Trench-STARS: PRZ Next NY|NJ Middle School Combine D-Linemen

Top to bottom, this may have been the most impressive group of middle school prospects ever assembled for a PRZ Next Middle School Combine. With 162 prospects registered from six different states, the talent was deep on paper. Then, when the group showed up and hit the field, all bets were off. Below are the Defensive Linemen that caught my eyes during the combine.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dat Dude | aka The MVP</h2>    <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Future High School: Glassboro High School</li> </ul>   At this point we may need to consider calling our Defensive MVP(s) the "The Future Glassboro High School Stud Award", as Nadir Smith became the third future Bulldog to win a Defensive MVP at our PRZ Next Middle School Combine, in as many years (joining '28 Aveyon Warfield and '27 [player_tooltip player_id='431328' first='Tasheem' last='Butler']). Long and built like a basketball player, I told him twice on Saturday, the strides he has made since last year are impressive. Very quick with his hands and feet working in tandem. Tall and lean, but not without adequate thickness for the position. The defending State Champs are getting a kid with big time potential at Edge position next season.   Testing   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Wingspan: 75" (Position Best at the combine)</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>40-yard dash: 5.2 (hand)</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Shuttle: 4.87</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Broad Jump: 7'7"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>L-Drill: 7.82</li> </ul>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1st Team All-Combine</h2>    Future High School: St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)   Like the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/rumble-young-man-rumble-prz-next-nynj-middle-school-combine-rbs/">Running Back group</a>, it's telling that three of the top four performing Defensive Linemen are headed to SJR in the fall. Virgil is a bit of a tweener at this point--not necessarily heavy/strong enough to be an interior guys, yet not showing enough athleticism (at this point) to be considered an Edge. With the said the kid got results. He's also significantly taller than I though he was. The upside here is huge.   Testing   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Wingspan: 74"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>40-yard dash: 5.3 (hand)</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Shuttle: 5.56</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Broad Jump: 6'4"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>L-Drill: 8.9</li> </ul>     Future High School: St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)   As I mentioned above, just like the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/rumble-young-man-rumble-prz-next-nynj-middle-school-combine-rbs/">Running Back group</a>, three 1st Team All-Combine Defensive Linemen are headed to SJR in the fall. Make no bones about it: Evans was the unquestioned top interior Defensive Lineman of the group and was very much in the conversation for MVP of the D-Line group as a whole. He's an inch taller and 33-pounds heavier (with good weight) heavier than he was at our last check in. Quick hands, violent intentions, great control over his first step off the snap.   Testing   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Wingspan: 73.25</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>40-yard dash: 5.62 (hand)</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Shuttle: 5.5</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Broad Jump: 7'2"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>L-Drill: 8.07</li> </ul>     Future High School: St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)   The first thing I'll say, is that Tyler Virgil is another prime example of why showing up to a PRZ Next Middle School Combine is a smart move. I knew he had some ability but what I saw in clips ahead of the combine, didn't necessarily show that off. Overall-- he's a much better prospect than I thought he was. He claimed the Tight End position during his pre-high school career, but Virgil screams interior Defensive Tackle. At 6-foot and nearly 240-pounds, with a longer wingspan than his height.   Testing   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Wingspan: 72.5"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>40-yard dash: 5.69 (hand)</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Shuttle: 5.28</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Broad Jump: 6'9"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>L-Drill: 8.78</li> </ul>     Future High School: Seton Hall Prep   Pound for pound, there may not have been a better athletic specimen on the defensive side of the ball, than Charlie Hughes. As anyone can see below, he was the most athletic player in this group by a long shot--and frankly, it wasn't even close. At no other position group, did one single player earn the top time/score in four-out-of-five drills. The only thing that kept Hughes from the award was lack of pass rush move development--it was virtually non-ecistent. I cannot stress this enough--once Hughes learns moves, instead of simply being more athletic than the other kids, he is going to be an absolute stud. Last thing--I also can't rule out a potential change to Outside Linebacker. Bottom line, he's a guy to know.   Testing   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Wingspan: 74"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>40-yard dash: 4.85 (hand) | (Position Best at the combine)</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Shuttle: 4.66 (Position Best at the combine)</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Broad Jump: 7'11" (Position Best at the combine)</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>L-Drill: 7.56 (Position Best at the combine)</li> </ul>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2nd Team All-Combine</h2>    Future High School: TBA.   Smart-Wise took part in his third PRZ Next Middle School Combine and completed the trifecta of being a standout. The former MVP gave up some serious size in terms of his height, but he used played with leverage and strength.   Testing   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Wingspan: 69"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>40-yard dash: DNP</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Shuttle: 5.5</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Broad Jump: 5'7" </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>L-Drill: 8.63</li> </ul>     Future High School: Waldwick High School   Coming out of wrestling season, the reigning New Jersey Heavyweight State Champion did a nice job. A barrel-chested, interior guy. Won almost every 1:1 rep with brute force, as oppose to using any pass-rush moves. Once he develops moves, he'll be even more difficult to block.   Testing   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Wingspan: 71.5"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>40-yard dash: 5.32</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Shuttle: 5.69</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Broad Jump: 6'3"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>L-Drill: 8.55</li> </ul>     Future High School: Seton Hall Prep   An immediate eye-catcher at the combine with his size and frame. Tahan Williams is currently a tweener: Is he an Offensive Tackle or Defensive Lineman? If a Defensive Lineman, is he an interior guy or an Edge? The Pirates are getting a kid dying to be molded into greatness. Potential is here big time.   Testing   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Wingspan: 74"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>40-yard dash: 5.98</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Shuttle: 5.11</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Broad Jump: 6'1"</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>L-Drill: 8.47</li> </ul>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mention All-Combine</h2>   Kevin Scott - Scott was a nice surprise for me at the combine. Though not as big as I thought he would be, the future Point Pleasant Boro Panther played tough in the trenches and held his own against guys, giving up 20-60 pounds against some of the other linemen.   Mekhi Bonner - Bonner looked much improved versus a year ago at the PRZ Next Middle School Combine. He looked agile and coordinated. Bonner moved well for being a D-Linemen at this level of development and has announced he'll be attending Roman Catholic in Philadelphia for High School. RC finished the No.10 ranked school in the state last season.

Top to bottom, this may have been the most impressive group of middle school prospects ever assembled for a PRZ Next Middle School Combine. With 162 prospects registered from six different states, the talent was deep on paper. Then, when the group showed up and hit the field, all bets were off. Below are the Defensive Linemen that caught my eyes during the combine.