PRZ NE Stock up Showcase OL/DL Honorable Mentions

<p>The Prep Red Zone New England Stock-Up Showcase took place on February 7, 2026 in Connecticut. The event featured many talented athletes. These athletes participated in athletic combine testing, skills and drills, and competition. In this report, I will highlight some Honorable mentions from the Lineman group. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Yates possesses an intriguing frame with room to add good weight without sacrificing his natural length and quickness. He showed well in combine testing, posting impressive metrics that underscore his athletic upside. His length allows him to play bigger than his current weight suggests, and his quickness off the line was evident in drills. This combination makes him a prototypical EDGE build for modern defenses that prioritize speed and bend over pure bulk. Yates' get-off is a standout trait—he explodes out of his stance with impressive burst, allowing him to challenge offensive tackles early in the rep. He demonstrates solid hip flexibility and bend around the edge, which helps him dip under blocks and maintain leverage when turning the corner. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">When Yates commits to a physical approach, he can handle blockers. He secured a couple of reps by getting his hands inside and driving through contact, showing flashes of the bully mentality that could develop into a reliable power rush. His combine performance highlighted his long, quick frame, suggesting he has the raw tools to develop into a multi-faceted pass rusher. While he won a few reps through sheer physicality, his attempts to bully blockers frequently fell short due to insufficient play strength. Yates doesn't have a deep bag of moves yet—he relies heavily on speed and initial burst but lacks counters or secondary techniques to win when his first step is neutralized. This made him predictable in extended reps. His hand usage is underdeveloped; hands come up slowly, reducing his ability to shed blocks efficiently. He often tries to initiate with a bull rush but lacks the current strength to consistently overpower stronger linemen, leading to stalemates or losses at the point of attack. Another good player that couldn't breakthrough to top 5, but was a certain honorable mention. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PhoenixY2027/status/1996286066840510827?s=20 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Mancuso's physical profile is his standout asset—he's big, strong, and carries his weight well on his frame giving him natural leverage and power potential at the point of attack. In the combine portion, he posted solid testing numbers, demonstrating good explosiveness and strength that could make him a bully in the trenches. Sparks of dominance were evident, particularly in short-area bursts where his size allowed him to overwhelm lighter or less physical defenders. During drills, he looked comfortable and fluid at times, showing glimpses of anchor strength and the ability to reset his base effectively. These traits suggest he has the foundational tools to develop into a reliable interior lineman, potentially at guard or tackle, where his mass could be a real asset in run-blocking schemes.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Footwork remains a clear area of concern for Mancuso. His feet tended to get stuck in the ground during transitions, leading to slower redirects and vulnerability against quicker edge rushers or stunts. This issue was compounded by inconsistent hand usage—strikes were often missed entirely or not thrown with conviction, allowing defenders to dictate the engagement and slip past his frame. While he showed sparks in the combine, these technical lapses became more apparent in live drills, where the lack of high-caliber competition didn't fully expose them but still highlighted a need for polish. Overall, his performance felt raw; he was good, but still an honorable mention. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ZMancuso72/status/1991590887705489611?s=20 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Hays' game is built on a foundation of raw power and solid technique, which stood out consistently during the tournament. He plays much bigger than his measurements suggest, often bullying defensive linemen with explosive first step and relentless motor. This was evident in reps where he used his low center of gravity to hold gaps and reduce pressure. A key asset is his wide base and balance, which provide excellent stability against bull rushers. He maintains good posture throughout engagements, rarely getting knocked off his feet or losing leverage, even when facing more athletic defensive linemen.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Combined with strong hand placement, Hays excels at initial punch techniques; his hands are active and precise, allowing him to control rushers and prevent pursuits. Overall, Hays' physical profile and technical base project him as a versatile offensive lineman. The most notable issue was being overwhelmed at times in sustained engagements, particularly against larger linemen. In longer reps or when facing speed-to-power rushes, Hays occasionally struggled to reset his hands or adjust his base. His size, while functional, can be a limitation against prototypical defensive lineman who outweigh him by 50+ pounds. Hays relies heavily on initial burst, and when that's neutralized, he can get engulfed in the trenches. Additionally, while his balance is a plus, he showed minor lapses in posture under fatigue. Hays is still raw in handling elite athleticism, but held his own enough for an honorable mention. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jacobhays2027/status/2000716253464236501?s=20 </div></figure>     <p>His build suggests he can anchor against the run while having the length to disrupt passing lanes. One of Quiles' standout traits is his initial burst off the line. He explodes out of his stance with good acceleration, allowing him to penetrate gaps early and pressure the quarterback or ball carrier. This was evident in reps where he beat slower offensive linemen to the point of attack. Quiles moves well for his size, showing good lateral quickness and balance in drills. </p>   <p>He relies more on raw strength than pure speed, which paid off in several reps where he overpowered opponents. Overall, he tested well across the board, underscoring his athletic upside. His game is built on strength, but he lacks elite top-end speed or bend around the edge. This made him less effective in pure speed-rush scenarios, where quicker prospects outmaneuvered him. While Quiles has the length to engage, he doesn't consistently use his hands to shed blocks or control engagements. This led to him getting tied up in some reps, limiting his ability to disengage and finish plays. Despite his power base, Quiles could be more aggressive at the point of contact. He sometimes plays a bit upright or hesitates, allowing blockers to dictate the terms rather than imposing his will.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Abraham_Quiless/status/2020530262845595911?s=20 </div></figure>     <p>Grushey's frame is college-ready, with good length and room to add functional mass without losing mobility. He demonstrated solid posture in controlled drill settings, maintaining a low pad level and showing decent hip flexibility. Grushey looked more comfortable and explosive here than in the combine, winning a couple of reps through sheer effort and body control. This indicates untapped athleticism that shines in structured environments. Even in a lackluster overall showing, Grushey competed hard. He didn't dominate, but he didn't back down, flashing the motor that coaches love in developmental prospects.</p>   <p>Hands were notably slow to strike, reducing his effectiveness in shedding blocks. He won only a handful of reps, and even those weren't dominant—more opportunistic than overwhelming. This points to a need for quicker, more violent hand usage to match his size. Grushey's combine numbers were underwhelming across the board—lacking the burst, agility, and speed metrics that separate elite prospects. While his posture is a plus, balance remains an issue; he often gets knocked off his base when engaged, leading to stalled rushes. In live reps, he wasn't physical enough at the point of attack, allowing blockers to dictate terms. This was evident in his tendency to expose his chest too much, making him an easy target for offensive linemen to latch on and control. One of the youngest at the event; he has lots of upside, but wasn't ready for a top 5 finish.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/quinngrushey/status/2021009437906043215?s=20 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Gomez flashed intriguing athletic traits that could translate well to the next level. His first step off the snap allows him to fire out low and engage defenders with urgency, which was evident in multiple reps where he gained leverage early. This pairs well with his ability to get hands on defenders quickly, using active, violent hand placement to control and steer opponents. In run drills, he performed at a higher level, showing good pad level. During competition periods, Gomez won a few reps outright, including a couple of blocks where his base strength and balance shone through against similarly sized peers. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Overall, his physicality and motor suggest he's a prospect who thrives in physical, downhill blocking scenarios. While Gomez's run-game prowess stood out, his pass protection needs polishing to handle more athletic edge rushers or interior twists. The most notable area for improvement is his kick step, which lacked the depth and quickness needed for consistent mirroring in pass sets. This led to occasional overextension, where he struggled to recover against speed-to-power moves, allowing defenders to gain inside leverage. At his current size, he can hold up against bull rushes due to his anchor, but without refining his footwork, he risks being exposed in drop-back situations. In competitive reps, this limitation showed up in losses where quicker opponents slipped past his initial punch.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/68chs/status/2020521799541219598?s=20 </div></figure>

The Prep Red Zone New England Stock-Up Showcase took place on February 7, 2026 in Connecticut. The event featured many talented athletes. These athletes participated in athletic combine testing, skills and drills, and competition. In this report, I will highlight some Honorable mentions from the Lineman group.