Ten Underrated Prospects From the State of New Jersey
OL: Justin Cesaire, Orange, SR The pure upper body strength of Justin is all over his film. He consistently put defenders on skates and drove them where they didn’t want to go. He’s got a ton of upside, as he’s…
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Continue ReadingOL: Justin Cesaire, Orange, SR
The pure upper body strength of Justin is all over his film. He consistently put defenders on skates and drove them where they didn’t want to go. He’s got a ton of upside, as he’s extremely light on his feet and can move very well for a big man. If he continues to put on weight, and play with a little more knee bend, I could most certainly see multiple FBS schools adding to his offer list.
DB: Marquis Cooper, Paramus Catholic, SR
Cooper is a technician at corner, who does a great job of leaning and locating the football. He’s got some serious bounce and will high point the ball in the air. He’s not the biggest guy out there, but he’s not afraid to come up and make tackles in space. Right now, he holds a strong group of FCS offers, but I think after a big senior year, a MAC, or C-USA program could come calling late.
WR: Marshawn Ferguson, Depaul, JR
I was sent Ferguson’s tape over the weekend and came away very impressed by what he was able to do as just a sophomore. This is a smart football player, who understands coverages and where to sit down in them. He’s tough going across the middle and is willing to take a shot if it means getting a first down. He’s only just a junior, so I could see his recruiting starting to heat up after this season.
OL: Matt Fries, Cranford, JR
The only reason I decided to put Fries on this list is because I think he’s a Power-Five talent. On-film, he played with great knee bend, got a ton of movement on defenders, and constantly played through the whistle. Right now, he holds a few Non-Power Five offers, but I think he’s a Big Ten type talent who has a very bright future. More offers should be coming soon.
OLB: Ethan Rodriguez, Saint Peters Prep, SR
Rodriquez is as versatile as they come. Last fall, he lined up at both defensive end and running back for Saint Peters. On-film, he showed solid speed and exceptional burst for a bigger a guy. To me, he projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level. Rodriguez showed not only the ability to rush the passer, but also drop into coverage in passing situations. Sacred Heart University got a steal in this kid.
DB: Adrian Taffe, Bergen Catholic, SR
This is a tall cornerback prospect at 6’3, with long arms. Adrian does a good job of staying square in his backpedal and overlapping in coverage when need be. He makes sure he comes to balance when breaking on a ball carrier and will speed his feet once he makes contact. Right now he only holds one FCS offer from Albany.
WR: Caleb Rippey, Jefferson Township, SR
This young man torched DB’s as a junior and showed no issues getting off press coverage. He does a good job stacking cornerbacks after beating them and is a natural at tracking the ball in the air. He’s a fantastic route runner who has multiple counter moves to cause issues to an opposing defender.
RB: Jordan Kinsler, St. Joseph, SR
On-film, I loved this guy’s ability and toughness between the tackles. Kinsler does a great job of keeping his feet moving on contact and will often carry defenders on his way to the endzone. He had good production in 2019, rushing for 1,068 yards and 11 touchdowns. To me, his senior tape will be pivotal in his recruiting. Kinsler has already flashed on tape, but if he puts together another consistent season, I think more schools are going to take a serious look.
OL: Kevin Loughlin, St, Joseph Regional, JR
Loughlin is put together for a high school lineman and doesn’t look like a kid who is only a junior. He started on varsity as a sophomore and showed the ability to down block, but also easily work to the second level in gap scheme runs. He plays with great hand placement and the adequate knee drive you look for. I’ll be interested in seeing his junior tape because this kid has a very high ceiling as an offensive lineman.
TE: Jack Larsen, Seton Hall Prep, SR
The first thing that jumped out to me about Jack was his size, as he’s 6’4, 235. Defenders struggled to bring him down with the ball in his hands and it was rare to see the first man tackle him. He’s a fantastic blocker and will go the extra mile to spring a big run. I think he even has some upside as a pass rusher as a five-technique. Columbia did a great job identifying this kid, as he’s the definition of a sleeper to me.