PRZ Next Midwest Camp: 1st Team All-Camp Defensive Backs
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NORTHBROOK, IL— We check in one last time from the defensive back position from Saturday’s Prep Redzone NEXT Midwest Camp in the Chicagoland to find out: Who were the best of the best defensive backs in the Willow Hill Dome…
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Continue ReadingNORTHBROOK, IL— We check in one last time from the defensive back position from Saturday’s Prep Redzone NEXT Midwest Camp in the Chicagoland to find out: Who were the best of the best defensive backs in the Willow Hill Dome on Saturday night? These fellas got a massive amount of reps, as there were one-thrid the defensive backs as far as numbers go to our wide receivers group, so these fellas got to do a lot of cooking on Saturday night in Northbrook. Time to reel it in & meet our 1st Team DBs and all those developing skillsets they bring!
Gage started off his day by impressing me with his 40 yard dash, as I LOVED the long-striding athleticism and locked-in focus this young man had from the jump on showing the Midwest what is his craft was all about early and often at the Prep Redzone NEXT Midwest Camp. For as long as I have been evaluating Midwest prospects-whenever you find me logging my notepad on multiple pages on one prospect, that is a sign that you are making a longer lasting impression and that is exactly the case with Gage on Saturday as he was all that little notepad of mine at Saturday’s Prep Redzone NEXT Midwest Camp at the Willow Hill Dome in Northbrook. Gage also showed off why he was a 1st Team defensive back especially in 1v1s, as he showed off excellent ball-tracing ability and great finished longevity with his vision against one of the biggest framed wide-receivers at the camp, by taking him from start to finish with that neck and neck physicality I love watching out of defensive backs and got one of the most physical pass break ups I got to watch in person from the group at our Prep Redzone NEXT Midwest Camp. The work ethic and skillsets this young man show off a high-ceiling, as Gage is a name to watch out of the state of Ohio over the next several years as there is a lot to like about those ball instincts that are only going to get better and better over time.
Highlights
Za’Veon Ford
Za’Veon Ford
This wasn’t my first rodeo getting to watch Za’Veon’s craft, as I have been actively tracking this young man for well over a year now as one of the best defensive backs in the 2028 class within the Twin Cities that I have scouted in person. He was another prospect on this defensive back list that went above and beyond with taking the coaching he was given and applying it to developing his craft, as he was one of the more locked-in kids I watched amongst DBs and WRs in individual drills with his premier focus. Another one of the biggest grasps I got from him in individual drills was just how darn physical his punch out mechanics were as you certainly wouldn’t expect that kind of punch speed and high contact level from a prospect his size, however I have always believed Za’Veon outplays the measurables he is given. He also showed some well-balanced feet when the defensive backs got into the footwork side of the Indy drills, as Za’Veon made sure he took advantage with every rep he was given. In 1v1s, on the first rep I caught, Za’Veon showed off that fluid balance he applied earlier in Indy Drills, as he showed off that developed footwork for the length for the route with the WR locked down. This is a local Minnesota prospect for me that I cannot wait until he hits a growth spurt hopefully soon as his skillsets are developing smoothly over the last year and there’s more to his craft coming over the next several years.
My “eye test” identified this young buck as soon as he walked up to registration at the Willow Hill Dome on Saturday night and once I found out he was in one of my position groups, my gut told me he would likely be one of the frontrunners for MVP, which proved to be true as Reece was our DB MVP from the Prep Redzone Next Midwest Camp on Saturday night. Reece didn’t just look the part, he 100% played the part as well. I was super impressed with this young man’s dexterity in Indy drills at the Willow Hill Dome as he could utilize his change of direction with some excellent athletic movement. Reece also took it up a notch with his vision in 1v1s as he had his read instincts highly engaged with his speed, awareness, and physicality around the ball as Reece was in tune from start to finish with the multiple reps I got to watch out of him. I peeked at some of his 8th grade tape from the fall season, as to not much surprise quickly found out that Reece brings off a high contact level with his physicality and offensively, is cut from another cloth with just how much durability this kid already has getting yards after contact especially as a pass-catcher on short routes, as that chiseled lower body he already has built in carries plenty of depth as he enters the high school ranks. Although I use the term a handful I have to emphasis Reece CERTAINLY plays massively bigger than his 5’10 165 pound frame shows off. I would offer this young man right now if I was a college coach. Watch the tape to find out!