Top Talent Excels At The Austin Peay Prospect Camp
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While the summer college camp season has already started, Thursday night at Brentwood Academy was the first camp hosted by the Austin Peay Governors and the layout and action did not disappoint! It was an outstanding event hosted by the…
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Continue ReadingWhile the summer college camp season has already started, Thursday night at Brentwood Academy was the first camp hosted by the Austin Peay Governors and the layout and action did not disappoint!
It was an outstanding event hosted by the Govs staff along with a big turnout of top notch talent, stretching from many states but of course it was well represented by the home state of Tennessee.
Led by head coach Scotty Walden, the Governors football staff put on a great camp where they were able to work the prospects through drills that displayed their abilities while also coaching them up with high energy and detailed teaching.
This camp was highly active from the moment the coaches blew the whistle until the final 1 on 1 rep and the prospects loved the energy that the Austin Peay coaching staff brought to the football field.
All the action cranked up with drill work to start then we quickly moved into 1 on 1’s where major talent stepped forward and earned recognition and offers from the Governors coaches.
The top performer of the entire camp in the eye’s of the #PRZTN scouts was Cane Ridge (TN) defensive back Byron Davis Byron Davis 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Cane Ridge | 2023 State TN . The Ravens versatile defender locked down opponents all day long and was basically flawless through everything the Govs coaches put him through.
Great Day at camp yesterday 👣 @BallHawkU @CoachJordan615 @Coach_Kincaid Appreciate the coaching @Da_DREAM47 pic.twitter.com/Dn7ShKFzog
— bdavisjr9 (@bdavisjr9) June 10, 2022
Davis was named the top defensive back performer of camp by the coaches then proceeded to receive an offer from Austin Peay at camp’s end. The Govs won’t be his last offer and I think many D1 schools will get involved very soon.
Staying on defense, two linebackers had stellar performances at the Govs camp with both earning official offers. Owensboro (Ky) backer Ethan Pendleton and Summertown’s senior linebacker Javen Edmiston Javen Edmiston 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Summertown | 2023 TN were beasts where they showed off their athleticism and ability to run and cover along with looking very smooth during drill work.
Edmiston is a guy that is vastly underrated at the moment as #PRZTN has him ranked within the top 10 linebackers in this state and a guy that could see his recruitment go to another level over the coming months.
Another linebacker to know about that put together several shining moments throughout camp was Ensworth hybrid backer/safety Sammy Taylor Sammy Taylor 6'3" | 195 lbs | LB Ensworth | 2023 State TN . He flashed major speed and quickness during camp and wowed the Govs coaching staff with his overall athleticism and upside.
C/o Ensworth (LB) @SammyikTaylor work the L-Drill at last night’s Austin Peay Prospect Camp …#Govs #ASUN @PrepRedzoneTN @EnsworthFB @Lemmingscouting #CSS #PRZTN pic.twitter.com/323Y8bYiWx
— Chris Smith (@CSmithScout) June 10, 2022
The best D-lineman at camp yesterday was Pearl Cohn (TN) senior
LaJairus Abernathy
LaJairus
Abernathy
6'2" | 285 lbs | DL
Pearl Cohn | 2023
State
TN
. The 6’2 multi offered prospect had a variety of pass rush skills that he showed off Thursday night where many O-linemen had a hard time slowing him down.
One D-linemen to watch going forward who had a strong camp and was offered by Austin Peay is East Nashville junior Malik Bolling Malik Bolling 6'2" | 255 lbs | DL East Nashville | 2024 State TN . The Eagles multi talented lineman was one of the better pure pass rushers at camp and showed a variety of skills that translate well to the next level.
Moving over to offense, the Austin Peay camp had a bevy of talented skill guys that stood out, including multiple prospects who earned offers by the end of camp.
Smyrna (TN) running back Arion Carter Arion Carter 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Smyrna | 2023 State TN was an absolute beast on Thursday night and was easily the best at his position.
Austin Peay extended an offer to Carter after his performance where he displayed nice speed, quick feet and decision making along with the ability to run routes. This is a D1 back that will soon see his stock explode into a different stratosphere.
Looking at the receiver position, two ultra fast prospects in Green Hill wideout Kaleb Carver Kaleb Carver 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Green Hill | 2023 State TN and Wilson Central senior Jase Neuble Jase Neuble 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Wilson Central | 2023 State TN were the best at their position at camp and proved why they are legit college prospects and guys who are really under the radar at the moment.
Both are big time speed guys who know how to blaze past their defenders and be that deep threat that quarterbacks enjoy throwing to. Carver is a smooth runner who has a knack for getting open and making big plays while Neuble is a sure handed receiver that runs quick, easy routes. These big time playmakers that will continue to see the offers roll in.
A guy to watch going forward who already holds offers from Army, Bucknell and Navy is Brentwood Academy tight end Griffin Cropp Griffin Cropp 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Brentwood Academy | 2023 State TN . This senior pass catcher showed off some of the best route running of all receivers, tight ends last night and proved to me that he is a legit college prospect with plenty of upside yet to be fulfilled.
It wasn’t a deep group of quarterbacks at the Govs Prospect Camp last night but there were a few talented guys who had shining moments and earned praise from the Austin Peay coaching staff.
The top two guys who stood out the most were CPA senior signal caller Thomas Vaccaro Thomas Vaccaro 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB CPA | 2023 State TN and Ensworth dual threat quarterback Levi Moore Levi Moore 5'10" | 185 lbs | QB Ensworth | 2023 State TN . Both Middle Tennessee prospects showed off throughout camp a strong right arm along with the ability to make off platform throws. Vaccaro looked the best overall to me as he has great mechanics along with nice timing on his passes and the ability to push it down field.
Moore is an intriguing talent that has improved his skill set this offseason and developed in the right way. He has a strong right arm and confidence with his release but is also a dynamic runner that brings a lot of pressure to defenders. Both Vaccaro and Moore are two quarterbacks that will continue to see their stocks rise over the coming months, especially with more performances like they had on Thursday evening.
Looking into the trenches, the O-line group collected at camp last night was quite solid with a few guys standing out as top performers.
Among the top upperclassmen at camp was BGA tackle/guard Donovan Nevils Donovan Nevils 6'2" | 255 lbs | DL BGA | 2023 State TN , Friendship Christian guard/center Devin Lively Devin Lively 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL Friendship Chrst. | 2023 State TN , Wilson Central tackle/guard Aaron Knueven Aaron Knueven 6'6" | 295 lbs | OL Wilson Central | 2023 TN , Fairview guard/center Connor Farris Connor Farris 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Fairview | 2023 State TN and Georgia native guard/center Amir Bellamy.
While the upperclassmen was bigger in numbers and talent, the best overall offensive lineman of the entire camp was a sophomore in Jimmy Bryson Jimmy Bryson 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Baylor | 2025 State TN . The Baylor underclassmen was an absolute stud on Thursday night and the best overall performer from the O-line. This is a future top in-state prospect that landed his 1st offer from Austin Peay last night and they definitely won’t be his last.
This was the 2nd annual on-site prospect camp for Austin Peay at Brentwood Academy and this edition went over very well as many prospects and parents were buzzing about the Govs coaching staff and their excitement to teach, coach up the prospects by the end of camp.
While the main purpose of the camp was to find talent, this event was also another step in the right direction for the Govs football program under Coach Walden as he is steadily building something strong in Clarksville that football prospects are wanting to be a part of and you could see that on Thursday evening.
Watch out for the Governors this Fall as they are looking to make a statement and push themselves towards the top of ranks in the ASUN Conference and the FCS.