Midseason Scouting Notebook: PSAL Defense

A breakdown of some PSAL defensive prospects who have stood out to me so far this season. I have been able to evaluate some of these guys live, while others have some midseason film out that I was able to get my eyes on. Plenty more prospects are performing at a high level, as this article features some of the standouts this season.    The Curtis defense has been exceptional this year - in league play, they have allowed 31 points (7.75ppg), and a big reason for that has been the performance of the defensive line, and it starts with [player_tooltip player_id='402266' first='Jarrett' last='Serate'] on the inside - Serate has a lot of experience for a Junior, he ranked as one of the top freshmen in his class but dipped a little as there were no notable improvements in his film sophomore season.   This season, Serate has been exceptional, and it started in a game I saw Curtis play against Moore Catholic to kick off the season - and so far, their only loss of the season. Moore Catholic is stacked with playmakers, and Serate controlled the LOS at the point of attack and made several plays that came off blocks. His ability to anchor and hold the ground consistently has helped the Curtis defense stifle multiple big running offenses so far this season.     King jumps on this list, partly due to performance, but a live evaluation of his physical frame and movement skills stood out. King already holds an offer from Wagner and has the body type and frame of a college safety. He shows good short-area burst and closing speed in space. In the specific game I saw him in, King did a really good job coming into the box, getting off blocks, and wrapping up as a tackler.   His midseason film does not have a ton of coverage reps, but from the few on tape and what I saw live - he is the type of player you bring down into the slot position and drop into hook/curl zones as opposed to a deep half or third, but he has the frame to compete in the box from that slot position.     Morales led the PSAL in INTs and made our rankings evaluated as a WR, but his midseason tape indicates Safety might be in a better position for a college projection. He's got good ball skills and has some tough INTs on tape but his instincts and ability to play fast from the safety position really get him in areas to make plays.     Based off what he did Freshman year, I liked Marshall a lot as a running back - his size and ability to change direction stood out on film. This year - I've seen him play two halves of football (2 separate games) and added in some film evals, and I think as a sophomore, he might be standing out more as a linebacker. He has an excellent frame for either position and is well defined/muscular athlete - he is physical with his hands can get off blocks, and shows the explosive movements in space and solid closing speed in the open field.     We all know Bent as one of the top running backs in New York, and he has continued to be that again this season for Tottenville, a part of New York's best RB duo - but it is his defensive performance that has stood out in addition to what we expected on offense. His measurables suggest a potential future at defensive back if there is an alternative to running back. He lines up in a Nickel position, and his speed and ability to play fast, trusting his eyes and instincts, is what makes him a dynamic defensive playmaker. Before this season, I had never really thought of Bent as anything but an RB, and that probably is still his best position, but he is showing another level to his game with what he has done on defense and the positional versatility he could bring to the next level.     Wallace did not come out of nowhere, as he was in the E-Hall defensive pipeline for a while and made the move with his DL coach to Canarsie, but it is the opportunity for playing time that Wallace has taken advantage of and has been a big performer for Canarsie early on.   With a few sacks, TFLs, and some solid film through the first half of the season, Wallace has hopped onto my radar from just a name to a guy who has become a solid DE/EDGE in the PSAL. On film, he plays with good discipline, especially defending the read option, and consistently uses his hands to win at the point of attack.     The Erasmus Hall defense is still one of the top groups in New York through midseason, and Dijon Cruz is one of the top performers in their front seven this season on film. Aruz has done a good job of tackling in space, and when I saw the Dutchman play Canarsie, he flashed some nice blitzes and contain of the quarterback. As a blizter, he uses timing and his speed to close and does a good job of breaking down and tackling effectively in space.     Smith, an EDGE/OLB type player, plays with great discipline on the edge. You see a lot of stuff in his midseason tape defending the Wing-T and Zone Options, where he is the guy the QB reads, and he does a great job of staying disciplined in those moments. He is a solid open-field tackler and plays with a great motor, but that edge discipline on film stands out.

A breakdown of some PSAL defensive prospects who have stood out to me so far this season. I have been able to evaluate some of these guys live, while others have some midseason film out that I was able to get my eyes on. Plenty more prospects are performing at a high level, as this article features some of the standouts this season.