East Central (OK) University Camp: Standouts

<p>East Central University in Oklahoma recently hosted a camp designed to provide high school athletes with the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of their entire staff. This event drew athletes from across the state, all eager to earn offers to play at the next level. The camp proved to be a pivotal moment for many participants, with several standout performers catching the eyes of the ECU staff and securing offers. We spotlight several top performers who stood out over the weekend.</p>    <p>One of the standout performers at the ECU camp was [player_tooltip player_id='1311016' first='Larry' last='Nichols III'], who had an exceptional showing and walked away with an offer. Nichols III demonstrated his impressive arm strength and accuracy on the move, delivering precise passes. He also showcased his excellent touch on deep balls, showing his ability to make big plays down the field.</p>   <p>As a two-year starter at Bowie, Nichols III has already made a name for himself and his recent 4.4-second run in the 40-yard dash at another camp displays his speed and versatility. With a big senior year on the horizon, Nichols III is poised to continue his upward trajectory, drawing even more attention from college scouts and solidifying his status as a top prospect.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TreNichols7/status/1804566124274634773 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Another standout at the ECU camp was [player_tooltip player_id='1146672' first='Jacob' last='Ervin'], who performed at a high level and earned an offer from East Central University. Ervin has explosiveness and quickness off the ball, displayed violent hands and played with excellent leverage, making him strong at the point of attack. His quick, nimble feet were evident in drills, showcasing his agility and balance. In 2023, Ervin was a 2nd team all-district selection in one of the toughest districts, which includes powerhouses like Duncanville and DeSoto. Ervin has offers from Northeastern State and Southeastern Oklahoma State, along with interest from Lamar and Stephen F. Austin. Ervin is a formidable defensive presence and a promising recruit.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jacob2strong/status/1804609921389834374 </div></figure>     <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1311068' first='Nathan' last='Humphrey'], a standout player at the ECU camp. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 272 pounds, he possesses long arms that contribute to his effective blocking skills. He delivers a powerful punch at impact, Humphrey also showcases excellent short-area quickness and good technique, making him a versatile starter capable of playing multiple positions along the offensive line.</p>   <p>Humphrey excels at locking onto defenders and driving them off their axis. He is a formidable road grader in the run game who finishes blocks through the whistle. His talents have not gone unnoticed, as he has received offers from both East Central University (ECU) and Valparaiso University.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NateHump77/status/1804607236368457982 </div></figure>     <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1311112' first='Jaylon' last='Brown Delgado'] demonstrated his explosive game at the ECU camp, earning an offer from East Central University. He has quick feet, he shifty in space and Delgado can change directions rapidly, making him a challenging player to defend. His stout, compact build adds power to his game and he breaks arm tackles easily.</p>   <p>In one-on-one drills with linebackers, Brown-Delgado showcased good hands, consistently catching passes and proving his reliability. He also displayed his ability to run crisp routes and get open, showing his effectiveness as a receiver out of the backfield. Heading into his senior season, Brown-Delgado is set to be a key returner for Rock Hill, where he is expected to continue making significant contributions to his team's success.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JaylonBrown3_/status/1804605886377148848 </div></figure>     <p>[player_tooltip player_id='221267' first='Kane' last='Richardson'] delivered an outstanding performance at the ECU camp, showcasing his strong arm, clean footwork, and ability to accurately spray the route tree. Richardson's stellar play during the camp was on point and he consistently hit targets in stride and in rhythm.</p>   <p>After moving from Arkansas to Texas to join Red Oak, a team that reached the third round of the playoffs in 2023, Richardson is expected to add a new dimension to their offense. His 2023 film highlights his excellent pocket presence, ability to avoid the rush with quick feet and his effectiveness as a powerful runner who can break arm tackles and pose a threat when running the read option.</p>   <p>With offensive weapons like [player_tooltip player_id='431072' first='Taz' last='Williams Jr.'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212421' first='Brayden' last='Robinson'] in the Red Oak attack he will have playmakers that can make explosive plays. Richardson is poised to put up impressive numbers this season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/kane3richardson/status/1804601061845631477 </div></figure>     <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1311228' first='Josh' last='Fields Jr.'] is a feisty cover corner who excels at playing aggressive man coverage, earning him an offer after the ECU camp. In coverage he is not giving ground easily, Fields Jr. is stout at the point of attack and he gets hands on receivers early in their routes. As a sticky defender with quick feet, he demonstrates the ability to flip his hips, turn and run with receivers, showcasing his agility and technique. Fields Jr. has the skill set to slide inside and guard receivers in the slot. I expect Fields Jr. to have a big year for North Crowley. His ability to play inside at nickel back or out wide will enable him to get plenty of snaps.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/D1Bam1/status/1804570018471874949 </div></figure>     <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1311349' first='Reid' last='Thornberry'], who received an offer earlier this offseason from East Central, demonstrated his worth at the ECU camp, showing that he is a scholarship-worthy player. Thornberry boasts a big, physical frame with extended arm length, allowing him to excel in multiple aspects of the game.</p>   <p>As a clean route runner with soft, strong hands, Thornberry consistently attacks the football in flight and uses his body effectively in close quarters to box out defenders. His performance at the camp included several contested grabs, highlighting his ability to make tough catches.</p>   <p>Thornberry plays six-man football at Prestonwood, showcasing his versatility on both sides of the ball. He was selected as an all-state defensive end and tight end, earning offers from Oklahoma Baptist and Midwestern State. His skill set aligns with what is expected of next-level tight ends, making him a standout prospect.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/reid_thornberry/status/1805037020156149854 </div></figure>     <p>Porter, a linebacker from Cedar Hill, showcased his impressive skills at the ECU camp. Porter demonstrated strong athleticism and physicality which are key attributes for a linebacker. Porter's agility and speed allow him to cover ground efficiently, while his instincts and excellent field vision enables him to be in the right place at the right time. He moves well in space, has clean footwork and gets to the football quickly but under control. He is a downhill linebacker who is a good tackler in the open field. Porter held his own in pass coverage in the one on ones versus the running backs. He had several pass breakups, playing sticky coverage with excellent technique. His standout performance at the camp showed his potential to play at the next level.</p>     <p>Carrigan, a linebacker from Dallas Kimball, showcased his skill set impressively at the ECU camp. Carrigan displayed a combination of speed, strength, and good instincts that makes him a formidable presence on the field. He has quick feet and moves well in space. He showed that he has the ability to flip his hips and run with receivers in pass coverage, which lead to several pass breakups. He has a stout build with broad shoulders and he has the quickness to react quickly to make plays in space. Carrigan is a two-sport star who excels on the baseball diamond. He picked an offer from Northeastern State earlier this spring. His performance at the camp showed that he is a talented and versatile linebacker with potential to play at the next level.</p>     <p>Tristan is a long, lean, athletic linebacker who showcased his versatile skill set at the ECU camp. He has the skill set to line up on the edge and attack as a pass rusher or play well in space as an outside linebacker. Smith's long arms, quick feet, and excellent change of direction were evident as he played fast with outstanding quickness. His ability to cover the pass effectively, displaying sticky pass coverage, showed his well-rounded capabilities. With an offer from McMurry University in his bag, Smith is starting to see his recruiting pick up. His performance at the camp shows his potential to be a significant impact player. College programs should get eyes on Smith.</p>     <p>[player_tooltip player_id='691050' first='Tristian' last='Gardner'] has a long, lean athletic frame that he uses to his advantage to make big catches. He made a significant impression at the ECU camp. His large catch radius and strong hands were key highlights of his performance. Gardner is a clean route runner who is shifty in space and effectively uses his big body in tight coverage situations to make contested grabs. He attacks the ball in flight and demonstrated his ability to climb the ladder with a big head-top grab in the one on ones versus the defensive backs. Gardner has the skill set to be a dominate force offensively. He has offers from Sam Houston State and Bowling Green. Gardner will be a featured weapon for the Waxahachie offense this season.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Anderson has a big arm, he can make all the throws on the route tree and he has the ability to thread the needle into tight coverage windows. Anderson had a good showing at the ECU camp. He has clean footwork, he stands tall in the pocket and he deliver frozen ropes outside the numbers. He throws well on the run and he has excellent pocket presence. Anderson made several timely throws in the one on ones with receivers and defensive backs into tight windows. Keegan has the skill set to play at the next level. Anderson is another hidden gem who could be a nice pickup for a college program.</p>     <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1312350' first='Beckham' last='Robinson'] demonstrated his impressive arm talent at the ECU camp, showing his potential to play at the next level. He has a big arm and great touch on deep balls. Robinson has a stout frame with an athletic build. He stands tall in the pocket and delivers strikes. In 2023, he threw for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. Despite his impressive stats and skill set, Robinson remains a hidden gem, deserving of more attention from scouts and recruiters. I expect Robinson to have another big year in 2024 and this should help get him on more college recruiting boards. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Brobinson_06/status/1725921459992699079 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Skylar had an impressive showing at the ECU camp and took home a scholarship offer. He has a lean, athletic frame with an extended reach that he uses well at engagement. He has a quick first step, he explodes off of the ball with speed and power. He delivers a stiff punch and has violent hands that allowed him to beat blockers consistently during the one on ones versus the offensive line. Stankovich moved fluidly through the drill portion of the camp, showing quick feet and excellent short area quickness. He got active in the trenches all camp long and showed his ability to be a force off the edge.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/skylar_stank28/status/1804648157680111883 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700"></p>    <p>Shepherd is a powerhouse in the trenches, he has a stiff punch at engagement and he plays with a nasty streak. He has long arms that uses well in close quarters to get hands on defenders early to gain control at impact. He moves well in space, he has quick feet and his superb lateral movement allowed him to win multiple reps at the ECU camp. Shepherd got physical with defenders in the one on one drills which enabled him to win multiple reps. Cooper left no doubt that he has the skill set to play at the next level. He left the ECU camp with an offer.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Cooper_Shep00/status/1804608126030635104 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">At 6 foot 5, Crochett passes the eyes test when he steps off the bus, He has a lengthy, lean frame and he moves well athletically. Tamarion has a strong arm, he has good touch on his deep ball and he has the arm strength to push the ball outside the numbers on a rope. During the competition portion of the ECU camp, he made several pinpoint throws into small coverage windows showing his ability to fit the ball past sticky defense. Crochett had a phenomenal junior season passing for 2,490 yards and 31 touchdowns. He was selected first team all district in 10-6A and led North Forney to the playoffs. He made the move to Cedar Hill and he will be a key cog in the Longhorn offense in 2024. He has an offer from Prairie View and I expect his recruiting profile to rise this fall.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BamtheVillian/status/1736492466210058325 </div></figure>

East Central University in Oklahoma recently hosted a camp designed to provide high school athletes with the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of their entire staff. This event drew athletes from across the state, all eager to earn offers to play at the next level. The camp proved to be a pivotal moment for many participants, with several standout performers catching the eyes of the ECU staff and securing offers. We spotlight several top performers who stood out over the weekend.