AVC Football Mega Camp: Noteworthy Guards + Centers, Part I

On Tuesday, June 3, 2025 I was personally invited back for the third consecutive year by Fairleigh Dickinson University Head Football <a href="https://x.com/CoachAVC_FDU">Coach Anthony Van Curen</a> to cover his Football Mega Camp. With many other universities now following suit with mega camps of their own, Van Curen's is the O.G. in the area and, quite frankly, everyone is just biting off his style. However, at this point the term “mega” is probably an understatement to describe his event.   In what I would consider more of a celebration of the game, between the 560+ prospects registered, 100+ college coaches watching, clinicians, parents, and high school staffs there were literally around 1000 people coming out to compete, make connections, and enjoy an evening sample taste of football. As has become the norm for Van Curen's baby, the event was organized, structured, ran well, and was highly competitive.   In addition to eyeing prospects up, measuring their combine performances (40-yard dash, Pro Agility, Broad Jump), I was fortunate enough to receive unimpeded access to the grounds to evaluate and scout the talent on hand. In this article, I share my notes for the position group mentioned in its title.   Be sure to follow me on <a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a> for the latest updates in New Jersey high school football.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Starting off is a prospect whose name I am familiar with, but yet had not gotten the opportunity to lay eyes in prior: [player_tooltip player_id='689917' first='Philip' last='Hatfield']. In a star-laden roster at the skill positions, Hatfield is one of the unsung heros in the trenches that help things brew all together for Winslow. A center, this 2026 graduate did an outstanding job of staying inside with his hands. Hatfield also did a nice job maintaining his balance in order to squander cross faces as he protected A-gap-to-A-gap well. One thing he can be mindful of, however, is to remember to press defenders off of him when looking to finish... The other center I was able to get a live look at was Suffern, New York's Bryce Bachia. Bachia simply showcased great sets and elite lateral movement. Sliding left-to-right, right-to-left and back, Bachia was a unstoppable force as an immovable brick wall for wannabe pass rushers.   I am not sure how many offensive line coaches actually coach this, but when I see it I must shout it out. I simply love prospects that attack the neutral zone in pass protection situations. This is the approach to offensive line play that [player_tooltip player_id='939411' first='Imperial' last='Jenkins'] has adopted. Out of St. Anthony's in New York, Jenkins understands that the neutral zone is fair game and trusts his physicality, balance, and feet in order to take that ground without fear of being beat... South Side High School out of New York sent [player_tooltip player_id='1345198' first='Ryan' last='Healey']. Healey was a stout, strong prospect who did an outstanding job of taking away the inside rush lanes. This said, he did not necessarily do so by using his technique or powering down particularly well. How Healey managed to win was by using that raw strength he possesses in an awfully impressive showing.   Closing out is one of this recruiting period's darlings in [player_tooltip player_id='1205835' first='Justin' last='Simpson']. A Bridgewater-Raritan product, I first got eyes on him during indy time as it was hard not to notice the amount of power he generates when kicking out. Part of what was so impressive about this was that he managed to do so without being squared up with EMOLOS. During competition I was pleasantly surprised with how well Simpson was able to bend in his stance and maintain that pad level throughout his reps. With a decent kick step the rising senior is hard to beat to the outside; whereas I did not catch any reps of him powering down to protect the inside. Lastly, At moments at the line before the defender gains ground I noticed the 2026 graduate stop his feet, set, and stand flat-footed. That said, he showed that he is strong enough to win in such situations by driving defenders to his B-gap, and ultimately ride them into the ground.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">AVC Football Mega Camp Coverage</h2>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/avc-football-mega-camp-offensive-prospect-eye-test">Eye Test: Defensive Prospects</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/avc-football-mega-camp-offensive-prospect-eye-test-2">Eye Test: Offensive Prospects</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/avc-football-mega-camp-top-combine-performers-offense">Top Combine Scores: Offense</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/avc-football-mega-camp-top-combine-performers-defense-specials">Top Combine Scores: Defense + Specialists</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/avc-football-mega-camp-noteworthy-cornerbacks">Noteworthy Cornerbacks</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/avc-football-mega-camp-noteworthy-defensive-ends-part-i">Noteworthy Defensive Ends</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/avc-football-mega-camp-noteworthy-linebackers-part-i">Noteworthy Linebackers</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/avc-football-mega-camp-noteworthy-guards-centers-part-i">Noteworthy Offensive Guards & Centers</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/avc-football-mega-camp-noteworthy-offensive-tackles-part-i">Noteworthy Offensive Tackles</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/avc-football-mega-camp-noteworthy-quarterbacks-part-i">Noteworthy Quarterbacks</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/avc-football-mega-camp-noteworthy-wide-receivers-part-i">Noteworthy Wide Receivers</a>

On Tuesday, June 3, 2025 I was personally invited back for the third consecutive year by Fairleigh Dickinson University Head Football Coach Anthony Van Curen to cover his Football Mega Camp. With many other universities now following suit with mega camps of their own, Van Curen's is the O.G. in the area and, quite frankly, everyone is just biting off his style. However, at this point the term “mega” is probably an understatement to describe his event.