Big Prospects to Watch for Next Weekend

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Jersey is loaded with talent in the defensive front. Looking at some of the top prospects coming out of the state, a lot of them are speedy edge rushers and stout interior defensive linemen. Here, we might have some of those future stars that will be demanding our attention over the next 4-5 years. Here are the big prospects to watch out for next weekend in Jackson, NJ. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1475448"],"_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-696d19db8c713"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1475448' first='Peterson' last='Etienne'] showed out last spring at the NJ Next event, making his presence felt every snap he was on the field. He has a big, imposing frame for a middle school defensive lineman, and it's easy to imagine he has added even more size and strength since the last evaluation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Peterson is quick for his size and explodes off the line of scrimmage, allowing him to gain early leverage against opposing linemen. He uses powerful arms to drive blockers back into the pocket and consistently overwhelms opponents with his raw strength. At this stage, he has the ability to overpower nearly any lineman he lines up against, making him a disruptive force in both the run and pass game. It will be exciting to see Peterson square off against the top linemen at this event and measure his continued development against elite competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1165215"],"_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-696d19db8c7b0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Philip is a defensive lineman whose skill set clearly extends beyond his years, immediately standing out as a dominant force up front. He plays with a physical edge that allows him to overwhelm blockers, showing an aggressive mindset and the strength to move opponents off their spot. What separates him on film is his advanced hand usage, as he consistently wins hand battles with both power and quickness. His long arms are a major asset, enabling him to keep linemen extended and preventing them from getting into his frame or gaining leverage. Despite his size, Philip displays impressive athleticism, moving more fluidly than expected for a big man. Heading into this event, he enters as a legitimate frontrunner for MVP honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1396266"],"_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-696d19db8c82b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Although I have not yet seen [player_tooltip player_id='1396266' first='Anthony' last='Santiago'] perform live, his size and overall dimensions immediately stand out and suggest he is far advanced for his age group. He already possesses a high school–level build, with the frame of a true edge rusher who looks capable of translating his physical tools into production. Anthony is built to bend off the edge, engage in effective hand fighting, and use his speed to stress offensive tackles. His combination of length and athleticism projects well to collapsing the pocket and forcing quarterbacks into rushed throws and poor decisions. Based on his profile alone, he is a highly intriguing edge presence with significant upside as he continues to develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1640039"],"_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-696d19db8c89c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Isaiah Shuler is another defender up front whose trajectory continues to point straight upward. At last year's event, he arrived slightly undersized compared to some of the other prospects, but he showed clear upside and has since had a full year to grow and develop, with the expectation that he has added noticeable height and strength. Isaiah flashes strong hand skills on the interior, using quick and efficient movements to disengage from blockers. He also shows the ability to dip and play with excellent pad level, consistently getting underneath his opponent to gain leverage at the point of attack. With his technical foundation and continued physical growth, Isaiah projects as a disruptive interior presence moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1401046"],"_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-696e3fc7c2f99"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1401046' first='Elijah' last='Santiago'] enters this event as a highly anticipated prospect and this will be the first opportunity to see him in person. He is a big-bodied interior defensive lineman, tipping the scales at over 250 pounds, and clearly outsizes much of his competition at this level. His sheer mass and presence project him as a natural centerpiece of the defensive front, capable of commanding attention from multiple blockers. Elijah's physical profile alone suggests significant disruptive potential in the middle, and it will be exciting to see how he translates that size and strength into on-field impact against live competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->