PRZVA Team Preview: Mclean Highlanders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Last Years Result:</strong> 3-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Joe Cockerham</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McLean returns nearly its entire starting defense and a good portion of his offense from a team that won 2 out or their last 3 games a year ago. They have power up front and seem like they can impose their will on their opponents. When you look at the Highlanders tape last season you can tell this was an above .500 or better squad. Coach Cockerham's squad looks poised to get back to they playoffs in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Key Returnees:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1606661' first='Blake' last='Noggle'], [player_tooltip player_id='1663295' first='Alexander' last='Cafer'], [player_tooltip player_id='2263883' first='Justin' last='Ball'], [player_tooltip player_id='1695801' first='Maximus' last='Lotfi'], [player_tooltip player_id='1695425' first='Mark' last='Devore'], [player_tooltip player_id='1695824' first='Enzo' last='Wang'], [player_tooltip player_id='2232006' first='Eli' last='Edwards'] [player_tooltip player_id='2263955' first='Finn' last='Thompson']</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1663295"],"_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-6a6e2a5773b64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Toledo commit Alex Cafer is virtually unblockable off the snap at times. He can be dominant at 6'4 and over 240 lbs, Cafer had nearly double digit offers before he made his committment to the Rockets that in the school year. He is certainly going to command double teams this year, too strong and fast to block one on one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/alexcafer27/status/2061258458867859940?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/alexcafer27/status/2061258458867859940?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1606661"],"_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-6a6e2afc79e76"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Noggle has been a favorite of mine for awhile, a longtime starter, he committed to Middlebury College a couple weeks back. [player_tooltip player_id='1606661' first='Blake' last='Noggle'] was a first team all district selection last fall is part of dominant trenches for Mclean. He is mean and and nasty at left tackle and athletic enough to play guard at the next level. Noggle is 6'2 and 300 lbs.. one of the better lineman in Virginia. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1695425"],"_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-6a6e2afc79eea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Good looking junior linebacker ranked just outside of our 2028 top 100 [player_tooltip player_id='1695425' first='Mark' last='Devore'] leads the defense. Devore is an excellent open field tackler playing both the run and the pass well. 6'0 even he is part of what can be an elite front seven. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1695801"],"_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-6a6e2afc79f54"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coach specifically mentioned Lotfi as a breakout star and I can see why. He gets his hands on everything playing sort of a hybrid linebacker. I counted 6 pass breaks ups and 2 interceptions a season ago. He is expected to have a bigger role offensively which makes sense, he is a big strong wideout with good speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1695824"],"_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-6a6e2afc79fa2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">FBS level prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1695824' first='Enzo' last='Wang'] is back healthy and expected to anchor their offensive line. He is 6'5 with a Liberty Offer coming late last fall. The big man should be back to right tackle and is up to 280 lbs.. Ranked in the 2028 top 50 with a good junior season could lead to him obtaining several more offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2232006"],"_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-6a6e2ba4bc21f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Edwards started a ton as a freshmen last year and is expected to play on both sides in 2026. He is a fierce tackler and has a nose for the football. [player_tooltip player_id='2232006' first='Eli' last='Edwards'] has a chance to be an all conference corner and have a significant role at receiver. Tough kid who debuted in our 2029 class rankings last month, Edwards is a budding star.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2263883"],"_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-6a6e2d4928b48"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I posted Ball's position as an athlete because he has and will play multiple positions for the Highlanders. He is already a stud outside linebacker who is good in space, Ball is expected to be their starting quarterback come week at Chantilly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Should be fun to see him under center he is very athletic and plays with a high football IQ.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->