glassboro   Worst Game: 5 tackles (1 solo), 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss vs. Burlington Township   Case For:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Consistent production. Has recorded a sack in every game and several tackles for loss per game.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>1-5 record implies they play from behind often, allowing the opponent to run the ball and control the clock.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Saw him and his brother live about three times at spring amp circuit. Compete, fight, accept and apply coaching, and want to constantly improve.</li> </ul>   Case Against:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Team appears to be fortunate to have several good pass rushers. They have sacked the quarterback 30 times so far.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Weak schedule. Have an OSI of 40.98</li> </ul>     Season Stats: 22 tackles (5 solo), 9 sacks, 10 tackles for loss   Best Game: 7 tackles (1 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 3 sacks @ Fair Lawn   Worst Game: 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss vs. Belleville   Case For:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Manages to get into the backfield frequently. There are no games where he is a non-factor.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Has 9 of team's 19 sacks on the season.</li> </ul>   Case Against:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Plays in Super Football Conference Ivy Division, making them ineligible for the playoffs.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Closest contest was a 21-point win, implying opposing teams are behind and have to throw the ball with regularity.</li> </ul>     Season Stats: 53 tackles (27 solo), 9 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 1 scoop & score   Best Game: 8 tackles (2 solo), 6 sacks, 2 tackles for loss vs. Woodbury   Worst Game: 7 tackles (4 solo), 2 tackles for loss vs. Deptford   Case For:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Extremely productive for interior defensive lineman</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Capable of monster, career games. </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Good schedule, second highest OSI in South I at 55.02.</li> </ul>   Case Against:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Plays at a Group I school</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Has been neutralized in two contests. </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Team wins big often. Unsure if he gets pulled or opposing team gets pass happy when down.</li> </ul>     Season Stats: 34 tackles (8 solo), 8 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 scoop & score   Best Game: 6 tackles (2 solo), 2 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 1 scoop & score @ Parsippany Hills   Worst Game: 4 tackles (1 solo) vs. Chatham   Case For:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Has totaled 8 of his team's 18 total sacks.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Tough schedule, fourth highest OSI in North III at 59.69</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Can make argument that he is not even the best player on his defense. Five teammates have made more tackles than him.</li> </ul>   Case Against:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>No game he has played in has been particularly close. Team has played with and maintained big leads. </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Very good team with Strength Index of 78.32.</li> </ul>     Season Stats: 40 tackles, 8 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception   Best Game: 6 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery vs. Irvington   Worst Game: 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss vs. Barringer   Case For:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Used in a variety of ways in his team's 3-3-5 defense</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Productive player that always seems to be around the ball. Leads his team in tackles.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Consistent performer. One "bad" game was against a team they ran the clock against. </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Fifth toughest schedule in North V (50.79 OSI)</li> </ul>   Case Against:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>May benefit from scheme and/or team's skillset. Team has, collectively, gotten to the quarterback 27 times.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Plays on a very good team and program. Strength Index of 81.36</li> </ul>     Season Stats: 42 tackles (24 solo), 8 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception   Best Game: 6 tackles (3 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks @ Mt. Zion Prep (MD)   Worst Game: 4 tackles (2 solo), 2 tackles for loss vs. St. Frances (MD)   Case For:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Six of his seven games have been played on the road</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Plays a national schedule against opponents that recruit their players</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Consistent performer. One "bad" game was against a team they lost big to</li> </ul>   Case Against:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Unfamiliar opponents due to out of state schedule</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>At a 5-year prep school, may have re-classed</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Has blown out five of seven opponents. Expect them to throw the ball often from behind</li> </ul>     Season Stats: 56 tackles (24 solo), 8 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble   Best Game: 10 tackles (6 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble @ Morristown   Worst Game: 4 tackles (1 solo) vs. Morris Knolls   Case For:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Capable of taking over any given game with dominant performances</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Extremely active, currently second on the team in tackles as a defensive lineman</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Third toughest schedule in North III with an OSI of 62.81</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Anchors a dominant defense that has allowed 7 points or less in five straight games, allowing double-digits only once</li> </ul>   Case Against:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Inconsistent performances, some games he is neutralized to having limited statistical impact</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Dominant team with a Strength Index of 87.18</li> </ul>     Season Stats: 40 tackles, 11 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble   Best Game: 10 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks vs. Haddon Heights   Worst Game: 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss vs. Watchung Hills   Case For:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Very consistent performer. Has had four-straight multiple sack games.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Major varsity contributor: has had 9 sacks or more the last three seasons</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Is his team's leading tackler from his defensive line spot</li> </ul>   Case Against:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Plays a poor schedule that has an OSI of 34.05</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Team finds itself playing from behind often and thus forced to play catch up.</li> </ul>

With just over half the season past, it is time that we look at some of the top pass rushing play from across our great, Garden State. Below you will breakout candidates and a brief case as to why they deserve to be the top player at their position.