Suffolk's Next Stars: Large School Prospects To Watch this Summer

After looking at Nassau County prospects to watch, here are some playmakers in the large schools of Suffolk County that you have to watch! Suffolk County Division 1 and 2 are loaded this upcoming year, take a look at these great prospects below!    Easily one of the top running backs in the state, White put together a special junior season. As a result, he landed several Division I offers this summer, with the latest coming from Sacred Heart. White isn't the biggest back, but after watching him in person, his burst and explosiveness are on par with any back on Long Island. He ran for over 2,000 yards last season and returns behind a talented offensive line. White is a superior athlete with elite playmaking ability. He'll be in the running for the Hansen Award (given to Suffolk County's top player) and will continue drawing Division I interest.     East Islip is always strong up front and has produced excellent linemen over the years. This fall, the name to know from EI is [player_tooltip player_id='1212770' first='Dylan' last='Bayer']. He's a powerful two-way lineman who had a huge junior season. He was named All-Long Island and has one of the best tapes among returning linemen. As a pulling guard, he crushed defenders and opened up massive running lanes. He made plenty of eye-popping plays and also stood out at defensive tackle, he was a dominant run-stopper. Bayer is vicious in the trenches and will cause havoc again this season.     Want to see an entertaining athlete? Everyone should tune in to watch [player_tooltip player_id='1624493' first='Kaden' last='Reid'] this fall. Reid is a track star, and his blazing speed allowed him to become a top ball hawk on Long Island. He led the Island in interceptions last season with eight. He also made an impact on offense. Longwood loves to run the football, and Reid was dangerous with the ball in his hands, breaking off impressive runs against top teams. Reid also shines in the return game—on punts and kickoffs, he has the ability to go the distance or gain huge yardage.     In just six games last season, Guzik showed why he's one of the county's top quarterbacks. He led his team to key wins against perennial powers North Babylon and Bellport. Guzik throws a beautiful ball and can make all types of throws. He's a smooth, accurate passer—if he had played a full season, his numbers would've been even more impressive. His running ability is game-changing. Against North Babylon, he rushed for over 300 yards to secure the win. His football IQ is high, and he'll be one of the top quarterbacks on Long Island this year.     Jorgensen is one of the most versatile players on Long Island. At 6'2” and 220 pounds, he's impressive in multiple ways. He's a terrific tight end but did plenty of damage when lining up as a wide receiver. He made great catches and produced at a high level, though he was even more dominant as a tight end. His size and physicality make him an excellent blocker—he created space for teammates and was highly effective in the run game. When catching the ball, he showed the ability to create separation and make contested catches. Jorgensen will be one of Long Island's top tight ends this year. He'll also have a significant role at linebacker, where he has strong tape that coaches should consider due to his traits.     One of the ultimate breakout players so far this summer. Benjamin went to camps such as Boston College, the Suffolk County Football Showcase, and LIU, among others, and produced at a high level. He has great size at 6'5”, 275 pounds, and in camp reps, he used his length to his advantage. His hands and footwork stood out, along with the aggressiveness that most William Floyd linemen possess. Benjamin's success ultimately led to a few offers, and he made his commitment to LIU this week. The attention surrounding Benjamin will only continue to rise.     Along with [player_tooltip player_id='451506' first='Daniel' last='White'], another Hills East player who turned heads was Jayden Bryan. He had the best freshman season of any prospect on Long Island. Earning All-County honors as a freshman is rare, but Bryan did just that. He looked like an experienced linebacker out there and was even a nominee for the county's Linebacker of the Year thanks to his high level production. He'll be in the running again this year—he's always around the ball and is an exceptional athlete. Bryan is also a strong running back who could complement White in the backfield. He'll be a sought-after “ATH,” and already holds an offer from Syracuse.     The tailback from Connetquot put together an excellent junior season. The 2026 class is loaded with amazing running backs, and Barnwell asserted himself into that conversation. Barnwell is shifty and has breakaway speed to make game-changing plays, along with the ability to cut smoothly and make defenders miss. His pass-catching ability out of the backfield was solid during his junior year, and this offseason he's elevated that part of his game with great performances in camps and 7v7s. He's formed an elite duo with his quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='1624538' first='Vincent' last='Feraca'], making them one of the best one-two punch combos on the Island.     College coaches should be excited to track [player_tooltip player_id='1208768' first='Ja'Quan' last='Thomas'] this upcoming season. The playmaker from Floyd has very intriguing measurables—he's listed at 6'2” and 220 pounds—and is the returning rushing leader on all of Long Island. Thomas could easily run for over 2,000 yards this season. He's hard to bring down and has a knack for pulling off big runs. He's also a terrific linebacker and could receive college looks at that position too. His size and athleticism are a great fit for the next level. He already holds an offer from Stony Brook.     Ward Melville has a promising offense this year, and Benedetto will be a terrific playmaker for the Patriots. He put himself on the map last season with a monster junior campaign. The duo he formed with his QB Hudson Phillbrick (2027) will be one of the best on the Island this year. Benedetto is an all-around athlete who ran for over 1,300 yards and also added 200 receiving yards, including key touchdown catches against defending champs Floyd. He could play WR or RB—he finds ways to get into space and make people miss. He plays much bigger than he is; his toughness and ability to make plays stand out.

After looking at Nassau County prospects to watch, here are some playmakers in the large schools of Suffolk County that you have to watch! Suffolk County Division 1 and 2 are loaded this upcoming year, take a look at these great prospects below!