’26 Rankings Update: The Wide Receiver Film Room, Part II

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Film is one of the best tools to self-scout, evaluate, and improve. As is the case with any rankings update, we want to celebrate and highlight select prospects who had some&nbsp;<em>really&nbsp;</em>nice film and talk about their game. That said kill the lights, close the blinds, and turn the projector on and join me, as we prepare to enter the film room to discuss what I saw on film.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be sure to follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for the latest New Jersey high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1097477"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-681f4e200eccd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There might not have been a bigger breakthrough player in the state last season than Mainland's [player_tooltip player_id='1097477' first='Jake' last='Blum']. As a receiver, Blum does a superb job of breaking down and snapping his hips to create space. Concentration and grace are a part of his game, too, as he can win the tip drill and maintain possession for himself. As the ball travels through the air, it seems as though quarterbacks may just throw it up and trust Blum's ability to redirect and contort his body to make acrobatic catches where he has to awkwardly turn. With deceitful speed, Blum will lull defenders to sleep, yet often outrun the throw - where he does a great job coming back and playing it. Lastly, Blum is used and wins a high number of vertical routes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18851446/6750c26f3d293446cc8a7878' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-681f4e200ee67"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1608095"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-681f4e200eeb8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">During this camp season I had the opportunity to talk with several coaches from Red Bank Catholic and receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1608095' first='Johnny' last='Williams'] was often atop my mind as I watched his film not too long prior. Williams is used as a return man and for good reason - he makes very quick, sharp, lateral cuts to evade danger. Additionally, he uses the stiff arm well. What makes Williams so dangerous in the return and underneath game is his ability to slow down, change directions, and then hit full speed very quickly. This nifty running makes for tons of YAC and gives defenders fits when trying to square him up for a tackle. Receiving wise he adjusts to under thrown balls very well. As necessary he high points the ball and can toe tap along the sideline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17791128/673bd5f3852a105679da6437' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-681f4e200eedd"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1562024"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-681f4e200ef1e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another impressive prospect, again out of Ramapo, is [player_tooltip player_id='1562024' first='Michael' last='Ballan']. Ballan does a nice job of beating press coverage by using his hands and can adjust to bad balls, making falling catches. Unlike a lot of film I wach, Ballan's shows a high propensity of routes ran over the middle; however, when he is on the perimeter, he works to block his you-know-what off. A few nuances to his game are that he can toe tap and fall out of bounds safely along the sideline and, quite frankly, is shiftier than you would initially think. Moreover, he uses the leverage of aggressive defenders against them at moments. Lastly, he mostly uses his hands to catch the ball and will come back to it when there are tight windows or highly contested.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17850910/674e826ec5646942d51a8ac9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-681f5d84b101b"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2026 Rankings Update Coverage</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-i"></a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-i"></a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-i">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-ii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-iii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part III</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-iv">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part IV</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-v">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part V</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-vi">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part VI</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-vii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part VII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-viii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part VIII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-ix">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part IX</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-x">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part X</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-xi">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part XI</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-xii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part XII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-xiii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part XIII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-xiv">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part XIV</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-athlete-film-room-part-i">Athlete Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-defensive-back-film-room-part-i">Defensive Back Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-defensive-line-film-room-part-i">Defensive Line Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-defensive-line-film-room-part-ii">Defensive Line Film Room, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-the-linebacker-film-room-part-i">Linebacker Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-linebacker-film-room-part-ii">Linebacker Film Room, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-offensive-line-film-room-part-i">Offensive Line Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-the-quarterback-film-room-part-i">Quarterback Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-running-back-film-room-part-i">Running Back Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-special-teams-film-room">Special Teams Film Room</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-the-wide-receiver-film-room-part-i">Wide Receiver Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-wide-receiver-film-room-part-ii">Wide Receiver Film Room, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-shake-up-within-the-top-150-ranked-part-i">Biggest Rankings Jump, Ranked Prospects, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-shake-up-within-the-top-150-ranked-part-ii">Biggest Rankings Jump, Ranked Prospects, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-watchlist-prospects-that-entered-the-top-25">Watchlist Prospects that Entered the Top 25</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-watchlist-prospects-that-entered-the-top-75">Watchlist Prospects that Entered the Top 75</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->