I got the chance to see Brayden perform last Saturday at the Jersey Shore AYF All-Star tryouts and let me tell you, I was thoroughly impressed with what I saw. Brayden is a commanding force on the field. In his matchup against Brick, Brayden utilized his size to his advantage by splitting the coverage and high pointing the ball when the QB lofted it over the defender. Brayden proceeded to fight his way to the end zone for the score.

Defensively, Brayden was relentless. Showing off his speed, he was able to chase a running back down and nearly force a fumble with his aggressive punch at the ball. He shined as a pass rusher off the edge as well, showing off his acceleration and disrupting the opposing QB’s pass by getting to his arm to force a bad throw. Check out his week 3 highlights, you won’t be disappointed.

It’s hard to miss Brayden when he steps onto the field, as he one was the receiver at the tryouts Saturday afternoon. Another member of last year’s 12u team, Brayden proved to be right at home showcasing exceptional ball skills throughout the day.

What makes him dangerous isn’t just his size, but the way he uses it. Brayden can outjump defenders and play aggressively to attack the ball. He also impressed with his downfield speed, showing he can run underneath deep passes and stretch the defense. With his combination of size, athleticism, and proven ability, Brayden has a strong chance of earning another spot on the 14u All Star team.

A player I recently highlighted in the preseason, Brayden Berkley Brayden Berkley 6'2" | 160 lbs | WR/TE Red Bank Catholic | 2030 NJ balled out for the Jackson Jaguars this past weekend. Brayden has great film on both sides of the ball from the game. Receiving wise, Brayden proved to be a overpowering mismatch for the smaller DBs he’d line up against. In his 55 yard touchdown, Brayden not only showcased his break away speed after the catch but also his ability to shed tackles immediately afterwards and prepare incoming tacklers. Luckily with his size it’s going to take a few of them to bring him down.

Brayden was a versatile player on defense in week 1 as well. Lining up on the edge, Brayden sprinted into the backfield with a full head of steam just to deliver a punishing blow to the opposing quarterback. He not only lined up on the edge, but also lined up in the middle of the defense where he found success covering sidelines to sideline to chase down the runner. Brayden plays with tremendous speed, which translates to both side of the balls in a dominant manner.

Brayden Berkley Brayden Berkley 6'2" | 160 lbs | WR/TE Red Bank Catholic | 2030 NJ is a wide receiver that I wrote about earlier in the year and am continuously impressed with what I am seeing out of him. A big framed, strong handed target, Brayden currently lines up out wide but may find his most natural position to be a tight end in the future due to his commanding presence on the field. Truly a versatile weapon for his offense, Brayden has consistently been a mismatch lining up against defensive backs not as gifted size wise.

Brayden is going to be a huge problem for defenses in the red zone. Brayden is able to use his bigger frame to his advantage, boxing out defenders and playing keep away with the ball when it’s thrown his direction. He has demonstrated great concentration when coming down with the catch. Maybe most impressive is Brayden’s speed when running routes and how aggressive he runs with the ball. Smaller DBs bounce off of Brayden as he carves a path down field.

With strong hands and a bigger frame, Brayden Berkley Brayden Berkley 6'2" | 160 lbs | WR/TE Red Bank Catholic | 2030 NJ has the potential to grow into a versatile offensive weapon, possibly even lining up at tight end in the future. He already shows promise as a top downfield target, using his size to outcompete defenders for contested catches. While more film will provide a clearer picture of his overall game, there’s plenty to be excited about in what lies ahead for this prospect.

With a few dudes that can stretch the field vertically and a few possession guys to keep the chains moving, Berkley would be a nice mixture of the two styles. Berkley has good size and was a little thicker than some of the other WRs at the tryout, but didn’t necessarily look as quick in drills as some of the others either–hence the WR/TE position distinction. His hands were reliable throughout the day and he was clearly one of the better kids there. If he ends up making the team, I could see him being a real threat in the red zone.