PRZ NJ Combine: Standout Linebacker Notes, Volume I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Sunday, May 4 Prep Redzone New Jersey hosted our annual high school combine. This event featured combine testing, football skills/drills, and had roughly a combined 25 colleges either request scores or attend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are notes that I recorded while I was in attendance for the position group mentioned in the subject line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be sure to follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ"><strong>Twitter</strong></a>&nbsp;for the latest updates in New Jersey high school football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the first linebackers I noticed was [player_tooltip player_id='1575804' first='Lucas' last='Magliano']. The Archbishop Stepinac product was very disciplined in his approach, especially during cat &amp; mouse drills. I noticed Archbishop Stepinac take an upfield angle in order to get down hill, allowing himself to better track the hip and take good pursuit angles. For whatever reason I did noticed Magliano slip some. I think that coming to balance will help this, as well as eliminate more space when playing the run.... I had a note around [player_tooltip player_id='1547069' first='Charles' last='Mapp']'s name, questioning whether he was the best moving linebacker or not. I thought during indy time the Delsea product's reps were the best of the bunch. Everything Mapp did was immediate and instant - especially his breaks. Somehow, I remarked that Mapp actually managed to improve as they day went on... Speaking of moving well, This is exactly what Canarsie's [player_tooltip player_id='1669145' first='Kaevon' last='Robinson'] did too. Repping his BK-boro, Robinson showcased the ability to close on out routes - which indicates that in addition to having sudden twitch burst, he is reacting and driving quickly on throws. In closing, Robinson ran MUCH better than I expected, especially for someone of his size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I want to close out this article with [player_tooltip player_id='1544773' first='Byron' last='Stevenson']. I love prospects that "level up" and compete with the big boys, and no prospect epitomized this more on that day than Stevenson. Registering as a 2028 linebacker, Stevenson slipped under the radar and actually competed against seniors-to-be as just an 8th grader. Stevenson did a great job of pressing space, taking the air out of any cutbacks in the process by tracking the near hip. I thought that Stevenson did an exceptional job of getting to his spot and squaring up. This, by-and-large, allowed him to stay in front of running backs who attempted to make multiple dance moves. In zone drops, the prospect who donned DePaul shorts was quick to retreat and get to his drop. As expected for such a young prospect competing against older ones, learning pains did occur. Despite squaring up, at times Stevenson out leveraged himself in pursuit - likely due to a different speed of competition. I also noticed during 1on1s that his eyes wavered between his man-assignment and the quarterback. I was so impressed with Stevenson's play that I nominated him to compete in the best-on-best, but the coaches who worked the event thought better of it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prep Redzone New Jersey Combine Event Coverage</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-nj-combine-offensive-eye-test-prospects-ready-for-college">Offensive Eye Test</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-nj-combine-defensive-eye-test-prospects-ready-for-college">Defensive Eye Test</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-nj-combine-standout-combine-performances-defense">Top Combine Performers, Defense</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-nj-combine-standout-combine-performances-offense">Top Combine Performers, Offense</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-nj-combine-standout-linebacker-notes-volume-i">Linebacker Notes, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-nj-combine-standout-receiver-notes-volume-i">Receiver Notes, Volume 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->