Sharks Attack New Jersey, Land OL Irvine

Saint Augustine Prep’s Joe Irvine is headed to the Northeast Conference, and he’s bringing a whole lot of power with him.

The 6’5”, 300-pound right tackle from Swedesboro, New Jersey, is the sixth NEC commit we’ve confirmed for the 2025 class, and the second offensive lineman bound for LIU. He’s actually also their second overall commit, and their first from the Garden State. As of right now, LIU is looking for- and landing- big fish locally. If you’ll pardon the pun.

Irvine’s decision adds to a growing trend: offensive linemen see something they like in Brookville. And while the entire LIU staff made an impression, Irvine had no hesitation about what sealed the deal.

“Coach Pace was really the deciding factor,” Irvine told NEC Blitz. “He was absolutely great throughout the whole process, and I’m very excited to work with him.”

That’s a sentiment we’ve heard more than once this cycle. Coach Pace continues to resonate with big men up front. These are players who want development, opportunity, and a coach who understands the nuances of trench warfare in the NEC and beyond. I’ve pointed it out before and I’m sure it was pointed out to Irvine: LIU lost FOUR offensive linemen to the FBS this past season, and one of them had only completed his redshirt freshmen year. You hope to keep all of the players you develop, of course, but if the big issue is that your development is too good, well… you’re not actually having an issue, are you?

Irvine chose LIU over an offer with another NEC school. It’s early in the cycle, and players are going to pick plenty of NEC schools over each other. But it is an early momentum boost for the LIU staff, who are tasked with maintaining what is yearly one of the most talented rosters in the conference. In the NEC, the most important factor in recruiting is relationships, and the one Irvine was able to build with Coach Pace won out.

But for Irvine, it wasn’t just the relationships.

“The LIU staff is just great,” he said. “I loved the look and the feeling of just being on campus.”

As for the moment the Sharks finally decided to strike with that scholarship offer?

“Surreal,” Irvine said. “They were the first program to take a chance on me, and I’m forever grateful for that.”

It’s another early win for LIU in this recruiting cycle. And as the Sharks continue to build their class, landing a reliable bookend like Irvine gives the program another anchor. You win in the trenches, after all. So why not start building there?