PRZ NEW England: Combine Series LB Top Performers

The 2025 PRZ New England Region Combine Series took place on May 10, 2025, featuring many promising emerging athletes who demonstrated their abilities to college programs in attendance and coaches overseeing the drills. After checking in, participants were required to have professional headshots taken for identification and record their height, weight, hand size, and wingspan. The showcase was divided into three segments: testing, position-specific drills, and one-on-one competitions. The testing phase included the 40-yard dash (hand-timed), pro shuttle (hand-timed), L Drill (hand-timed), and broad jump. The event proceeded smoothly and adhered closely to the scheduled timeline. Overall, attendees, parents, and coaching staff found the event successful. Several college coaches evaluating the talent present expressed their admiration for the high level of skill demonstrated.   In this report, I will identify the top performers selected by their respective position group coaches from the Linebacker position group.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    Scouting Report: Chase Marks - Linebacker, Plymouth South High School in Massachusetts, Class of 2026 Date: May 10, 2025 Event: New England Prep Redzone Combine Series Showcase Chase Marks, wearing number 9, showcased his potential as a linebacker during the showcase. At a verified height of 5'9” and weight of 167 lbs, he may be slightly undersized for the position but compensates with impressive athleticism and determination. His wingspan of 5'8" and hand size of 9.0 indicate decent physical tools for a linebacker. Chase's performance in the agility drills was noteworthy, with a significant improvement seen in his shuttle runs, clocking times of 4.81 and 4.78 seconds on two attempts. His acceleration was highlighted during the 40-yard sprints, with times of 4.75 and 4.72 seconds demonstrating a solid first step and burst. What truly stands out about Chase is his instinctual play and violent tackling technique. His ability to read plays and process information swiftly enables him to locate the ball effectively. His broad jump of 8'6” reflects his explosiveness, and his L drill time of 8.0 seconds indicates good lateral quickness. Overall, Chase Marks is a dynamic prospect with a relentless motor and a strong football IQ. If he continues to develop his skills further, he could become a valuable asset at the next level, leveraging his physical abilities alongside his inherent toughness and work ethic.     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Prep-Redzone-Headshots-11.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-1674354" /></figure>     Scout Report: [player_tooltip player_id='1273898' first='Marcelo' last='Torres'] - Top Linebacker Performer Date: May 10, 2025 Event: New England Prep Redzone Combine Series Showcase Position: Linebacker Height: 5'9" | Weight: 178 lbs [player_tooltip player_id='1273898' first='Marcelo' last='Torres'], wearing number 11 during the showcase, showcased his athleticism and a strong work ethic, despite being slightly undersized for the linebacker position. His verified height of 5'9” and weight of 178 lbs are complemented by a long, rangy frame, which enhances his tackling ability and overall defensive presence. Marcelo demonstrated a competitive spirit, highlighting his aggressive playing style. His effort and motor were consistently evident throughout the drills, indicating a player willing to put in the hard work necessary to improve and succeed. In terms of athletic testing, Markus clocked a respectable 4.78 seconds in the 40-yard sprint during both runs, indicating solid straight-line speed for his position. He recorded a 5.34-second shuttle time on his first attempt and improved to 5.18 seconds on his second run, showcasing agility and quick direction changes. He will need to keep developing his sideline-to-sideline speed to earn his opportunities at the college level. His broad jump of 8'0” suggests decent lower body strength, while an L drill time of 8.15 seconds demonstrates his needed developmental proficiency in lateral movement. Overall, Marcelo's athleticism, aggressive mentality, and decent testing results make him a continuing developmental prospect in the Class of 2028.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Prep-Redzone-Headshots-35.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-1674365" /></figure>       Scouting Report: [player_tooltip player_id='1286076' first='Michael' last='Harden'] Event: New England Prep Redzone Combine Series Showcase Date: May 10, 2025 Position: Linebacker Class: 2027 School: Xaverian Brothers H.S., Massachusetts [player_tooltip player_id='1286076' first='Michael' last='Harden'] exhibited several skills at the showcase. At 6'1” and 205 lbs, he possesses a commendable size for the linebacker position, which allows him to engage with offensive players effectively. He demonstrates the ability to take proper pursuit angles, illustrating his understanding of defensive positioning. However, there is room for improvement regarding his strength at the point of contact, which is crucial for a linebacker. Athletically, Harden's performance at the combine was noteworthy and has room for more development. He recorded a 40-yard dash time of 5.6 seconds in his first run and improved to 5.51 seconds on his second attempt. A speed he will need to improve for any college level of play. His shuttle times were good, clocking in at 4.47 seconds for his first run and 4.51 seconds on the second. A broad jump of 9'6.5” further emphasizes his explosive power and agility. Additionally, his L drill time of 7.54 seconds indicates good lateral quickness, essential for a linebacker. Overall, [player_tooltip player_id='1286076' first='Michael' last='Harden'] showcases a solid foundation of skills and athleticism, with potential for further development and refinement as he progresses in his football career.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Prep-Redzone-Headshots-43.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-1674366" /></figure>

The 2025 PRZ New England Region Combine Series took place on May 10, 2025, featuring many promising emerging athletes who demonstrated their abilities to college programs in attendance and coaches overseeing the drills. After checking in, participants were required to have professional headshots taken for identification and record their height, weight, hand size, and wingspan. The showcase was divided into three segments: testing, position-specific drills, and one-on-one competitions. The testing phase included the 40-yard dash (hand-timed), pro shuttle (hand-timed), L Drill (hand-timed), and broad jump. The event proceeded smoothly and adhered closely to the scheduled timeline. Overall, attendees, parents, and coaching staff found the event successful. Several college coaches evaluating the talent present expressed their admiration for the high level of skill demonstrated.