PRZ NJ Combine: Standout Linebacker Notes, Volume II

<!-- 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>This weekend I finally got to see [player_tooltip player_id='1665989' first='Andrew' last='Avent'] compete live. Avent is a name out of Rahway that I have known about since he cracked the starting lineup as a freshman, yet never had the opportunity to get a look. As you might expect Avent is a very refined, seasoned linebacker. He can get to his spots with ease and get his head on a swivel. From there, he explodes down hill to stuff the run and take away gaps. A big bigger in stature, Avent uses his big, lengthy body to suffocate ball carriers when the are in space. When defending the pass, I appreciated how physical he was with backs out of the backfield. That said, the 2026 linebacker was disciplined, limiting his physicality to within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. Lastly, and perhaps most paramount, Avent showcased closing speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In what profiles as a a solid B-gap to B-gap Mike linebacker, [player_tooltip player_id='1563949' first='Michael' last='Degenhart'] is <em>almost </em>there. I wrote that note in my notebook without realizing he was a 2028 graduate, or a rising sophomore. That said, the future looks bright for Degenhart. I noticed in drills he was more or less in the right position, understood pursuit angles, and always simulated him keep his head out of the tackle. As he grows older he will refine his game, become bigger, faster, stronger, more explosive, and surely a name to remember and a force to be reckoned with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6'2" 225lbs, there probably was not a linebacker of more impressive stature than Daniel Greene. Greene has the type of size where, depending on what his or his coaches' vision is, he could play both inside and off the edge. I thought great was excellent in taking away space quickly. This is aided by his long arms that help him corral and his ability to breakdown, coming to balance with ease.</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-defensive-back-notes-volume-i">Defensive Back Notes, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/prz-nj-combine-standout-defensive-back-notes-volume-ii">Defensive Back Notes, Volume 2</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/prz-nj-combine-standout-defensive-line-notes-volume-i">Defensive Line Notes, Volume 1</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/2025/06/prz-nj-combine-standout-linebacker-notes-volume-ii">Linebacker Notes, Volume 2</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-nj-combine-standout-offensive-lineman-notes-volume-i">Offensive Line Notes, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/prz-nj-combine-standout-offensive-linemen-notes-volume-ii">Offensive Line Notes, Volume 2</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-nj-combine-standout-quarterback-notes-volume-i">Quarterback Notes, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/prz-nj-combine-standout-quarterback-notes-volume-ii">Quarterback Notes, Volume 2</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-nj-combine-standout-receiver-notes-volume-i">Receiver Notes, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/prz-nj-combine-standout-receivers-notes-volume-ii">Receiver Notes, Volume 2</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/prz-nj-combine-standout-running-back-notes-volume-i">Running Back Notes, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/prz-nj-combine-standout-running-back-notes-volume-ii">Running Back Notes, Volume 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->