FBU Orlando Camp: Top Defensive Performers

Since 2007, Football University (FBU) has been one of the mainstays in the recruiting camp circuit as they have worked to promote high school and middle school talent across the country, especially in the Sunshine State. In what has now evolved into a one-day, multiple session showcase held at locations all around the country, student-athletes at the youth and prep level work to earn the prestigious "Top Gun" Showcase invites, FBU Freshman All-American selections, and chances to compete and bring exposure to themselves at the National Combine, FBU National Championship Tourney, and potentially play in the All-American Bowl on NBC as seniors. The organization’s Orlando regional camp & team has helped produce the likes of Clyde Pinder Jr., Trayvon Mullen, Jerry Jeudy, [player_tooltip player_id="50067" first="Mario" last="Eugenio"], and most recently, [player_tooltip player_id="128018" first="Derrick" last="Leblanc"] and [player_tooltip player_id="128041" first="Payton" last="Kirkland"]. A couple of days ago at West Orange High School, I got to represent PrepRedzone as I watched both sessions of competition to try and find the next superstar out of Central Florida. There was a ton of impressive high school talent in attendance, with rising seniors already committing to play big-time college football next season, underclassmen set to take the recruiting scene by storm, and everything in between. Below, I’ve highlighted my FBU Orlando Top Defensive Performers from last weekend’s showcase, and at every level of the field, some certified studs were competing for that vaunted FBU hardware. Congrats to the top performers! Defensive Line [player_tooltip player_id="128012" first="Kaven" last="Call"] (Apopka) DE. 6’3, 240 lbs. C/o 2023. Committed to Central Florida. The most high-profile prospect to compete at West Orange High School would go to 4-star defensive end and UCF commit [player_tooltip player_id="128012" first="Kaven" last="Call"]. Coming out of powerhouse Apopka, Call was the inaugural 2023 commit for the Knights back in December and once again represented the 407 well in his performance last weekend as he earned the camp’s MVP nod after the showcase. His cut-up upper body immediately draws your eye even amongst a talented crop of defensive lineman, and he was a dog during 1-on-1s and was the most feared pass-rusher thanks to the speed he plays with off the edge. He’s got an explosive get-off, and thanks to his high-quality prep coaching have developed a nice repertoire of moves and counters that he uses strategically from the 5T spot. It wasn’t a surprise that he earned the Gatorade MVP after watching eviscerate OTs all morning and afternoon. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-310221" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/Kaven-Call-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="128012" first="Kaven" last="Call"] - 2023 DE Callahan Blair (Calvary Christian) DE. 6’4, 212 lbs. C/o 2024. @cblair1010 Possesses an intriguing amount of length and is a wiry and lean 210ish pounds with a ton of room to grow and add muscle. A college strength and conditioning coordinator would love to get his hands on the rising junior, and D1 programs have already taken notice as he already holds an offer from Army West Point. Quick hands and quick feet helped him to beat tackles inside through their inside shoulder and he could also bend the corner and not allow bigger OTs to run him out of the pocket, and I also saw him use that aforementioned length to his advantage and long-arm OTs as they are getting into their set. He presents a promising blend of speed and strength and I’m very excited to check his film as an upperclassman. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-310210" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/Callahan-Blair-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Callahan Blair - 2024 DE/OLB Chris Ficka (West Orange) DT. 6’, 250 lbs. C/o 2023. @chrisficka49 Only six days removed from earning his first D1 offer from Austin Peay State, Ficka showed up and showed out last Sunday and put the "war" in "trench warfare" every chance he could during 1-on-1s. With a quick first step for his size, Ficka had a monster bull rush and excitingly caught my eye as he bowled over an offensive guard and put the kid on his butt right as I was walking into the lineman area of the showcase. He also used that bull rush and power moves to set up various counters such as rips, spins, swims and pulls and popped off some very impressive reps against quality opponents on the interior. He’s got some legit pass rush ability from the DT spot and I’m pumped Austin Peay recognized the talent before anyone else. It was a heckuva day for the West Orange product on his home turf last weekend. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-310212" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/Chris-Ficka-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Chris Ficka - 2023 DT Jeremiah Lovely (Andrew Jackson) DE. 6’3, 230 lbs. C/o 2023. @904_trippy Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville brought a contingent of ballers to the Orlando area last weekend and have themselves a good one at the DE spot in rising senior Jeremiah Lovely. He displayed a thick lower body that was sturdy and strong when taking on blocks against bigger OTs and I loved how quick and effective he was with his hands to disengage from blocks. If you flashed your hands too early in your pass set you were done for, and I thought Lovely was patient when playing off of OTs or setting up various moves off the edge. Overall he’s a nice blend of speed and power who excels in the hand fighting department. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-310211" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/Jeremiah-Lovely-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Jeremiah Lovely - 2023 DE Xavier Hamilton (Bettendorf, IA) DT. 6’2, 280 lbs. C/o 2023. @_XavierHam2005 Coming all the way from the Hawkeye State is my final defensive line selection in rising senior Xavier Hamilton. At a stout 6’2, 280 lbs., he played with great leverage and could consistently win reps as the low man. Hamilton is a powerful kid who gave opposing lineman with his bull rush and had some solid reps during 1-on-1s last weekend. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-310208" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/Xavier-Hamilton-1-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Xavier Hamilton - 2023 DT Linebacker Gavin Nix (IMG Academy) LB. 5’11, 210 lbs. C/o 2025. @g6nix Another high-profile competitor at FBU’s Orlando stop came out of the 407 and IMG Academy linebacker Gavin Nix. He’s already got multiple P5 offers and was a shredded 210 pounds who looks and plays like a linebacker much older than his 2025 graduating class would suggest. He was outstanding in coverage during 1-on-1s thanks to some loose hips, COD proficiency, and downfield speed and picked off multiple passes throughout the afternoon session of competition. The next great IMG Academy has revealed himself, and Nix earned a ticket to the National Combine as well as an FBUcamp Top Performer nod. You’ll be hearing a lot more about the freshman over the next few years. [player_tooltip player_id="128738" first="Sam" last="Zagame"] (Foundation Academy) LB. 6’2, 220 lbs. C/o 2023. @Sam_Zagame13 Although he was injured slightly during competition, Zagame still made enough of an impression to earn a Top Gun invite from FBU as well as a Top Defensive Performer from PrepRedzone.He was all of 6’2, 220, and passed the eye test with flying colors amongst the LB group. He could move well for his size and showed some short-area quickness, as well as a nose for the football. Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id="128525" first="Torian" last="Roberts"] (Winter Park) CB. 5’11, 170 lbs. C/o 2023. @TorianRoberts1 The rising senior was hands down the coach’s favorite during Sunday’s FBU Orlando stop and was a shadow on opposing wideouts all afternoon long. He was balanced and quick in coverage and able to stay in the pocket of WRs on routes to all three levels of the field. He could get in and out of his breaks with impressive speed and had some of the loosest hips of any DB at the entire showcase. Was DB1 of the Orlando stop of FBU’s national tour. Roberts currently holds offers from FAU and Dartmouth. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-310214" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/Torian-Roberts-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="128525" first="Torian" last="Roberts"] - 2023 DB Ethon Cole (Lake Minneola) CB. 6’2, 190 lbs. C/o 2023. @EthonCole Passed the eye test about as well as any defensive back from Sunday’s showcase, Cole had length for days and was built like a sprinter, with long, muscular legs, a large wingspan, and big hands. He most likely projects to safety at the next level but does have the ability to play CB in high school at his size thanks to his efficient footwork, lack of wasted steps, and burst out of his breaks. The rising senior currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Austin Peay. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-310206" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/Ethon-Cole-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Ethon Cole - 2023 DB Cameron Powell (Ocala Vanguard) DB. 6’, 180 lbs. @iamcameronp_ A DB standout from up in my neck of the woods in Ocala Vanguard, Powell was well-built and was the most physically imposing defensive back with noteworthy athleticism to boot. I was quite impressed with his ball skills and vertical ability, as he would almost float through the air when high-pointing the football and could win 50/50 balls in 1-on-1 situations. He’s still growing into his 6’, 180-pound frame and has some intriguing physical skills to work with as a defensive back. I’ll be watching him play in pads next season. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-310205" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/Cameron-Powell-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Cameron Powell - 2024 DB Seth Brooks (Andrew Jackson) CB. 6’, 180 lbs. C/o 2023. Throughout the multiple sessions of 1-on-1s, DBs take upwards of 100 reps against wideouts that generally have more time between reps to gear up to go 100% their next time up. With so many 1-on-1 opportunities, it’s hard to come out ahead in the win column for a DB at a showcase, but Andrew Jackson CB was absolutely lockdown in coverage throughout the day. He was excellent in cutting off his breaks and running the route for the receiver, and I also loved his aggressiveness when playing the ball and his physicality in press. He could also play off man and recorded a half-dozen interceptions throughout the two sessions of competition. He was fun to watch if you’re a fan of DB play. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-310203" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/Seth-Brooks-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Seth Brooks - 2023 CB Khalil Francis (Raines) CB. 5’10, 160 lbs. C/o 2023. @KJFrancis2023 Possessed the speed at the top end to stay on top of WRs vertical routes and could also use that speed to make up for aggressive moves in coverage that occasionally don’t pay off. He was twitchy as a CB and could match wideouts sudden cuts and breaks with ease. He also had body control and balance to keep his body in a good position to play the ball or adjust to receivers routes and had soft hands when given the opportunity to intercept the rock. Yet another Jacksonville area recruit to show out in Orlando. Anthony Franklin (Lake Mary) CB. 5’9, 160 lbs. C/o 2024. @AntFranklinII Quick-footed and comfortable when the ball was in the air, Franklin also had a highly competitive attitude who upped his game in high pressure situations and did his best work when he was going at it with an opponent with as much on the line as possible. I liked his play style and overall quickness.