AVC Football Camp: Running Backs, Vol. III

<!-- 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: Running Backs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we start off with a prospect who was an absolute mutant - [player_tooltip player_id='1305461' first='Amari' last='Petgrave'] from Cranford. Aside from being absolutely cut up, Petgrave also had a physique where his lats tapered down to his waist. Not to be confused with the "big for nothing" type, Petgrave absolutely murdered the combine. The had a broad jump of 126", a pro agility of 4.38 seconds, and a forty of 4.53 seconds. He certainly checks the athleticism box. Does he have the skills to match? Early indicators on this are, yes, Petgrave does. On the field I was just taken back by how big he was and how effortless he moves. Petgrave is, for certain, a prospect that I will be watching film on sooner than later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two teammates who made the trip together were [player_tooltip player_id='1216635' first='Jamad' last='Lyles'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1282747' first='Jalais' last='Mendoza'] of Elizabeth. The two-headed backfield tandem appear to both be pushing each other on the field and in the weight room. [player_tooltip player_id='1216635' first='Jamad' last='Lyles'] led Elizabeth in yardage last year and appears primed for an even bigger role. Lyles showed quick feet, which ultimately allowed his cuts to be both sharp and sudden. On the other than, Lyles showed moments where he was able to make the most subtle of twitches to get upfield on a juke. The ball seems awfully secure when it is in Lyle's clutches, as he religiously applies five points of pressure and chins the ball. His hands aslo seemed soft, making every reception I saw him targeted in; however, he seemed to have an additional burst once the ball was secured in his hands..... As he hopes to cut into Lyle's timeshare, [player_tooltip player_id='1282747' first='Jalais' last='Mendoza'] showcased his skills in the process as well. Mendoza had a strong broad jump at 111". Aligned with his profile of a power back, Mendoza made very sharp, hard cuts that straddled the line of violent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blair Academy is home for running back [player_tooltip player_id='1305451' first='Andrew' last='Pearce']. I liked how Pearce moved in pass protection shadowing drills. He was so quick to the point that it was almost as if he knew what his matchup was looking to do before they did. Part of what made Pearce so effective was his pro agility, where he registered a 4.22..... A fellow 2026 graduate, [player_tooltip player_id='1305449' first='Maurice' last='Langford'] of Franklin. Langford did an outstanding job of beating tight- and press coverage throughout the afternoon. In doing so, he afforded himself some easy pitch-and-catch opportunities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elmwood Park's [player_tooltip player_id='1305459' first='Yadi' last='Perez'] is a junior-to-be prospect who I would describe as quicker than fast. Throughout the afternoon, the scat-back type prospect showed how quickly he was able to accelerate out of his release. In doing so, he put defenders in immediate retreat mode. The space created by doing this allowed him to take advantage by getting to his break before the defense could react..... Closing out our coverage for this event is a Maryland product Nickalus Gibbs. Gibbs, who plays for River Hill High School is, for sure, a power back. His big, thick frame I thought might effect his quickness, yet this was not the case. When he makes his cuts, Gibbs showed outstanding burst post-cut to churn upfield.</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><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-defensive-line-vol-ii/">Positional Breakdown: Defensive Linemen, Volume II</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/avc-football-camp-linebackers/">Positional Breakdown: Linebackers</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->