SportzFarm All-Star Weekend: NJ Crushers 8th Grade

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It wasn't the prettiest performance for the NJ Crushers last weekend at the SportzFarm All-Star Weekend, as they were ultimately the punching bag of the 8th Grade Division in the tournament. Despite taking their lumps and dropping both games, there were some clear standouts on this team -- with almost all of them coming from the Southeast Stallions Pop Warner squad out of Newark, New Jersey. Here's a look at who stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Headliners</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2166754"],"_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-69d5144a74adc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The only legitimate and consistent offensive threat the NJ Crushers 8th Grade team had in attack was #10 [player_tooltip player_id='2166754' first='Siraj' last='Glaspie']. Glaspie, just a 2031 prospect, got the ball early and often from the Running Back position. He managed to move the ball at times, often making something out of nothing, behind an undermanned Offensive Line. Glaspie also stood out on the defensive side of the ball as a Middle Linebacker, making double digit tackles during the tournament. The potential for the Southeast Stallions Pop Warner standout is very high. He's an early name to know in the New Jersey 2031 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2069823"],"_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-69d5144a74b78"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The second Glaspie to stand out for the NJ Crushers 8th Grade team was [player_tooltip player_id='2069823' first='Assad' last='Glaspie'], the older cousin of the aforementioned [player_tooltip player_id='2166754' first='Siraj' last='Glaspie']. Somewhere between a Defensive Tackle and Defensive End right now, Glaspie provided pressure up front. He used a nice combination of speed and power to push and pull his way into the backfield. On the offensive side of the ball he played Left Tackle and Left Guard, as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2004346"],"_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-69d526044692a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The NJ Crushers 8th Grade team had an uphill battle in the tournament, simply undermanned and ill-prepared for some of the other teams that have been playing/practicing together for a while. That said, [player_tooltip player_id='2004346' first='Ahmad' last='Walton'] was a bright spot for the Crushers. Giving up some size at just 5-foot-6 and 110-pounds he showed me a ton of toughness. He started at both Cornerback and Wide Receiver and battled through a nagging arm injury to still find success. In fact, Walton scored the Crushers' only touchdown of the tournament, on a TD reception late in the opening game. He also had a handful of PBU's in the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2166823"],"_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-69d526044698a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An additional standout on both sides of the ball was Defensive Tackle and Offensive Guard, [player_tooltip player_id='2166823' first='Jake' last='Ramirez']. Ramirez, like [player_tooltip player_id='2166754' first='Siraj' last='Glaspie'] listed above, is just a 2031 prospect and has another year of pre-high school football left. He was a tough kid who used his strength to put pressure on the opposing offenses during the tournament. The Hudson County native is a prospect with some raw ability, and I look forward to watching to see how he develops over the next 365 days.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Eye-Catchers</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2072584' first='Eman' last='Hiett']</em></strong> | NJ Crushers #00 | 2030 - A prospect that I <strong><em>know</em></strong> is among the top kids in New Jersey for the class of 2030, Emain Hiett did what he could, with what he was asked to do. Traditionally an ATH that impacts the game tremendously in all three phases of the game at multiple positions, Hiett played Safety and Tight End in this tournament, out of necessity. Look for him to impress at Shabazz High School over the next four years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2004127' first='Kenneth' last='Ryner Jr.']</em></strong> | NJ Crushers #12 | 2030 - Another prospect who is significantly better than how he was used during the tournament is future St. Peter's Prep Marauder, [player_tooltip player_id='2004127' first='Kenneth' last='Ryner Jr.'] Ryner Jr. played primarily Wide Receiver on offense and as a Defensive End on defense. I don't recall him recording any significant stats, but just looking at how he moves on the field, he's a prospect to watch as he gets set to enter high school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->