Obens Showcase brings out Northeast talent

This past Sunday marked the fourth annual Roman's Soldiers Showcase at the Indoor Sports Pavilion in Randolph. The event, which has become March tradition in New Jersey, is hosted and directed by former NFL offensive lineman and current NFL Director of Youth & High School Football Roman Oben.

Sunday's edition featured the largest enrollment thus far, with roughly 150 kids from grades 8-11 participating.

"I'm proud of the way the kids came out to compete this year - the best year by far", said Oben. "This event is no longer a northern New Jersey secret as kids came from Pennsylvania to Connecticut"

While the camp serves as a showcase, typical combine drills such as the 40-yard dash are nowhere to be found. Instead, the players receive hands-on instruction during individual position periods before engaging in 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 competition.

Coaches from New Jersey powers such as Don Bosco, Pope John XXIII (Sparta), DePaul and Shabazz were amongst the attendees at this year's event.

"The quality of participants have increased significantly which is directly a result of the trust I have from high school coaches as well as today's athlete always looking to find competitive platforms to compete," Oben said. 

While much hype recently has centered on the deep recruiting class of 2016 in the Garden State, the talent who participated in the classes of 2017, 2018 and 2019 on Sunday continued to why colleges continue to come back in droves to New Jersey during every recruiting cycle.

"New Jersey is considered a tier 1 talent state, along with Florida, Texas and California, for a reason," Oben said. "A lot of kids took college visits this weekend and it was still very competitive."

Here were some of the standout performers at the event:

Junior quarterback Anthony Brown of St. John Vianney already possesses multiple BCS offers but always finds a way to come out and compete. He worked out at Roman's Soldiers Showcase before heading down to Air Sports Group's 7-on-7 practice. Brown is now approaching 200 pounds and threw the ball with great accuracy.

John Lewis (Saint Peter's Prep - 2017) and CJ Lewis (Cheshire Academy - CT - 2017) had strong days and possess the size that BCS schools look for at the quarterback position. Lewis will attempt to fill the shoes of Notre Dame signee Brandon Wimbush while Lewis will move under center full time this fall.

At running back, Don Bosco freshman Burrell Neal was a repeat winner, showing great hands out of the backfield. Already getting some playing time with the Ironman varsity last season, expect him to have an expanded role this fall.

Class of 2016 WR/DB Yasir Thomas of Passaic County Tech really opened some eyes on both sides of the football. He was a huge reason the Bulldogs advanced to the North 1 Group 5 title game last fall and expect to see his college interest increase in the coming months.

Class of 2019 WR Tahjimer Jones knows how to use his size well at a young age and has a chance make an impact right away at Pope John next fall in coach Brian Carlson's pass-happy attack.

Don Bosco junior Jack Bowen was solid all day and freshman WR Fara'ad McCombs, who plays at Poly Prep in Brooklyn but calls New Jersey home, continued to prove why he is one to watch in the future.

Class of 2017 DB Daivon Robinson of Depaul will have to fight for playing time in a crowded and talented Spartan secondary this fall. He possess the length (6-foot-2) and speed that college coaches covet at the position. Robinson also made receivers miserable through the course of the afternoon.

Class of 2018 Dwight Morrow (Englewood) DB Quanzie Lumdsen made plays on both sides of the football and showed great ability to break on the football as a cornerback.

The defensive line was probably the most talented group at the event. Freshman DE Tyler Friday of Don Bosco has great size at 6-foot-2, 248 pounds and his physicality stood out. He has the frame and strength to easily move to the interior defensive line.

Junior DE Darnell Grant of Shabazz in Newark is a hybrid type who runs well. It is obvious that he is a coach's son as he played with great technique all camp.

Junior DT Myles Cobb of Don Bosco looked like the ideal 1-technique, using his strength and quickness to control the opposition.

Freshman DE Dorian Hardy of St. Joe's Regional (Montvale) looks like he has the potential to be a terror for the Green Knights for the next three years off the edge as he possess great length at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. As impressive as he was on defense, Hardy also stood out as a tight end.

Queen of Peace freshman DL DeSean Brickhouse and sophomore Nasir Darnell of Red Bank Catholic showed some flashes off the edge and will be names to remember for the near future.

The offensive line had their hands full but held their own with freshmen interior lineman Sebastian Delasoudas and Hamilton Hughes of Don Bosco proving that the cupboard isn't bare in Ramsey. Pope John junior Sam Howson showed some position flexibility along the line, taking reps at both center and tackle while excelling at both.