Super Sophs - with More to Come: Breakout Defensive '29 Graduates

<p>One of the biggest leaps a prospect will make is from playing freshman ball to varsity. Facing competition that may be 1-, 2-, or 3- years older than you implies that they are bigger, faster, and stronger. To-date, there have been several current sophomore prospects who have made that jump flawlessly. Today, we give them their due.</p>   <p>Be sure to follow me on <a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a> for the latest New Jersey high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Run Stuffers</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Another legacy prospect, [player_tooltip player_id='1014510' first='Finn' last='Boland'] looks to make his name in Toms River lure like his older brother did -- and his career is off to a start that will surely reflect that. Winning a starting job last year, Boland produced a 118 tackle (41 solo, 23 for loss) season that included 11.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries. Although he may not have matched those numbers yet, particularly the havoc play department, Boland has amassed 58 tackles (23 solo, 13 for loss), while getting to the quarterback 1.5 times. As a result, the Mariners are holding serve at 3-1 heading int week 4. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">After shaking off early season trouble at Hackettstown, Belvidere has rattled off 3-straight wins and are coming off of a bye week. Much of their success on defense is tied to the success of sophomore Elijah Skow. In his debut season, Skow has had at least 10 tackles in each game (46 total) and has forced a fumble.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">A few years back, South Plainfield had an unbelievable season that was largely anchored on the backs of several outstanding defenders. After a few down years, a renaissance may be upon us for the Tigers, who are led defensively by sophomore Jaxon King. King has had a strong start to his high school career. So far, he has made 43 stops (23 solo) while adding 3.5 sacks to his ledger.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pass Rushers</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Despite only appearing in two games this season, Penns Grove's [player_tooltip player_id='2395925' first='Omari' last='Robinson'] leads all sophomores in the state with 6 sacks. In his first varsity game against Lindenwold, Robinson recorded 4 sacks, 9 tackles (7 solo, 4 for loss), a forced a fumble, and recorded a safety. In-all, Robinson has 14 tackles (11 solo, 9 for loss), 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and a safety... in two games. That said, without watching the tape we are unable to tell whether or not this was in pop-up duty or not, since Penns Grove won those contested by a combined score of 85-6.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">An extremely strong football program, Chatham, might have their next big thing in [player_tooltip player_id='2399124' first='George' last='Pijut']. Pijut has been on a tear across the first four games of his career. With 4.5 sacks, recording at least one in all but one game, Pijut has added 26 tackles (5 solo, 5.5 for loss) and a forced fumble to his early-career tally. Right now the Cougars are 2-2 and played three games on the road. With, certainly, more home games to play expect Pijut and Chatham to gain more momentum as the weather turns to autumn.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Woodbury is home to Robert Briscoe, Jr. Presumably a linebacker, Briscoe has been dynamic when defending both the run and pass. With 4 sacks, including 3 in one game, Briscoe has proven a disruptive pass rusher, while also capable of defending the pass, as he has an interception to his name. Moreover, when defending the run Briscoe has been credited with 27 tackles (23 solo). Early on his his career it seems as though Briscoe is one of the more dynamic defenders in his class. It will be curious to follow his career the next few season.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pass Defenders</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Collingswood is on hard times right now, starting off to a 0-4 record and having only cored 30 points across all their contests. A bright spot to build and look for the future has been the early play of Jaydon Still. Still has been on fire the last two games, picking off a combined 3 passes. He adds that total to his 15 tackles (4 solo) as he vies to keep Collingswood in all their games, stealing possessions away in their favor.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Off to a 4-0 start, having only allowed 27 points across them, <em>and </em>you are balling throughout it, squarely in the mix -- that would be [player_tooltip player_id='1020538' first='Kamren' last='McBride']. McBride made serious contributions last season, his freshman, with 57 tackles (27 solo, 4 for loss) with 3 fumble recoveries and 1 interception. This season, McBride is back up to his old tricks disrupting the ball, albeit in a different way. So far the 2029 graduate has 3 interceptions to go along with 18 tackles (8 solo). McBride had an interception in every game sans a 14-7 victory at a strong Brick Memorial team. Lastly, all of Donovan Catholic's wins have been on the road.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">A prospect that has been on the Prep Redzone radar since Al Pop's work on Prep Redzone Next, [player_tooltip player_id='1629396' first='Anthony' last='Palma'] stayed home to play for his hometown Verona Hillbillies. In limited action as a freshman on varsity, Palma has already matched -- and in someways surpassed -- his production from last year. Currently, he has tied last year's mark with 28 tackles, but has more tackles for loss and solo stops across 4 games. Moreover, Palma has made this list because of his 3 interceptions on the season, all of which have come over his last two contests. Palma did not intercept a pass last fall. This is called growth. </p>

One of the biggest leaps a prospect will make is from playing freshman ball to varsity. Facing competition that may be 1-, 2-, or 3- years older than you implies that they are bigger, faster, and stronger. To-date, there have been several current sophomore prospects who have made that jump flawlessly. Today, we give them their due.