Stock Up Showcase, Positional Notes: Wide Receivers, Part II

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Be sure to follow me on Twitter at <a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">@BrendanScoutsNJ</a></em> <em>for the latest prospect-specific coverage both during the season and off-season.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>For my complete, comprehensive coverage of this event, scroll down the bottom of this article to read more!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With much of the event's groundwork already laid, it is time to discuss who-I-saw-do-what while at Sunday's Stock Up Showcase. Below are personal scouting notes from the action I witnessed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scout's Notes: Wide Receivers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps I date myself a little bit when I call it a "flag route," but for you young bucks out there just know that [player_tooltip player_id='1203417' first='Marquise' last='Chapman'] ran a great one. What is now commonly called as a corner route, Chapman did a great job not giving away his intentions with his body, pushing upfield. He then sunk his hips well, gave a little upper-body shimmy, as his defender flipped his hips late. By that time it was too late. Chapman had created too much separation for the defensive back to make up and scored with ease.... [player_tooltip player_id='1575230' first='Jayden' last='Gonzalez'] showed two things that stood out to me. First, he showed that he can track the ball extremely well to all destinations within his catch radius. Second, Gonzalez showed that he is willing to give up his body and do what it takes to add a reception to his tally. Gonzalez tracked a poorly thrown dirt ball to the ground, getting to his knees with his finger tips up, to nab a catch on a throw I do not think that most others would.... I really liked one particular rep that [player_tooltip player_id='1105253' first='Ethan' last='Espinal'] took. I saw Espinal run a super-crisp, super-tight out-and-up. As I watched him run, I could not tell where he was breaking next, or that he was attempting to break for that mater. No part of this elongated route was all that rounded. At the route's apex, Espinal adjusted to the cornerback well, fighting through and past him to gain an advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1105238' first='Tristan' last='Bester'] demonstrated some of the best skills when it comes to high pointing the ball. Bester did a great job of using his hands to catch the ball at its apex, only to spin and put his back to the defender to shield the ball from him. I described another one of his catches as a "gunshot" grab, meaning he violently went up and got it in a quick motion. Bester also showed how well he can move throughout the afternoon.... Another prospect who high points the ball well was [player_tooltip player_id='1575782' first='Eugenio' last='Garofalo']. Akin to Bester, on several occasions Garofalo was found plucking the ball off of the top of his matchup's helmet.... Despite the majority of his varsity burn coming at running back last year for Morristown, [player_tooltip player_id='1295599' first='Kenneth' last='Sharperson'] showed us that he is more than just a rusher. Signing up and participating exclusively at wide receiver, he showed us that he tracks the deep ball very well through the air. This sort of versatility could, perhaps, open up Morristown's offense a bit, with Sharperson being the key cog in it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An intriguing receiving prospect I could not exactly place was [player_tooltip player_id='1127302' first='Hazmire' last='Jones']. Jones was neither the fastest nor biggest receiver there, but the 2028 graduate flashed some real solid technique that ought to make him a threat as he ages. Jones sunk his hips really well, putting him in position to break off his stem every-and-any-which-way. Perhaps more importantly, however, was the fact that he seemed to lose no speed whatsoever when doing so. Mindful that my raw notes from the event did not account for age, I wrote down that Jones might be a good slot receiver. I watched him use his ability to sink and snap his hips, breaking a defender in the process, when he ran a zig. Lastly, Jones showed that he can stay with the ball really well when going to the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NJ Stock Up Showcase Tour Event Coverage</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/prznj-stock-up-showcase-4-offensive-prospects-im-pumped-to-see/">Event Preview: Offensive Prospects</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/prznj-stock-up-showcase-4-defensive-prospects-im-pumped-to-see/">Event Preview: Defensive Prospects</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/immediate-reaction-to-the-prep-redzone-njs-stock-up-showcase/">Immediate Reaction</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/skills-eye-test-college-ready-bodies-from-the-stock-up-showcase-2/">College-Ready Bodies: DB, LB, WR, TE</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/skills-eye-test-college-ready-bodies-from-the-stock-up-showcase/">College-Ready Bodies: OL, DL, QB, RB</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/stock-up-showcase-standout-40s-and-broad-jumps-2/">Top Combine Scores: 40-Yard Dash, Broad Jump</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/stock-up-showcase-standout-40s-and-broad-jumps/">Top Combine Scores: Pro Agility, L-Drill</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/stock-up-showcase-positional-notes-defensive-back-part-i/">Scout's Notes: Defensive Backs, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/stock-up-showcase-positional-notes-defensive-linemen-part-i/">Scout's Notes: Defensive Linemen, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/stock-up-showcase-positional-notes-linebackers/">Scout's Notes: Linebackers, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/stock-up-showcase-positional-notes-offensive-linemen-part-i/">Scout's Notes: Offensive Linemen, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/stock-up-showcase-positional-notes-quarterbacks/">Scout's Notes: Quarterbacks</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/stock-up-showcase-positional-notes-receivers-part-i/">Scout's Notes: Wide Receivers, Part I</a><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->