Midfielders to Watch: New Jersey Class of 2026

With September 1st coming and going, the Class of 2026 now has the chance to verbally commit to college destinations of their choice. With many NJ midfielders getting looks from top-tier Division 1 schools, we check in with a few guys looking to attract college scouts heading into their junior year, with some of them already committed.    Lawrenceville is a juggernaut and is always stacked with tons of talent all around the field and [player_tooltip player_id='16726' first='Adam' last='Ponting'] is no different. The Princeton commit is a dominant right-handed midfielder and at 6'3", he can use his large frame to bully defenders and punish goaltenders. Ranked 35th in the Class of 2026, he has shown to be a relentless dodger and will re-dodge if he likes his matchup and make them pay. He's a tough assignment for defenders because he has the speed to blow past his defender, the strength to absorb contact, and the stick skills and accuracy to weave through the defense and score. Playing box lacrosse up in Ontario, Canada for St. Catherines has definitely helped him become a great field lacrosse player.     Boyd had a good season for Chatham and was highly productive with the minutes he earned, totaling 22 goals, 14 assists, and 14 ground balls. The Michigan commit is a dynamic middle with the ability to score confidently with either hand and always keep his head up when dodging. Ranked 73rd in his class, he has shown the ability to use the spin move effectively on a dodge to quickly roll off of the defender and either shoot or feed a teammate. He has a good shot on the run whether it is coming across the field or down the alley, he has precision and speed and mixes up his shot location to keep the goalies guessing. On step-downs, he lets it fly and stings corners with a hard shot and a quick release when given time and room to do so.     Lundberg was a marksman for Shawnee as a sophomore, recording 28 goals, 18 assists, and 59 ground balls while helping them to a state title game in which they fell short. At six foot, Lundberg's mix of size and athleticism when dodging and shooting makes him an extremely productive right-handed midfielder. When dodging, he uses speed and good footwork to get past his defender and then he likes to roll back to create an opportunity. Ranked 67th in his class, he is a very good step-down shooter, works well in man-up scenarios, and doesn't need a lot of space to make a play. If a defender over-commits, he will hitch and create space to unload a hard shot on the run. He also does a good job of changing planes when shooting and not making it easy on opposing goalies.     If there's one thing you know [player_tooltip player_id='17484' first='John' last='Devir'] always has, its energy. It's infectious and it can lift up a team in a split second. As the 65th-ranked player in his class, Devir played an integral part in Don Bosco Prep's state title victory last spring with 4 goals, posting 35 goals and 19 assists for the season. The Yale commit is explosive with great footwork and when dodging he keeps his head up for teammates cutting or setting up a shot on the backside. He is a tough player and has shown the ability to fight through contact and stick checks on his way to the net. He has a smooth shot on the run and places the ball in good spots, but when taking a step down, he has a rocket shot and picks corners with ease. He will certainly play another big part offensively for the Ironmen as they look to go back-to-back as state champs.     Along with [player_tooltip player_id='16726' first='Adam' last='Ponting'] at midfield for the Big Red, [player_tooltip player_id='16729' first='Jake' last='Sturtevant'] has also proven to be a difference maker. The Michigan commit is able to beat defenders with speed down the alley and then can deceive the goalie by changing planes on his shot with high velocity and accuracy. Ranked 48th in his class, he possesses the strength and stick skills to fight off checks by the defense, make a few fakes, and finish with quick hands in tight. When taking a step down he has a quick release and can light it rip with either hand interchangeably, while mixing up his shots and locations, not needing much space to operate. Playing summers with Next Level, Sturtevant is also used at times to play attack and can make an impact down there as well.     Wodazak played a large role in the St. Augustine offense last spring, finishing with 30 goals and 10 assists, tied for 2nd most points on the team with fellow sophomore Sebastian Varallo. Standing 6'3", Wodazak uses that size when dodging with his aggressive style of play and likes to feel the defender so he can then spin-off of it into a shot or find an open teammate. He isn't a track star, but he does a good job of utilizing quick bursts of speed to help him create space as a dodger. When shooting, look out. From the outside, he snipes corners and has a lot of power on his shot with a quick trigger, but he can also bull-dodge right through stick checks and finish with some fakes around the crease.     Webster was a beast last season for DePaul Catholic, totaling 45 goals, 50 assists, and 141 ground balls, while also going 47% from the face-off X in 348 attempts. He's a dynamic player who can play offense, defense or even face-off if needed, all at a high level of production. He is a quick and shifty dodger who has a well-placed, hard shot on the run or can set up and unload from the outside with power. He likes dodging down the alley and with a quick change of direction, he can cut back up-field. Webster also does a nice job of keeping his head up while dodging, but one of his best qualities is that he is a solid defender who rides hard on clears and has speed in the open field or to start transition chances.    Check out the rest of my articles thus far on the series of Class of 2026 top-position players to watch:   <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/08/class-of-2026-new-jersey-face-off-specialists-to-watch/">FOGOs</a>   <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/08/goalies-to-know-new-jersey-2026/">Goalies</a>   <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/09/defenders-to-watch-new-jersey-class-of-2026/">Defenders</a>   Check back soon for the top attackmen in NJ to watch for the Class of 2026!

With September 1st coming and going, the Class of 2026 now has the chance to verbally commit to college destinations of their choice. With many NJ midfielders getting looks from top-tier Division 1 schools, we check in with a few guys looking to attract college scouts heading into their junior year, with some of them already committed.