Game Notes, Observations, Cheshire Academy @ The Hun School
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Marco Lainez NJ #25 QB #4 HEIGHT 6'3" WEIGHT 225 POS QB CLASS 2023 View Profile Marco Lainez Twitter State: New Jersey School: The Hun School New to New Jersey football, I had an inkling of how special the…
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New to New Jersey football, I had an inkling of how special the group at the Hun School is, as well as the special run they are currently on. I purposely didn’t scout most of the team so I can go into this game without any bias. Although Cheshire Academy hung around for the first half, the highly-recruited prospects at the Hun eventually showed their teeth in this one.
Hard to begin anywhere else other than the Iowa commit behind center. Marco Lainez Marco Lainez 6’3″ | 225 lbs | QB The Hun School | 2023 State NJ is ranked as the top quarterback prospect in his class by our NJ prospects, I understand why. Awesome to see a quarterback operate in play-action sets, especially the way Lainez does. There’s clear attention to detail in all things pre-snap and pre-throw. His footwork and pocket presence is seasoned, the young man shows an understanding of when to step into a pocket, when to bail, the nuances of the pocket game are shown in his play. I am unfamiliar with his total game, yet based on this outing, I’d label Lainez as a dual-threat. His ability to pick up yards on the run, improvise and flash play-making ability in the open field is evident. I’m not positive this will translate to Big Ten football, yet he possesses the capabilities at this level. His downfield vision, depth perception is a plus. He effortless scans for his first read, again I’d use the word seasoned. Nothing looks new to him. He flashes the cannon arm that Iowa loves to deploy. What impresses me most is his knack for the easy throw. This kid can be special, yet he does the easy things well. He can eat up a defense in the short/intermediate game thanks to his quick release and developed understanding of zone defenses. Lainez would stack up well with the best in PA. He’s an all-around weapon that the coaching staff can trust.
Kamar Archie
Kamar Archie
Kamar Archie was a major draw for me to come out to this game. I recently stumbled on his incredible sophomore tapes, there’s little question as to why he’s one of the more highly recruited sophomores in the Northeast. Archie didn’t have the game of his life by any means, I came away impressed by his reps on defense more than anything. I share the same sentiment as I did two weeks ago, this kid is special at linebacker. He’s special everywhere on the field, yet Archie looked instinctual and fluid when sniffing out ball carriers when attacking laterally. Big fan of this kid.
Logan Galletta Logan Galletta 6’1″ | WR Greenwich | 2023 State New E , whose recruiting is picking up a bit in FCS circles, was the main recipient of accurate Lainez throws all game. Galletta secured two grabs for touchdowns in this one. Galletta showed off why he can eat and be a viable weapon across all areas of the field, securing grabs near the boundary, downfield when attacking vertically, and working inside in the red zone. Galletta can work a defense and an offense to boot. Galletta put in some quality reps at safety as well.
James Muller
James Muller
As soon as I saw the Hun offensive line step onto the field, I knew I’d be talking about each one. They stood out from a size and power perspective early, I was hardly surprised when I did some research to find out that no linemen listed above were under 6’5. Credit to the Cheshire defensive front, they made things somewhat difficult for this unit early on. Eventually, this unit overpowered CA as the game progressed, something you expect to see each time this foursome is deployed. I hardly come across a unit that can collectively, as well as personally, pass-protect in this fashion. I’ve seen one or two prospects amongst a line show pass-pro prowess, not 4-5 prospects. The Hun succeeds on offense large in part because of this line.
Watching Wafle work, I had no idea he was a Notre Dame commit. Makes sense. It’s tough to stand out amongst a talented roster, Wafle did just that. I don’t come across too many 270-pound athletes who can do the things Wafle did against Cheshire Academy. He covered the flat and came away with a difficult interception. He was a force off in the trenches. Any time I keyed in on him personally, he was hardly being displaced, often in the backfield. This kid is a legitimate game-wrecker. I wouldn’t be surprised if this kid could play offensive line, considering the power he possesses to go along with his athleticism. I’d argue his rank should be higher.
Was nice to see Byce Enlow put work in. The last time I saw him move was at a NextGen camp this past off-season. He looked good then, looked good this past weekend as well. He can be trusted to fly to the football, even as the weak side backer. Enlow didn’t blow up this game, but assisted on a ton of tackles and even secured some tough open-field tackles against Cheshire athletes. Huge fan of this young man. Enlow can provide both inside and outside linebacker reps.
Liam Thorpe Liam Thorpe 6’0″ | 190 lbs | ATH The Hun School | 2025 NJ had a smooth touchdown taken away via penalty in this one. Where he proved his worth was on defense, however. Expect this kid to be ranked at some point in the future, most likely at “ATH” considering he will most likely be playing two-way ball for the remainder of his career at the Hun.
Highlights
This matchup started with quality offensive reps out of the likes of Drew Hall Drew Hall 6’4″ | ATH Cheshire Academy | 2023 State New E , Luke Reynolds Luke Reynolds 6’4″ | 220 lbs | ATH Cheshire Academy | 2024 State New E , and RB/LB Santino Gambardella Santino Gambardella 6’1″ | 205 lbs | LB Cheshire Academy (Ct) | 2023 State New E . The tandem of Drew Hall Drew Hall 6’4″ | ATH Cheshire Academy | 2023 State New E and Luke Reynolds Luke Reynolds 6’4″ | 220 lbs | ATH Cheshire Academy | 2024 State New E was well worth the trip. I hardly ever see a QB/WR duo that can be interchanged between the two. Drew Hall Drew Hall 6’4″ | ATH Cheshire Academy | 2023 State New E is an excellent quarterback, a quarterback that was getting hit early and often in this one. Drew Hall Drew Hall 6’4″ | ATH Cheshire Academy | 2023 State New E can also deliver quality reps at wideout if the Cheshire coaching staff prefers Luke Reynolds Luke Reynolds 6’4″ | 220 lbs | ATH Cheshire Academy | 2024 State New E at quarterback. The two teamed up for a touchdown pass early in this game that forced the Hun to tighten up. They eventually did, yet I like Hall and Reynolds to produce against anyone in the NEPSAC. They flashed the ability to do so against this loaded defense. Despite the loss, the quality reps should hold some weight.
Highlights
This game was closer than the score might indicate, large in part due to the efforts of former top Pennsylvania recruit Lavon Johnson Lavon Johnson 6’4″ | DL Cheshire Academy | 2023 State New E . I never got a chance to see Johnson at ACC, was more than happy to make the trip to see the Maryland-commit square up against the Hun. Johnson is the leader of, not only the defense, the entire team, it seems. Vocal, two-way player, tough kid who lets his play do the talking. Again, this outcome is hardly what the doctor ordered, yet I still came away impressed with his IOL reps, as well as his ability to penetrate this impressive Hun offensive line.
Got a chance to see this massive OLB/TE prospect up close and personal. Newby is one of my favorite prospects in New England, his performance was hard fought. Nothing is given when you strap up against this offensive line, yet the 6’4, outside linebacker still made his presence felt in this one. Newby came away with a huge blindside strip-sack on Lainez, a play that sparked the CA sideline. It was a pleasure seeing a kid Newby’s size run with real stride, both to the football and when running routes on offense. Again, his best days are ahead of him.
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Highlights
Reps out of Jack Kennedy, Hugo Gil Hugo Gil 6’3″ | 305 lbs | DL Chesire Academy (CT) | 2023 State New E , and John Rowe all stood out to me despite the outcome. Kennedy was in on a ton of tackles, while also being in on some fumble recoveries as well. Hugo Gil Hugo Gil 6’3″ | 305 lbs | DL Chesire Academy (CT) | 2023 State New E and John Rowe each came away with some big stops of Hun ball carriers, either in the trenches or behind the line of scrimmage.
This loss doesn’t hurt either Gil’s or Rowe’s stock, it actually might have helped it. The same goes for Jack Kennedy, who is currently unranked.