AVC Football Camp: Linebacker Notebook, Volume I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the third year running, I was invited back by Fairleigh Dickinson University&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CoachAVC_FDU">Head Coach Anthony Van Curen</a>, as he - yet again - pulled off our region's largest one-day football camp. This year's rendition welcomed just over 450 participants who all eyed up the opportunity to get eyeballed in front of current college coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I could not determine which was deeper: the roster was loaded with talent or the roster of coaches in attendance. In my three years covering this event, this is perhaps the widest range of U.S. states represented, including: Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida, Delaware, and Connecticut. However, more than I can recall in the last, an International crop of talent was extremely well represented, with prospects hailing from Austria, Bavaria, Danmark, Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Catalunya, Kenya, Podlaskie, Rhineland-Palatinate, Steiermark, Thuringia, Uppland, and Vienna. As far as coaches, there were more than I could count.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below you will find my evaluation notes for the position group mentioned in the title of this article. These notes are strictly performance-based observations from what I witnessed at this event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be sure to follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for the latest New Jersey high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Adrian Ortiz","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Paramus Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a297b4b0946b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Adrian Ortiz came out as a linebacker; however, after watching his performance I suspect me might be more well suited to play guard, center, or fullback. A shorter prospect, I did not think Ortiz moved well in space nor changed directions well; yet with a center of gravity like his, I can see him being extremely difficult for end-men on the line of scrimmage to take on and also picture him drive blocking under someone's pads really well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["909630"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a297b4b094ed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">On the cusp of cracking the top 125 prospects in his class, [player_tooltip player_id='909630' first='Hudson' last='Mahon'] is one that I missed and wish I got a more extended look at. In the little bit I caught of. him, Mahon appeared that he bent at the waist, rather than sink in his hips</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["690078"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a297b4b0953b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I wish that we had a more updated photo of [player_tooltip player_id='690078' first='Nicky' last='Mauro'] in our database. Depicted during his youth ball days, all those reps and practices have paid off for the linebacker who looks to break into the top 75 in his class. I thought that as a linebacker, Mauro played the tailback extremely well. The one rep of his that I caught the running back was trying to run a wheel; however, Mauro stymied him with his physical play and never allowed his opponent to turn upfield, stunting him in the flat and killing the play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Timt Michelhans","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Friedrich Ebert Gemeinschaftsschule","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a297b4b095d2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tim Michelhans, out of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, was a prospect that moved in his backpedal extremely well. This was, perhaps, due to his age. Registered as a prospect who graduates in 2023, I am unsure if he truly is 4 years older than anyone there or not; however, if he is, this explains why he moved so well backwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1668753"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a297b4b0961e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When it comes to evaluation time, [player_tooltip player_id='1668753' first='Zachary' last='Wugman'] is, for certain, a prospect that I will have to look back at. Having circled his jersey number on my notepad, I though that Wugman was <em>very </em>fast and moved <em>very </em>quick. With the ability to book it like he can, it is no coincidence that his ability to change direction was extremely sharp. I am curious if he can produce the film to match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Anthony Van Curen Football Camp Coverage</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-defensive-combine-results">Defensive + Specialist Combine Scores</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-offensive-combine-results">Offensive Combine Scores</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-the-eye-test-offense">The Eye Test, Offense</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-the-eye-test-defense-specialists">The Eye Test, Defense + Specialists</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-defensive-back-notebook-volume-i">Defensive Backs, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-linebacker-notebook-volume-i">Linebackers, Volume 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->