PRZ NJ Combine: Standout Quarterback 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>I truly enjoyed [player_tooltip player_id='1663882' first='Parker' last='Needham']'s approach to quarterbacking. A 2027 graduate, Needham seemed poised, collected, and confident throughout the morning. The best throw of his that I happened to catch was a post-corner, where he laid the deep ball perfectly into his target's bread basket. One thing he can clean up on his how long his strides are. At one point I felt that the length of said strides took something off the ball at times... When you play for one of North Jersey's elite non-public schools, it inherently comes with a higher expectation - at least when I evaluate you. [player_tooltip player_id='843330' first='Bryce' last='Longo'], a St. Joseph's Regional product, was a very refined prospect, especially given that he is a 2028 graduate. I thought that Longo had, perhaps, the quickest and sharpest release of all quarterbacks in attendance. He also threw a great dig where he led his receiver's not just forward, but upfield as well. Finally, Longo had solid torque in his hips and activated his lower half well when throwing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From one North Jersey non-public quarterback who graduates in 2028 to another, [player_tooltip player_id='972082' first='Gavin' last='Gilardi'] was a prospect that I saw the day prior at the You Are Athlete camp, again at the Prep Redzone New Jersey Combine, would see the next week at the PSR Big Camp Series, and yet again at the Anthony Van Curan FDU Football Mega Camp. Needless to say, with the amount of miles his parents put on their car, he puts in his arm, and work he puts in, it is paying off for Gilardi. Gilardi was spot on when he threw a deep bender. With plenty of hang time and lead, the ball was uncontested for an easy score. Something I saw today that I did not see the day prior was that Gilardi seemed to trust his targets a bit more. A lot of the times I felt that he figured his receivers were in good enough position, and so he put it up there allowing them to show their prowess and make plays... As he prepares for his junior season, I wish to see [player_tooltip player_id='1659582' first='Ryan' last='Toth'] clean up his mechanics just a bit and be more patient/selective with his throws. On deeper throws, I felt that Toth loaded up his shoulder in order to get any distance or velocity on his throws. Additionally, seeing it once I brushed it off; however, when I saw it again I made note: it seemed as though Toth was just going YOLO at moments, chucking the ball for grabs a bit arrantly without true purpose.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I close out with the rising senior of the group, [player_tooltip player_id='842934' first='Aaron' last='Smith']. Smith had a really good day, absolutely delivering outstanding leads to his receivers so they can catch and run. Moreover, his specific ball placement was great too, particularly on whip routes. This, dare I say elite, ball placement carried over on fade balls that were through traffic. To their credit, his receivers' did outstanding jobs of high pointing those bombs.</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/2025/05/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 -->