AVC Football Camp: Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Sunday, June 2, 2024 I had the privilege to cover Fairleigh Dickinson University Head Football Coach <a href="https://x.com/CoachAVC_FDU">Anthony Van Curen</a>'s Football Camp, hosted on the beautiful campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University at Madison. Simply put, this event was a absolutely awesome. In the midst of a very popular camp weekend where locally both Rutgers and Marist hosted competing camps, Van Curen managed to host over 500 prospects, roughly 65 colleges, well over 150 college coaches, and just one member of the media – me – who will be bringing you the exclusive media coverage of the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My exclusive coverage of the event continues with this piece on positional analysis of the group mentioned in the article's title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Positional Breakdown: Linebackers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hailing from Montclair, [player_tooltip player_id='995083' first='Richard' last='Williams'] was a standout prospect for the Mounties last year. As the rising senior looks to improve upon his recruitment status, he came to the right camp to do so. Williams showed very strong hands. At every opportunity I looked, he was grabbing cloth and slowing down the momentum and speed of his matchup. This enabled him to throw off timing and buy more time to run with backs out of the backfield when required to do so. Williams' hands also allowed him to control and shed his opposition when simulating block shedding drills. Lastly, although his hands were strong he did <em>not </em>have bricks for hands, making several intercepts while competing..... [player_tooltip player_id='1305282' first='Hassan' last='Joanem'], another senior to be, made the trip up Mercer County's Nottingham. Although I did not get the opportunity watch Joanem compete, I did get a few glances at him during indy. In that phase I remarked how Joanem possessed good feet. He was able to move quickly and definitively, while also limiting false steps and a real good ability to change directions..... The only 2026 linebacker I was able to witness was Piscataway's [player_tooltip player_id='1305283' first='Tyshon' last='Phillips']. I wrote, yes in capitals, that Phillips had VERY good movement and reaction. Despite not having blow-you-away combine scores, Phillips was able to match the movements of each running back he lined up against. He also did a tremendous job breaking on the ball when quarterbacks cocked back to throw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Positional Breakdown: Out-of-State Linebackers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='648866' first='Ayden' last='Smartt'] made the trip from the Bronx to show out for Cardinal Hayes (NY). I was thoroughly impressed with how good of a body Smartt had, clearly showing that he is 100% bought in to their strength &amp; conditioning program and takes his nutrition seriously. In addition to having a great build, Smartt had very good feet. This allowed him to stay in front of all of the matchups I saw him compete against, never getting beat, while staying in proximity to make a play on the ball..... Tyler Ruddy made his way from the Keystone State to compete on behalf of Wyoming Valley West. The senior-to-be showed he was a relatively instinctual player who made clean reads and always stayed in motion. In doing so, he was never truly out of position and always gave himself a chance to make a play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Anthony Van Curen Football Camp Coverage</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/instant-reaction-[player_tooltip player_id='1203247' first='Anthony' last='']-van-curen-football-camp/">Instant Reaction</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-combine-warriors-quarterbacks/">Top Combine Performances, Quarterbacks</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-combine-warriors-wide-receivers/">Top Combine Performances, Wide Receivers</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-combine-warriors-running-backs/">Top Combine Performances, Running Backs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-combine-warriors-tight-ends-amp-fullbacks/">Top Combine Performances, Tight Ends and Fullbacks</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-combine-warriors-offensive-linemen/">Top Combine Performances, Offensive Linemen</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-combine-warriors-defensive-linemen/">Top Combine Performances, Defensive Linemen</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-combine-warriors-linebackers/">Top Combine Performances, Linebackers</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-combine-warriors-defensive-secondary/">Top Combine Performances, Defensive Secondary</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-combine-warriors-middle-schoolers/">Top Combine Performances, Middle School Athletes</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-the-offensive-eye-test/">College-Ready Bodies, Offense</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-the-defensive-eye-test/">College-Ready Bodies, Defense</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-running-backs-vol-i/">Positional Breakdown: Running backs, Volume I</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-running-backs-vol-ii/">Positional Breakdown: Running backs, Volume II</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-cornerbacks/">Positional Breakdown: Cornerbacks</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-safeties/">Positional Breakdown: Safeties</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-centers-and-offensive-tackles/">Positional Breakdown: Centers &amp; Offensive Tackles</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-offensive-guards/">Positional Breakdown: Offensive Guards</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-quarterbacks-vol-i/">Positional Breakdown: Quarterbacks, Volume I</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-quarterbacks-volume-ii/">Positional Breakdown: Quarterbacks, Volume II</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-wide-receivers-vol-i/">Positional Breakdown: Wide Receivers, Volume I</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-wide-receivers-vol-ii/">Positional Breakdown: Wide Receivers, Volume II</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-wide-receivers-vol-iii/">Positional Breakdown: Wide Receivers, Volume III</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-defensive-linemen-vol-ii/">Positional Breakdown: Defensive Linemen, Volume I</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->