AVC Football Camp: Running Backs, Vol. I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Sunday, June 2, 2024 I had the privilege to cover Fairleigh Dickinson University Head Football Coach&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.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: Running Backs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming in from Woodbridge was [player_tooltip player_id='1054126' first='Jahmir' last='Beal']. One of the camps most agile rushers (4.22 pro agility), this ability clearly translated when it was time to compete. Beal was extremely quick in tight spaces. This allowed him to square up his man and make them miss. When looking to make cuts, I thought Beal had the right idea as to what to do; however, he busted his move just a bit too late..... Another Middlesex County prospect, Piscataway's [player_tooltip player_id='1040415' first='James' last='Bodley'] was a back who I caught live as well. Bodley did a really nice job reading his opponent and breaking accordingly. What made him standout about was actually how flat he got out of his break. In doing this, he negated advantageous angles his defender might have had.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you follow my coverage at all, you will know that I am a [player_tooltip player_id='341839' first='Mark' last='Boyd'] fan. The Union City Soaring Eagle was amongst the most agile rushers as he registered an impressive 4.25 during the pro agility. This translated to very subtle cuts. Given how well Boyd accelerates, these subtle paper cut-like moves made defenders look gashed..... [player_tooltip player_id='910152' first='Jyvon' last='Cooper'], a freshman out of Rahway, was a big bigger of a 'back. Listed at 5'9", I would guess him to weigh in at about 190lbs. I think I would have preferred him to compete with the younger group of running backs. When juxtaposed against fleet-of-foot backs like Beal or Boyd, Cooper clearly profiled as much more of a power runner. Admittedly, shirt-and-t-shirt camps like this do power backs few favors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming all the way up from Millville was [player_tooltip player_id='829436' first='Aiden' last='Dawkins']. Although Dawkins ran a really good sub-4.55 forty yard dash, the way he totted the rock is what impressed me. Dawkins did a really nice job pressing the hole he was rushing through until the last possible moment. At that moment's notice, Dawkins made very tight cuts out of danger. In the Thunderbolt's spread offense, Dawkins looks like the type of one-cut home run threat out of the backfield that could bring balance to their attack as they break in a new quarterback..... Coming from Hillsborough was senior [player_tooltip player_id='1005830' first='Jackson' last='Jankowicz']. My notes reflect that bib #4 took many reps on the defense's back-7 as well. Catching more of Jankowicz's defensive reps than offensive reps, I thought the Raider did a great job of sticking with his matchups as they tried to make their best move. Additionally, Jankowicz denied and refused to relinquish vertical releases with his physicality. Lastly, Jankowicz did an awesome job of playing the receiver's hands when defending the pass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Closing out was the only out-of-state talent making today's cut, running back up Ryan Alexander-Wilson. A New Yorker who plays for Michael J. Petrides, the 5'9" 'back looked like a solid pass-catching option for his squad. The quick-and-agile back did an excellent job as a target out of the backfield. I was particularly keen on his propensity to reach out and extend for the ball when targeted. This allowed for the ball to be safety in his possession, rather than wait around for it to be hauled in.</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-anthony-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 -->