Jersey Shore AYF 12U All-Star Tryouts: Standouts - Session 1

The Jersey Shore AYF Conference held its 12U Conference All-Star tryouts last Saturday with over 100 athletes trying out to make the team. The three-time defending National Champions on the 12u level held three different tryout sessions: OL/DL, RB/LB, QB/WR/DB. Some athletes attended more than one session in the hopes of being picked. Below are the standouts from the first session.    One of the first prospects I noticed when I got to the field for the tryout. Clanton is a good looking prospect with long limbs and a frame that translates to several different positions on the field. Coming to the first session of tryouts, which was scheduled for OL/DL, he looks like a nice option as an Edge rusher. However, he's versatile and appears like he can play multiple positions.     Toms River had a number of standouts throughout the multiple sessions of the 12U Jersey Shore Conference All-Stars tryout, but the lone lineman to really shine was [player_tooltip player_id='1891696' first='Avery' last='Rolls']. Rolls looks like a kid with a ton of potential on the Defensive Line with his frame and ability. He's been a Jersey Shore AYF All-Star at younger ages, but I'd be very surprised if he wasn't selected to help the 12U team take home a fourth-straight National Championship.     I don't think there would be a single coach or evaluator who was in attendance on Saturday morning, that could honestly say there was a better Offensive Lineman than Wall's Benjamin Larkin. Larkin checked every box for me in terms of size, ability and mentality. He moved well enough through agility stations and the 40-yard dash, but really showed what he was about during the 1:1 portion of the tryout. Look for him to be the heart of the O-Line.   He reminded me a lot of former AYF standout, current Bergen Catholic prospect and future James Madison prospect, 2026 OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='212390' first='Jack' last='Harris'].     Perhaps no athlete made more out of the multi-session 12U Jersey Shore Conference All-Stars tryout, than Southern's [player_tooltip player_id='1891661' first='George' last='McKinney']. McKinney is a strong kid who brings considerable athleticism with his size and build. He arrived at the first session and did a nice job winning reps with strength, but stayed through the LB/RB tryout and then even ran routes as a Tight End during the QB/WR/DB session. With a lack of size overall, he seems like an obvious selection to play up front.   He reminded me a lot of former AYF standout, current Wall Knight prospect, 2028 D-Linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1011769' first='Jesse' last='Roth'].     I noticed Grant early during the opening session of the tryout due to his stature, but it took a bit for him to win me over. He moved well through bag drills and looked to be one of the more athletic kids at the first session. It wasn't until the hitting started where his strengths as an Edge defender came to light. He has a Linebacker build, and after watching film I see that he operates out of a standup stance, but he still held his own getting down in a three-point stance as the coaches asked. He's an interesting chess piece and I'm interested to see if - A.) he makes the team and B.) what further development will turn him into.     It's seemingly every year, that Sayreville has a one or two kids that are really impressive at these Jersey Shore AYF All-Star tryouts. This year was no exception as [player_tooltip player_id='1891737' first='Noah' last='Bowers'] really stood out to me. Bowers wasn't on the initial tryout roster, but it didn't take long for me to take note of #26 in Blue. Out of necessity I can see him playing both ways on the All-Star team (assuming he makes it), but he really looked best as a fast and explosive interior Defensive Linemen. Equal parts fast, strong and disruptive.     Holmdel's lone standout from the 12U Jersey Shore Conference All-Stars tryout was No.5 [player_tooltip player_id='1891578' first='Tyler' last='Ellis']. Ellis told me he's a Running Back/Edge player, but comparing his body type nationally, it wouldn't shock me to see him move to a Strong Safety position. He was absolutely in the upper echelon when it came to athleticism, but his lack of weight and size was a factor at times. Where he ends up playing is TBD.    Additional First Session Athletes of Note:   [player_tooltip player_id='1891734' first='Brady' last='Roth'] | Wall Knights   [player_tooltip player_id='1640109' first='Jackson' last='Purdy'] | Hamilton Rogue One   [player_tooltip player_id='1891586' first='Patrick' last='Marino'] | Howell Rebels   [player_tooltip player_id='1475496' first='Sebastian' last='Meyers'] | Southern Rams   [player_tooltip player_id='1891647' first='Xavier' last='Williams'] | Jackson Jaguars   [player_tooltip player_id='1892440' first='Zach' last='Pomerantsev'] | Marlbobo Mustangs

The Jersey Shore AYF Conference held its 12U Conference All-Star tryouts last Saturday with over 100 athletes trying out to make the team. The three-time defending National Champions on the 12u level held three different tryout sessions: OL/DL, RB/LB, QB/WR/DB. Some athletes attended more than one session in the hopes of being picked. Below are the standouts from the first session.