Joel Budd
Joel Budd
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Expert Analysis
Amal Scott | Prep Redzone Scout
Budd already possessed the frame that screams “NFL upside”—that rare combination of height and mass that allows him to engulf defenders at the point of attack. He showed flashes of nastiness in his play style, consistently looking to finish blocks with authority, driving opponents into the ground or pancaking them when the opportunity arose. That finisher’s mentality hasn’t wavered; if anything, it’s become more refined as he’s learned to channel it without drawing penalties. But like many young linemen of his stature, Budd’s game was held back by inconsistencies in his fundamentals. His foot speed was adequate but not explosive, often leaving him a step slow in pass protection or when climbing to the second level in run schemes. His base— that critical foundation of balance and leverage—was narrow at times, making him vulnerable to bull rushes or quick counters from edge rushers.
Equally impressive is the upgrade to his base. Budd’s stance is wider and more stable, providing a lower center of gravity despite his towering frame. This adjustment has paid dividends in both pass pro and the run game, where he’s now generating better leverage to displace defensive tackles or seal off linebackers. As a result, he’s getting to the edge faster on outside zone plays and ascending to the second level with purpose—opening up lanes for his backs that simply weren’t there before. Of course, no prospect is perfect, and Budd still has room to grow. Hand placement remains an area of struggle; he occasionally shoots his hands too wide or too high, allowing savvy defenders to slip inside or redirect his momentum. Refining this technique—perhaps through more targeted coaching on punch timing and inside-out aiming points—could unlock even more dominance.
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Read EvaluationRoger Silva | Prep Redzone Scout
Joel Budd
Joel
Budd
6'8" | 305 lbs | OL
Somers | 2028
State
New E
: He earned an offer from Syracuse before he played an H.S. varsity game. He has a large frame. He has had visits to Boston College and Rutgers University already. He was added to the rankings as a reflection of his offer from Syracuse.
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Read EvaluationAlan Popadines | Prep Redzone Scout
– He’s 6-foot-8 and 295 pounds before taking a snap of high school ball. Anything more to know?
– A three-sport athlete who also plays lacrosse and basketball.
– A Connecticut native, he played for the American Youth Football (AYF) National Champion Springfield Tigers 14U team this past season.
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Read EvaluationAlan Popadines | Prep Redzone Scout
– Easily the biggest prospect down at AYF Nationals, regardless of age group or division
– Played Right Tackle for the Springfield Tigers, helping them to a third place finish in their bracket
– Overwhelming size with good grasp on basic stance and skills. Must get quicker, more flexible and improve overall athleticism. Struggled with speed rushers, who took wide angles
– When he was able to get in front of pass rushers, he won most reps. With some work, he’ll be a good one
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Read EvaluationAlan Popadines | Prep Redzone Scout
– One of the largest pre-high school athletes I’ve seen, since I started covering the middle school age group back in 2010. He’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, up from the 6-foot-4 and 265 I had him listed at a year ago. That size is a huge plus, but it also comes with the fact that he needs to continue to work on staying low
– A native of Connecticut, Budd is playing for the Springfield Tigers out of Massachusetts in 2023. The Tigers are among the best teams in American Youth Football (AYF) and are in the running for a Regional Championship and National Championship berth every year. As of this write up, they are two wins away from a National Championship berth this season
– As one can imagine, the college interest has already started for Budd. He has visited Rutgers, Boston College and UConn up to this point and will expand upon that list this summer
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