2025 New England Big Man Competition: NE-Prospects to Watch

On April 26, 2025, the New England Big Man Competition took place at Kingswood Oxford School in Connecticut, sponsored by 32 Sports, a company owned and operated by former NFL running back Matt Lawrence. The event drew numerous prospects from New England, along with participants from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. I had the chance to observe several New England prospects in action that I've been trying to get eyes on in a live setting.   In 2028, [player_tooltip player_id='1357996' first='Owen' last='Lyons'], a freshman offensive lineman from St. Thomas School in Connecticut, delivered a standout performance. His impressive size was matched by his ability to maintain a solid stance, ensuring both cleats were securely planted before each snap. Although he faced a few bull rushes early on and briefly lost his balance, he quickly elevated his level of effort as the competition progressed, effectively handling subsequent bull rushes. He remains on our watch list due to the absence of any season footage so far. However, based on my observations, I believe he will emerge as a ranked prospect in New England once his film is available. He is estimated to be around 6'4" and weighs approximately 295 lbs, demonstrating significant strength.   In 2027, [player_tooltip player_id='1646280' first='Chakshing' last='(William) Li'], an offensive lineman from St. Mark's School in Massachusetts, was honored as a Top Performer. Standing tall with a solid frame, lean muscle, Li showcased exceptional consistency, effortlessly executing pass sets, slides, and mirrors. His confidence in his abilities as an offensive lineman is clear, and he possesses all the necessary skills to compete at the NCAA Division 1 level. The upcoming summer camp season is expected to substantially enhance his list of offers. Currently, he is experiencing a surge in recruitment interest, with schools like Boston College and Duke recently showing increased attention.   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1308015' first='Jensy' last='Ramos'] excelled as a top performer on defense while playing on the edge. He attends St John's (Shrewsbury) School in Massachusetts. Standing approximately 6'3" and weighing 250 lbs, Jensy possesses a quick first step and showcased a variety of moves to dominate his matchups. He competes with good leverage and easily navigates around blockers. By incorporating an array of techniques, he gained inside leverage to secure victories in his battles. Jensy demonstrated strong conditioning and consistently hustled during reps. He exhibited greater flexibility and the ability to bend in live situations compared to what was shown in his Hudl film, where some tightness in his hips was noticeable. Currently, he is ranked by PRZ New England as the #7 defensive lineman in the class of 2027 within the New England region.   2028 OL Cayden Blanchette wore the jersey of his teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1121355' first='Seedi' last='Sheriff'] during the event, which initially confused me until I spoke with his coach a few days later. Blanchette was a standout performer, consistently overpowering numerous defenders. He is projected to play as an offensive lineman at the next level and has a solid, large frame, estimated to be 6'4" and 325 lbs. He worked diligently on every rep and won the majority of his battles. With impressive athletic coordination and balance, he also displayed significant strength at the point of attack. Currently, he is ranked as the #3 offensive lineman in the class of 2028 and is expected to be a top prospect in the New England region as he continues to enhance his skills and physical attributes.   Another standout performer of the day was 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1647531' first='Turner' last='Wheeler']. He is an impressive 6'1" and weighs 285 lbs, hailing from Scarborough High School in Maine. At first sight, he presents a large, compact, and rounded physique. His lower body strength is evident when he faces taller defenders, whom he handles with remarkable ease, utilizing his hands effectively. He clearly demonstrated strong skills and the ability to maintain his position against various types of defenders. There is still potential for further growth and development. At such a young age, he exhibits both aggression and confidence. Moving forward, the key factor will be how much he can progress, as this will influence his prospects for college recruitment.   On the day of the event, 2026 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1645673' first='Theo' last='Perkins'], an edge defender from East Catholic High School in Connecticut, truly shone. As a walk-up entry, he demonstrated to the attending coaches why they need to take notice of him. Standing approximately 6'6" and weighing 245 pounds, Perkins boasts long limbs, an impressive wingspan of 84 inches, and a relentless motor. After reviewing his film from the 2024 season last month, I was eager to see him perform live, and he certainly did not disappoint, showcasing the same impressive skill set observed on tape. Although his edge play technique is still developing, Perkins possesses the mentality, drive, athleticism, versatility, aggression, speed, and size necessary for the position, along with a strong mental game to compete at the next level. He is set to participate in the PRZ New England Combine Series event on May 10, 2025, where his athletic abilities will be evaluated to help assess his potential for college recruitment. Overall, I believe he is a Division 1 prospect, and his testing results will be crucial in determining the specific level of Division 1 he is aiming for. Theo is a new prospect to PRZ New England that will be added to our class of 2026 rankings during the next ranking update.   2026 [player_tooltip player_id='803183' first='Cashaudas' last='Pettway'] from Brockton High School in Massachusetts distinguished himself among his peers. Standing at approximately 6'5" and weighing around 380 pounds, he has caught attention for his size and athleticism. During the event, a family member mentioned that he is currently on a diet aimed at reducing weight and building lean muscle. Despite showing some inconsistent moments early in the competition, possibly due to the effects of his diet, he finished the day strong, exhibiting impressive strength by easily overpowering defenders. Currently, he is ranked as the #33 offensive lineman in New England for the class of 2026.   Watching 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1625831' first='Camilo' last='CJ Lopes'] in action was a true delight. Standing approximately 6'3" and weighing 230 lbs, he currently attends Bridgewater-Raynham High School in Massachusetts. His speed and quickness were impressive, showcasing a strong one-step burst that enabled him to outpace blockers effectively. Throughout the day, he maintained a high level of consistency. Lopes demonstrated a solid understanding of stance, hand placement, and leverage, all essential for winning matchups. His athleticism was evident and relentless when pursuing the ball, allowing him to maneuver past blockers of any size. As of now, he is ranked as the #11 edge defender in the 2026 class by Prz New England in the New England region.   In 2026, [player_tooltip player_id='1241350' first='Deshaun' last='Bailey'] emerged as a relentless prospect who consistently fought and caused disruption during every play. His performances throughout the event were a pleasure to witness. An inside DL from Somersworth High School in New Hampshire, he occasionally faced setbacks but quickly regrouped to win subsequent battles. It was evident that he was learning from his mistakes and adapting his strategy when facing the same blockers again. One notable observation was his improvement with each repetition. Primarily positioned on the defensive side as an inside player during my observations, he displayed determination while contending against taller and larger opponents, creating significant disruption. Additionally, his quickness off the ball was impressive. Currently, he is on our Watch List due to the absence of any highlights from the 2024 season for evaluation. He could pan out to be a LB at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='385238' first='Brady' last='Gelineau'], a prospect for the class of 2026, had a strong performance as well. He is a reserved player who lets his skills do the talking and consistently showcases his hard work. Gelineau effectively managed many opponents, demonstrating his impressive size, energy, and quick footwork. Throughout the camp, he successfully faced off against speedy defensive linemen without being overpowered. Brady got hands-on defenders quickly and used his strength and leverage to drive defenders out of the box, or on the ground.  Having observed his progress in live settings over the past two years, it's evident he has developed significantly. He is currently ranked as the 20th offensive lineman in the 2026 class by PRZ New England.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/9N5_TS3s5rI </div></figure>

On April 26, 2025, the New England Big Man Competition took place at Kingswood Oxford School in Connecticut, sponsored by 32 Sports, a company owned and operated by former NFL running back Matt Lawrence. The event drew numerous prospects from New England, along with participants from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. I had the chance to observe several New England prospects in action that I've been trying to get eyes on in a live setting.