PRZ Next New Jersey Camp: Offensive Line Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the PRZ Next Middle School Camp at the Superdome in Waldwick, New Jersey this past weekend, it's time to begin highlighting some of the prospects from the camp. The 2028 offensive linemen below made their presence known in front of a collection of scouts, media members and college/high school coaches. Here's a look at some of the standouts up front from the camp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other writeups from camp:<strong><em> </em></strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/class-of-2029-2030-standouts-from-new-jersey-prz-next-camp/"><strong>Class of 2029/2030 Standouts</strong></a></em> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/prz-next-new-jersey-camp-running-back-standouts/"><em><strong>Running Back Standouts</strong></em></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Lead Dawg</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["991685"],"_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_0_evaluation":"In an offensive line group that wasn't huge in numbers, but u003cemu003ewasu003c/emu003e huge in ability, Benjamin Havunen took home MVP honors. It doesn't take a football genius to take a look at Havunen and see that he's a very strong kid for just being in the eighth-grade. The Virginia native is a thick, barrell-chested prospect who spends obvious time in the weight room and then uses that 275-bench press and 405-squat to muscle defensive linemen out of the hole. Getting a chance to watch him move through combine testing and individual drills, I learned that he's a lot more than just muscleu002du002dhe's athletic for an interior big, as well. He tested phenomenally in the shuttle, clocking a 4.56 in the shuttleu002du002dwhich was better than some of the skill guys. Ultimately, he sealed the deal with his performance during 1-on-1's. Once he got his bear paws on the opposite linemen, it was a wrap. I was specifically impressed with how strong and sturdy of a base he kept throughout the reps. He measured in at 6-foot-1 and 266 pounds, if he can get to that 6-foot-2/6-foot-3 mark, he'll have a lot of opportunities at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b02ecaeffc2"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Headliners</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["962443"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Due to weather and other logistical issues, I haven't been able to see [player_tooltip player_id='1156212' first='Logan' last='Brown'] play in a live setting since May of last year. However, watching him at the New Jersey PRZ Next Middle School Camp validated everything I thought from afar. The Pennsylvania native who played for teams in both Maryland and Pennsylvania this past season, was a close second when it came to the MVP of the offensive line group. There's a lot to like about Brown and the work boots/lunch pail/hard hat mentality he brings to the offensive line. At 6-foot and 250 pounds, he's one of the better interior offensive linemen I've seen in the Northeast. Plays with leverage and obvious strength. Not a waist-bender. Out of the all the offensive linemen there, he did the best job of anchoring and sitting in a chair during 1-on-1's. He's still weighing out options, but has more than a couple potential-suitors for which high school he will call home in the fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["517419"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Bowen is no stranger to the Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp scene, nor is he a stranger to the headlines of Prep Redzone Next. I saw Bowen play in early December at AYF Nationals, as part of the Central Mass Chaos 13U All-Star team and I could tell he had made improvements to his game. The Massachusetts prospect came to camp this past weekend and put this improvements on display in a camp setting. A bottom-heavy kid that tipped the scales at 6-foot and 272 pounds. He has gotten significantly stronger and did a nice job as an interior offensive linemen. Bowen is a work in progress that must continue to work on speed/quickness, flexibility and explosion - as his testing numbers have ample room for improvement. With that said, he was excellent during 1-on-1's winning the large majority of his reps against a very talented defensive line group.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1011819"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"I was very proud of the way Rossano handled his business at the New Jersey Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp this past Sunday. Rossano was arguably the top offensive lineman I saw during tryouts for the 14U New Jersey AYF National All-Star this past September and I felt good about him. Then, I saw him again this past December at AYF Nationals in Florida and he was playing with a huge cast on his hand and forearm, due to a fracture in practice leading up to the tournamentu002du002dmeaning he obviously wasn't 100%. Without more to go off of, I left him off the initial New Jersey 2028 Watchlist for offensive linemen. His performance at camp, erased any doubt and he earned a spot on that list. Is starting to fill out nicely, as I had him at 215 pounds in September and he is now up to 235. He moved very well and was clearly one of the more athletic and versatile Hog Molly's.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1049572"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The kid affectionately called u0022Big Joeu0022 certainly fits the nickname, as he measured in at a whopping 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds at the PRZ Next Middle School Showcaseu002du002dthat's up an inch and 20 pounds from the last measurements I had for him in the early fall. The big man took all of his reps as an offensive tackle, as that's where he projects to play when he takes the field for St. Augustine Prep in the fall. Dipaola was clocked at a 6.04 in the forty, which may not seem like a good time, but for a prospect at his size and age, that was moving pretty well. The South Jersey native made the trip back up to North Jersey (fittingly enough, where his dad grew up) and had nearly every coach there asking about who he was. He did pretty well in 1-on-1's, especially when he's able to get his long arms locked out. Dipaola needs to improve lower body strength and explosion, while keeping a lower base at the point of contact; Once he inevitably gets more power in his glutes, hamstrings and hips, this will take care of it self. There is so much potential here, it's scary. He proportionally carries his weight and looks like he will easily be north of 300 pounds in a year or two. Get u003cemu003eu003cstrongu003everyu003c/strongu003eu003c/emu003e familiar here.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b02ecaf0088"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Best Of The Rest</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- At just 5-foot-5 and 185 pounds, <strong>Ethan Musa</strong> gave up a tremendous amount of height and size to the likes of some of the guys above--but I loved his effort all day. He hung very tough in the trenches, getting his glasses knocked off his face at least twice that I saw. Regardless, the squatty interior linemen didn't quit or shy away when his number was called. He has a ways to go if football is to be in his future after high school, but any coach in America would take someone who gives it his all on every rep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The only 300-pounder in the group was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1159021' first='Kevin' last='Hicks']</strong>, who tipped the scales at 5-foot-11 and 319 pounds. Hicks came up to the North Jersey camp, with his regular season teammate on the Brigatine Rams, [player_tooltip player_id='1049572' first='Joe' last='Dipaola']. From what I saw at camp and on film from the past season, Hicks is certainly better than a lot of the other 2028s in the country--but I think he'll end up on the defensive line, as oppose to offensive line. He played Tackle and wasn't agile enough to be left a lone in space against some of the athletic defensive ends. At camp, he did pretty well when he was able to punch and get his hands inside, but it wasn't consistent. Overall, if he shed some weight it'll make him a more dynamic lineman on either side of the ball he plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->