AYF 8th Grade National All-Star Game: Massachusetts Selections

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each year American Youth Football (AYF) selects its top 60 players in for the AYF 8th Grade National All-Star Game in an East/West Showdown. The 2025 game is played during Pro Bowl Weekend and features many of the top 2029 prospects, who are hoping to one day make their mark at the next level. Below are the 2025 8th Grade National All-Star Game selections from Massachusetts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1614322"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679bb729a6b5c"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Served as one of the captains on the 14U Mattapan Patriots team this season, despite being an eighth-grader on a team with several high school freshman</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Was the starter at Safety for the 14U Patriots and helped the New England AYF Regional Champs them make a strong run in the AYF 14U Division 2 National Championship. With Nelson as the last line of defense, the Patriots finished 3rd in the tournament and outscored their opponents 85-30 in three games--highlighted by back-to-back shutouts to close out the tournament.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In terms of his style of play, Nelson embodied the overall attitude of his team and played the game nasty. A thicker, physical Safety at 195-pounds, he's more than willing to enter the box and make a play against the run. As he also plays some WR on offense, his ball skills are there too--but I like the toughness he brings in the secondary. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1001608"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679bb729a6bbc"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has long been one of the best Linebackers in all of New England youth football and has been a consistent rock in the middle for the Springfield Tigers</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>His ability as a Linebacker has always been his calling card, but in 2024 he established himself as a threat as a Running Back as well. With Muldoon balling out on both sides of the ball, the Tigers won the CTYFL Conference Title and reached the New England AYF Regional Finals.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Muldoon is your classic <em>Baahhhsstaaaan</em> tough guy at Linebacker with more requisite athleticism at the position than the majority at this level. Has stretched out a bit in recent years and almost looks more like an OLB than a MLB as of January 2025. Long legs and a frame that will easily carry 215-230 pounds by the end of high school.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1515781"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679bb729a6c02"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Magalhaes was a man amongst boys this season for the Marlborough Panthers, clearly establishing himself as one of the most elite players in all of the Central Massachusetts Youth Football and Cheer Conference</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>During the regular season he averaged well over 100 yards on the ground per game and was equally as impactful defensively as a Linebacker/Edge player. His efforts landed him a spot on the 14U Central Mass Chaos (the Conference All-Stars) for the second consecutive year. The Chaos went on to fight tooth and nail for a 3rd place finish in a incredibly talented bracket, outscoring their opponents 36-14 in three games. That score differential may not pop out, but they shut out two of their opponents and were the only team to hold National Champion Phoenix to 14 points.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>We fist wrote about Magalhaes during mid-season back in October. To put it bluntly, I still don't know what position is the best fit for a player with his skill set, so he's getting the ATH (Athlete) designation. He has the ability to be a good High School Running Back, but I think his future will be on the defensive side of the ball. He's somewhere between an Outside Linebacker and Edge player. To further complicate it, he played some H-Back for the Chaos All-Star team in Florida. Time will tell here.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->