A familiar underclassman who has attended our camps in the past and has undergone some significant physical development since I last evaluated him. Previously listed at 5’11, 155 pounds, he now appears to be 6’2, 170 pounds, representing an impressive three inch increase in height and 15 additional pounds. He also plays basketball at Exeter Township, adding another athletic component to an already interesting profile. I haven’t assigned him a definitive position in our database because there hasn’t been enough film available to make that determination confidently. His Twitter is currently completely empty, which is disappointing considering I know this young man has potential and is beginning to produce on the football field. Most recently, he returned an interception nearly 90 yards for a touchdown, another encouraging sign of his development. I would love to see more of that production made available so I can properly evaluate him for a potential ranking.

Fortunately, despite the lack of activity on Twitter, he did upload a first five games or midseason highlight reel to Hudl approximately a month ago. The tape runs nearly two minutes, giving me a much better opportunity to assess his development than I previously had. I would strongly encourage him to start sharing these highlights on Twitter, particularly considering his significant physical growth and multisport background. A 6’2, 170 pound defensive back who also plays basketball and is producing for a program like Exeter Township has plenty of reasons to make his film accessible to college coaches. If his development continues, he could become a recruitable upperclassman next season, but increasing his visibility now would certainly help that process.

His tape opens with him aligned at outside cornerback in off coverage, keeping his eyes focused on his matchup and maintaining awareness of the developing route. He recognizes a slant, breaks downhill and nearly comes away with an interception. His length is immediately apparent, particularly in how effectively he can close the throwing window and challenge the football at the catch point. The second rep is another encouraging example, this time with him aligned at boundary corner in bump and run coverage. He stays connected to his receiver approximately 30 yards downfield, maintains his positioning and plays through the receiver’s hands at the catch point to record a pass breakup. Those are two difficult pass breakups to produce in consecutive reps, and I appreciate the different coverage responsibilities he demonstrates. He shows the ability to react from off coverage and compete vertically while playing much closer to the line of scrimmage.

His third rep highlights another important part of his defensive profile, as he comes downhill from his cornerback alignment to set the edge against a quality running back. He recognizes the developing run, breaks down under control and contributes in run support rather than allowing the ball carrier to get outside uncontested. That is an encouraging display of physicality and willingness to participate in the running game, especially for an underclassman who is still growing into his frame. His fourth rep returns him to an off coverage look at boundary corner, where he again demonstrates his ability to compete at the point of attack and challenge the football. His ball skills are becoming one of the more encouraging aspects of this evaluation, and I like how consistently he attempts to play through the catch point rather than simply settling for being in position.

Based on these early reps, I believe he is developing into a rankable defensive back. His improved height and length give him a much more intriguing physical profile than he had when I initially encountered him at our camps, and the available film shows legitimate coverage ability, ball skills and willingness to support the run. The next steps will be continuing to develop his speed, hip flexibility, transitions and overall coverage technique as he adjusts to his growing frame. Those traits will ultimately determine how high his ceiling can become, but the foundation is encouraging for a young player who still has plenty of time to develop. I want to see more complete film, including that recent interception return, and I would particularly like him to become more proactive about sharing his production on Twitter. There is enough here to justify serious ranking consideration, and I’m excited to continue following his development as he works toward becoming a recruitable upperclassman.

Nick Kozik Nick Kozik 5'11" | 155 lbs PA of Exeter High School is a Class of 2029 outside linebacker with a hybrid skill set that fits today’s game. At 6’1”, 160 pounds, his height gives him a clear advantage when matching up against bigger tight ends in coverage. Kozik shows the versatility to function as both a traditional linebacker and a space defender. He was one of the younger linebackers at the PRZPA Stock Up Showcase, yet never looked overwhelmed by the competition. Kozik’s willingness to learn stood out throughout the event. He was extremely coachable and consistently applied feedback in real time. During linebacker drills, he absorbed instruction from college-level coaches and adjusted his technique accordingly. His awareness and effort allowed him to compete confidently rep after rep. Kozik plays with maturity beyond his class year. As he continues to develop physically, his upside as a hybrid linebacker is very intriguing.