South Jersey high school football recruit profile: Pleasantville senior Chris Wright

Each week, the South Jersey Gridiron Gang will introduce high school football fans to a local senior that has been overlooked during the recruiting process.

Chris Wright

High school: Pleasantville           

Age: 17

Position: Defensive tackle

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 240 pounds

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Résumé: Interior rusher produced 82 tackles, 24 for loss, and 9 sacks last season … Has 21 tackles, 6 for loss, and a sack in four games in 2022 … Wright is the leader of a squad that is currently 3-1 after finishing 2021 winless. 

Grade-point average: 4.6 (weighted)

Bench press: 325 pounds

Squat: 500 pounds

Power clean: 275 pounds

Current offers: None

Watch the film: Oct. 1, 2021 vs. Winslow; Sept. 10, 2022 vs. Salem; Sept. 30, 2022 vs. Buena.

Pleasantville went 0-10 in 2021, but Wright still impressed opposing coaches. “Obviously, we had a pretty good team, and going into every week you always want to find the guys that can essentially beat you, who can hurt us. … He was the one that stood out (on Pleasantville),” said Cedar Creek head coach James Melody, who led the Pirates to a 13-0 season and Courier Post Team of the Year honors in 2021. “We wanted to make sure we had him under control. We used double teams to take care of him to ensure that we had success in the run game. He was physically pretty big, he used his hands well and he had explosiveness to him. He had a good first step, good leverage on the football and it was on us to get him out of position. He was an explosive player. … Those are the kind of kids that you say, he could probably play for any program.”

What did Wright want to improve on in the offseason? “My mental (game) and leadership skills, my hands to help me break off blocks and probably better technique overall,” Wright said.

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New Pleasantville coach Malachi Timberlake worked with Wright in 2020 before going to Cedar Creek for a season. What impressed him most about Wright? “I think his explosiveness is through the roof,” Timberlake said. “I think he’s one of the most explosive interior D-linemen in South Jersey.”

Where did Timberlake think Wright could improve to take the next step? “He’s the type of player that hasn’t even scratched the surface, just a talented, explosive athlete, and him being more skilled (technique wise) was going to be able to help us, and being a leader. Chris is one of the most hard-working kids I’ve been around. He leads by example, but I always tell him he needs to speak more. He’s not as vocal, but he’s come a long way. He leads drills in position groups. I challenged him to be vocal because our team needs it. We’re very young, a lot of underclassmen. They look up to him. If he speaks more, it changes the whole dynamic of the team. I think his skillset speaks for itself. His playmaking ability speaks for itself.”

What techniques has Wright improved? “Short stick, long stick, slanting, not false-stepping and him being able to explode and get to where he needs to at a fast pace,” Timberlake said. “His hand placement, his understanding of what type of blocks he’s getting, how to place his hands at a certain spot so you can get rid of them. (Defensive coordinator) Kamal Johnson has done a tremendous job.”

What feedback has Wright gotten from college coaches? “Explosive athlete, good grades and good character,” Wright said. “My height was a question mark.”

What feedback has Timberlake gotten from college coaches? “His height has been the main topic, him being able to withstand that type of level of O-linemen. What they’re (asking) is, can we compromise height if he’s a technically-sound defensive lineman. He’s already very explosive, and that’s why we’re harping on him being technical because that compensates for the lack of size sometimes. … His frame, they know he can put weight on. He has the frame to put weight on, the question mark is his size.”

Wright has exceptional grades. How have his study habits impacted him on the football field? “Chris is the type of guy where when he locks on something, he picks it up pretty fast,” Timberlake said. “He understands the game. He’s a football player. He’s been playing football all his life. Now, we’re just putting things in perspective at a higher level. It’s been able to help him tremendously. Him putting in the countless hours and time and film study, he understands the small details will help him become a better football player and a better student in the classroom.”

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What would Wright like to pursue in college? “I want to major in political science and minor in prelaw,” Wright said. “I want to become a lawyer.”

How has playing for an overlooked Pleasantville program affected Wright? “It motivated me,” Wright said. “I want to help get the name (out there), put the name out there and put some light out there in Pleasantville.”

How has Wright played this season? “Chris has been doing a very good job, especially with all the attention he’s been getting, a lot of double-teaming, sliding his way,” Timberlake said. “… He’s still making plays at a high level, and him just being a dominant force we need. His numbers will start to pick up. We’ve only played four games and had a bye week. … I don’t think his productivity has dropped, I think his supporting cast (improved) and (Pleasantville has played) four games. … He’s going to put up monstrous numbers.”

What would Timberlake tell college coaches about Wright? “Christopher Wright is an outstanding student-athlete, a 4.6 GPA, high-character kid, is reliable and does the right things when no one is watching,” Timberlake said. “He’s an outstanding athlete, explosive, great in the weight room, a natural-born leader. He does all the little things right when you need him to.”

Josh Friedman has produced award-winning South Jersey sports coverage for the Courier Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times for more than a decade. If you have or know of an interesting story to tell, reach out on Twitter at @JFriedman57 or via email at jfriedman2@gannettnj.com. You can also contact him at 856-486-2431. Help support local journalism with a subscription.