Stock Risers: New Jersey 2029 Linebackers With New/Updated Film

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having film readily available for coaches and/or whomever else to check out, is vital as middle school (youth ball) comes to an end and high school football is set to begin. The Linebackers below posted their film after Thanksgiving and in turn, caught my eye with what I saw. From Sussex County to Gloucester County, take a look at a handful of Linebackers coming on strong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1597382"],"_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-677fdb23a4c3e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For the third consecutive calendar year I had an opportunity to watch Brown play twice. A two-time Jersey Shore AYF All-Star during his youth career, he looked the best I've seen him this past December (2024) where he played a big roll as an Outside Linebacker on the 14U All-Star team. Smart player that moves pretty well in space. When he keeps his feet moving and shuffling outside, he tracks well. While watching the Middlesex County native, he did stop his feet a few times and was forced to lunge against some of the quicker backs, but that can and will be corrected as he progresses in his career. The natural ability is certainly there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1597705"],"_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-677fdb23a4ca1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Heading to Essex County, I recently watched the film of [player_tooltip player_id='1597705' first='Henry' last='Bichalski'] out of Verona, and his play really caught my eye. He's a versatile Linebacker that played both Middle and Strong Outside Linebacker during the 2024 season. Behind the play of Bichalski and others, the Eagles won the West Essex Jr. Football League championship in an Overtime thriller back in November. He was one of the leaders of an Eagles team that didn't allow more than eight points until the final game of the regular season. He screams Middle Linebacker to me as he gets ready to head to high school. Gets downhill fast and aggressively on blitzes up the middle. On film, appears to be a sure-tackler with impressive strength for his size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1597710"],"_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-677fdb23a4ce9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In South Jersey, Gloucester County to be exact, the film of [player_tooltip player_id='1597710' first='Rocco' last='Waters'] showed some impressive things. The 2024 film of Waters that I watched isn't necessarily filled with big tackles or interceptions--though it did have some of that too--but it featured a lot of disciplined play by the Outside Linebacker/Wide Receiver/Tight End hybird. A standup OLB, I love the way he kept containment on stretch plays to his side, despite double teams at times. Kept his outside shoulder free and parallel to the line of scrimmage. Used his hands to fight off blocks and either made a tackle or forced the ball carrier back inside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1597717"],"_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-677fdb23a4d2f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">All the way up to the top of the the state in Sussex County, Sparta's [player_tooltip player_id='1597717' first='Connor' last='McKernan'] solidified himself as one of the top Running Back/Linebacker types in North Jersey. As of January 2025, he's listed as a muscled-up 5-foot-6 and 165-pounds. He had a tremendous season running the ball and helped the Spartans to a 2nd place finish in the Freedom Conference of the Morris County Youth Football League. He looks destined for a big high school career on both sides of the ball, but long term Middle Linebacker looks like the spot for McKernan. Using his strength to run through attempts to block him, he's a great A-Gap thumper. Uses the same speed and vision that helps him on offense, on defense as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1597722"],"_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-677fe26b7a6a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Staying in the Morris County Youth Football League, Denville's Linebacker/Running Back [player_tooltip player_id='1597722' first='Jackson' last='Toland'] had a tremendous 2024 season. Another shorter, thicker, strong two-way player, Toland has a very similar skillset to Sparta's [player_tooltip player_id='1597717' first='Connor' last='McKernan'] (listed above). Toland plays with a ton of power on the defensive side of the ball. His film is riddled with plays where he simply sits comfortably in the hole, awaiting the ball carrier and then driving them backwards when making contact. Toland has recently announced he'll be off to DePaul Catholic for high school, meaning he'll be joining forces with [player_tooltip player_id='1014509' first='Dante' last='Koc'], another talented 2029 NJ Middle Linebacker in the incoming class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->