Weekly Recap: NJ's NEXT Players Rising

<p>As we wrap up the first month of football in the state of New Jersey and are nearly halfway through the month of October, we have plenty to discuss in regards to the rising talents within the Garden State. Here are some of the players that have been catching my eye the most, and I expect big things out of over these last few weeks of ball.</p>   <p><em>Make sure to check out the previous articles about the 2030-2031 classes and follow me on X at <a href="https://x.com/JonDavalosFB">@jondavalosFB</a> for up to date player evaluations!</em></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">I think by season's end, [player_tooltip player_id='1653507' first='Jeyden' last='Thomas'] will be recognized as one of the top offensive weapons in the NJ 2030 class. He shows a quick burst out of the backfield and is dangerous with his bounce back ability, having the ability to see the field open up and make a beeline across it toward daylight. Defenders struggle to bring Jeyden down in space as his feet are always active, ready to make the next lateral move, and he's not afraid of contact, running with both power and purpose every time he touches the ball.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jeyden_Thomas1/status/1971234866210668650 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">A couple of weeks ago, [player_tooltip player_id='1635999' first='Trent' last='Lee Jr'] put on an impressive two touchdown performance that turned heads. His speed off the line and ability to dart past defenders stood out, leaving the corner struggling to keep up as Trent took his route down the sideline and hauled in a perfectly placed ball for six. His second touchdown may have been even more impressive as he used his jets once again to outrun the coverage, track the ball in stride, and glide into the end zone untouched. Trent deserves more recognition as the offseason approaches, and I'm excited to see him continue to showcase his talent at the <em>Next</em> events this winter and spring.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TrentLeeJr/status/1970955593210093866 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1942129' first='Ben' last='Ross'] is a player who recently got on my radar, and I must say, I'm impressed with what I've seen so far. Suiting up for the GT Lions 14U squad, he serves as the centerpiece of their offensive unit, anchoring the line at center. Coming from a low stance, Ben shows excellent drive and balance, keeping his legs churning through contact and proving he can handle nose tackles effectively in the run game. From the film available on X, it's clear he already has great size for his age, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of his work in pass protection as he continues to develop.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BenRoss_65/status/1974836603697635563 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Rahmeer was one of the most impressive overall prospects at the Jersey Shore tryouts a few weeks ago. Not only is he a phenomenal thrower, but he also showcases elite athleticism, using his mobility to escape pressure and pick up big gains. The tape below highlights just that. Rahmeer torched the defense for over 100 passing yards and 90 rushing yards while completely taking control of the game. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">He displays a clean drop back, a rocket arm capable of stretching the field, and the awareness to find soft spots in coverage. His deep ball is a thing of beauty, and he stands calm and confident in the pocket under pressure. Add in his scramble ability, and you've got the cherry on top of an already exceptional prospect. Keep your eyes on Rahmeer; wherever he takes his talents next season, he's going to make noise.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RahWITHTHEARM/status/1967077827574198772 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Miles' film is giving me yet another reason to believe he may be one of the top receivers in the NJ 2030 class. He continues to impress, putting on an absolute show on both sides of the ball with a two touchdown and one interception performance. Miles can line up anywhere on the field and find success. He is an extremely shifty open field runner who only needs one cut before he's off to the races, outrunning defenders with ease. I love how his offense moves him around, even using him in the backfield like a running back, allowing him to attack downhill or bounce outside in a flash. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">His most impressive play of the day, though, came on defense. After initially dropping into coverage, he quickly recognized the wheel route, planted his foot, and took a direct path to jump the route for the interception. The speed and precision in that transition likely caught the quarterback completely off guard, showcasing just how advanced Miles' instincts and athleticism already are.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MilesBlock2030/status/1972470376589640075 </div></figure>

As we wrap up the first month of football in the state of New Jersey and are nearly halfway through the month of October, we have plenty to discuss in regards to the rising talents within the Garden State. Here are some of the players that have been catching my eye the most, and I expect big things out of over these last few weeks of ball.