PSR Big Camp Series, New Jersey: Linebackers, Volume I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Saturday, May 10th, 2025 I was welcomed back for the third year in a row to cover Coach Nick Pennisi's&nbsp;<em>PSR Big Camp Series</em>&nbsp;hosted at Monroe High School in Monroe, New Jersey. As I have come to expect, this event was packed with participation, loaded with talent, and ran extremely well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Different than other events, Pennisi opted to have three different check-in times, based on position groupings. This afforded me the opportunity to get a closer look at many of the prospects in attendance. Below are just some of my notes on the position group mentioned in this article's title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Making the trip to Monroe Township down from Jersey City was Dickinson's [player_tooltip player_id='1676365' first='Dashawn' last='Fairfax']. A with a solid frame, Fairfax is listed at 5'11" 210lbs and showed that he moves really well. Like a locomotive, Fairfax gets down hill very quickly. After watching that rep I thought that I might peg him as a b-to-b gap linebacker, until later on I saw him run with a wheel. Perhaps it was the matchup, but this big-bodied defender ran with that wheel route all the way down field and broke it up effortlessly... [player_tooltip player_id='1676366' first='Owen' last='Bednarski'] showed some good instincts and zero reason why he cannot make plays. Everyone touts the back shoulder throw as an indefensible throw, but Bednarski refuted this, proving it a misconception. As he was running in-phase with his matchup, I saw Bednarski put on the breaks and match the tempo of who he was defender. As the quarterback release not the best iteration of the back shoulder throw, Bednarski fought through the back shoulder and came up with a pick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two New Yorkers that made an impression were [player_tooltip player_id='1355484' first='Nathaniel' last='Ellis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='805765' first='Nick' last='Zins']. Starting with [player_tooltip player_id='1355484' first='Nathaniel' last='Ellis'], the Canarsie product had a really good, strong looking frame at 6'1" 195lbs and knows how to use his length to break up plays. When Ellis' feet got stuck or he could not get to ideal posturing, I noticed him use his length to break up passes and make plays. Moreover, Ellis did not seem phased by the running back's best fakes - no matter how good they were... One area I wish to see [player_tooltip player_id='805765' first='Nick' last='Zins'] improve upon his is understanding of leverage. One he gets a stronger grasp of this, he will have an easier time playing man coverage, and he must take note to do so on the balls of his feet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am not sure what is in store for Delsea's [player_tooltip player_id='1547069' first='Charles' last='Mapp']. Mapp was listed as a defensive back on the registration data; however, he participated during the linebacker/running back portion of the even <em>and </em>we have an image of him with his hand in the dirt. Regardless, Mapp moves and makes his breaks very well, allowing zero wasted movements. The more I watched him move, the more I thought his movements were sharp. With an already strong idea of how to play, one area I wish to see Mapp further develop is his eyes, which I consider raw. As he cues in on exactly when, what, and where to key, Mapp ought to develop into a truly dynamic defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">PSR Big Camp Series, New Jersey Event Coverage</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/psr-big-camp-series-new-jersey-defensive-backs-volume-i">Defensive Backs, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/psr-big-camp-series-new-jersey-linebackers-volume-i">Linebackers, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/psr-big-camp-series-new-jersey-quarterbacks-volume-i">Quarterbacks, Volume 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->