FBU Columbus: Top Defensive Performers

Mick Walker

May 19, 2021 @ 01:19 PM

Most if not all recruiting fans know about the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, every year the top seniors flock to Texas to play in one last high school football game before heading off to their respective colleges. What you may not know is the process of getting to the All-American Bowl. It essentially starts for a lot of prospects at Football University Regional Camps where players hope to earn an FBU Top Gun invite. After that, a good Top Gun performance can lead to an invitation to the National Combine in San Antonio or even the All-American Bowl itself. Well, that was a roundabout way of saying that Prep Redzone was out at the Football University Regional Camp in Columbus, Ohio earlier this month. While the event did lack the already known prospects that hold handfuls of offers there was still a ton of talent at Hamilton Township. Top Performer: Isaiah Funches-Foster, Lima Senior High School, 2022, DB, 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds Up until the last 15 minutes or so of the camp, I would have told you that Funches-Foster was the camp’s top performer. But Tyo stole the show in the lineman challenge. Nonetheless, Funches-Foster was the defensive star of FBU Columbus. First and foremost he was one of the most vocal prospects at the camp when it came to not only trash-talking but also help other campers. As for his on-the-field performance, Funches-Foster was the top coverage player on the day. At 6-foot-1 he can guard wideouts, slots, and tight ends with ease. He flips his hips well and has more than enough speed to stay with receivers all over the field too. Colleges love versatile defensive backs and that is why Funches Foster’s June is loaded down with camps.   Next up defensively: [player_tooltip player_id="34474" first="Marcus" last="Brown"], Lima Senior High School, 2022, LB, 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds In case you didn’t know before you know now, Lima Senior’s defensive has down dudes in the back end. The aforementioned Funches-Foster is the alpha dog of the unit but Brown has to be a close second. Everyone talks about how it is hard for a linebacker to do well in a camp setting but Brown squashed that idea as he was sticky in coverage and active all afternoon. He may look like more of a big bruising linebacker but Brown shut down running backs, tight ends, and slot receivers with ease. And when he wasn’t on the field Brown has coaching up the younger linebackers before their next rep. June is going to be a busy month for prospects all across the country and Brown will be one of those prospects. Once colleges get Brown on campus and see him move in person do not be surprised if he adds some Divison I offers. Dalton Gustwiller, Kettering Fairmont, 2023, DL, 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds Every class one or two position groups end up being a bit more loaded than the rest in the state of Ohio. In the 2023 class, the defensive line group is very strong inside of Ohio. There is not only a top-end star in Brennan Vernon out Mentor but there is also a lot of quality depth guys like Dalton Gustwiller out of Kettering Fairmont. At FBU Columbus Gustwiller put on a show in both the pass rush and run fit drills. Immediately when the camp started he is a prospect that catches your eye at 6-foot-5 and 265. He has some inside and outside versatility when it comes to the defensive line but even with his size, he looked best on the edge. The quick get-off and hand usage that Gustwiller already has is impressive. As more coaches see him live and more film comes out this fall expect the buzz around the Kettering Fairmont product to grow. Gavin Dabo, Grove City, 2024, DL, 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds Just as we have said recently we have been playing a lot of catch-ups when it comes to the 2024 class after missing last spring. As a result, we have gotten to see a lot of interesting 2024 prospects this spring heading into the fall. Most recently Grove City defensive lineman Gavin Dabo caught our eye. Truthfully, he looked a bit like Gustwiller’s little brother because of their build and similar helmets. However, Dabo had a bit more length and juice off the edge in the pass rush drills. He does need to add a bit more strength but what sophomore doesn’t. Long-term Dabo could be a stud for the Greyhounds and him them turn the program around, remember his name.