Defensive Studs You Need To Know
In this article:
Were looking at the defensive prospects who don’t have a huge name but have been making an impact on the defensive side of the ball this season. Jeremiah Pruitt Jeremiah Pruitt 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Tom's River North…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWere looking at the defensive prospects who don’t have a huge name but have been making an impact on the defensive side of the ball this season.
Jeremiah Pruitt Jeremiah Pruitt 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Tom's River North | 2024 State NJ DB, Tom’s River North 2024
Pruitt has some of the best coverage skills in the entire state. He’s a tall long 6’1 with good size and smooth movement skills. While being a ballhawk, he separates himself by being an all-round being defensive back making a difference in run defense, and being a solid tackler. He hasn’t posted any offers but with his size and coverage skills, it’s hard to believe he won’t be on someone’s division one roster. He currently has 4 TFLs and 5 PBUs with one defensive touchdown on the year.
DJ Mangan DJ Mangan 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Irvington | 2024 State NJ LB, St. Peter’s Prep 2024
Mangan is a linebacker that has all the measurables that Power 5 schools look for. At 6’3 225 he has that elite sideline-to-sideline range that makes him special. He can take on and fight through blocks and uses his hands well while defeating blocks.
Haven’t yet been able to see what he can do as a coverage player but with his athletic ability and instincts playing the hole or hook to curl would be a small adjustment for such a talented player.
Mikai Ramsey-Middleton, St. Peter’s Prep 2023
One of the feistiest cornerbacks you’ll find in the state. Makai makes his money by causing havoc in the run game. He’s an excellent tackler and is not afraid to be more than a force player in run fits at the. At 5’9 he also manages to be a bear at the catch point and makes it tough for any opposing wide receiver to make catches. It’s a tough battle for whoever he lines up across from him.
Justin Castillo Justin Castillo 5'7" | 205 lbs | LB Cedar Creek | 2024 State NJ LB, Cedar Creek 2024
Castillo is the heart and soul of the Cedar Creek defense and has some of the best instincts of any linebacker in the state. He’s a sure one-on-one tackler and is deceptively quick and reads run plays very well. If Castillo wasn’t 5’7 which is generous at that, he no doubt would be on every Power 5 school’s radar. It’s tough to sell a 5’7 player to a division one coach at linebacker, but we believe if given the opportunity Castillo would excel. He excels and the important traits of the position that you can’t teach in terms read and reacting and diagnosing plays.
Rashaad Williams Rashaad Williams 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB West Side | 2024 State NJ LB, Westside 2024
Williams is a linebacker who makes plays all over the field. He is a prototypical gap shooter and plays best when he’s going forward and when he moves along the line and plays in a gap. He plays with maximum effort and has very good pursuit of the football. His strong suit is attacking the line of scrimmage, but we’d like to see what he can do as a coverage player seeing that is one of the biggest separators at the linebacker position. We believe he has the capabilities to be an all-round linebacker but there isn’t enough evidence to see how he plays in space. His progression will be interesting to monitor as the year goes on.
Dylan Seay Dylan Seay 6'5" | 235 lbs | ATH Camden | 2024 State NJ ATH, Camden 2024
Seay is an all-round player who has the ability to play multiple positions at the college level. He has above-average size and length at 6’5 235lbs to be a solid edge rusher. He plays with good leverage but needs to understand how to consistently win using his length and his hands. If he continues to work on those things he can be one of the best players in the state. Saey currently holds offers from Yale and Temple.