Scout’s Notebook: D-Backs from PRZ NXT MS Combine, Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My event coverage from April 5ths Prep Redzone Next Middle School Combine in Jackson, New Jersey continues with a position-by-position breakdown of each prospect that I was able to record notes on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For continued coverage and updates, be sure to follow me on <a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">X/Twitter.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First up is [player_tooltip player_id='1361817' first='Mason' last='Koch'], a 2029 prospect. Koch understood some of the finer points when he was in the lead position defending the pass. I was able to catch him using his arm to be in position for a tackle while he went to break up the pass from over the top. Koch probably starts his high school career as a safety, but for some reason he resembled a linebacker who ran <em>really </em>well to me.... Keeping it with the 2029 graduates, [player_tooltip player_id='1530354' first='Adrian' last='Hunter'] was another prospect that caught my eyes. When we were determining MVPs, Hunter was a defensive back I actually nominated. He does a really good job of reading low shoulders that drop, giving him the chance to break, and thus disrupt, pass attempts. Hunter has the ability to run and match up against tight end-types with ease. Lastly, he did an excellent job of deflecting the ball whenever he had the opportunity to play it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1396263' first='Haiden' last='Redman'], who won defensive back MVP, was obviously on my radar. In the little bit I was able to catch of him, excelled at reading head/shoulder fakes on the short route, forcing incompletion after incompletion. Additionally, he runs so well that he was able to dictate whether he wanted to play from a lead or trail position. On one play I saw him get under a deep post, breaking it up. Redman also knows that the play is not over until the whistle blows, as I watched him fight through contact, the catch, and the ground each time I saw him.... Also putting on for the class of 2030 was [player_tooltip player_id='1636299' first='Khian' last='Fitzgerald']. Fitzgerald did a great job of pressing his matchup at the line of scrimmage; however, he struggled to keep stride at times on deeper routes. He was never out of position and space was never created due to fakes, but I chalk this up to simply being a 7th grader matching up against prospects further along physically than he was that day. Fitzgerald's time will be upon us before too long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Event Coverage: Prep Redzone Next Combine Series – New Jersey</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/prz-next-combine-series-5-offensive-lineman-im-excited-to-see">Event Preview: Offensive Linemen</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/prz-next-combine-series-5-defenders-im-excited-to-see">Event Preview: Defenders, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/prz-next-combine-series-5-more-defenders-im-excited-to-see">Event Preview: Defenders, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/prz-next-combine-series-5-quarterbacks-im-excited-to-see">Event Preview: Quarterbacks</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/prz-next-combine-series-5-offensive-skills-im-excited-to-see">Event Preview: Offensive Skills</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/instant-reaction-prep-redzone-next-combine-series-new-jersey">Post-Event Instant Reaction</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/the-offensive-eye-test-prospects-physically-ready-to-compete-now">Offensive Eye Test</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/the-defensive-eye-test-prospects-physically-ready-to-compete-now">Defensive Eye Test</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/workout-warriors-defensive-players-top-combine-scores">Top Combine Scores, Defense</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/workout-warriors-offensive-players-top-combine-scores">Top Combine Scores, Offense</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/scouts-notebook-d-backs-from-prz-nxt-ms-combine-part-1">Defensive Back Notes, Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->