AVC Football Camp: Running Back 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_player":["1714969"],"_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-6a2abd8f9b12f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The look I got of [player_tooltip player_id='1714969' first='Mason' last='Marshall-Speights'], who registered and is ranked as a running back, happened to be at linebacker. Marshall-Speights did an outstanding job stifling his matchup out of the backfield, completely suffocating him so he could not press upfield whatsoever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1881391"],"_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-6a2abd8f9b186"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of two Elizabeth running backs that I took note of, [player_tooltip player_id='1881391' first='Anthony' last='Adams'] showed a blend of ball skills and athletic ability. Out of the backfield, he easily stutter-faked a squared up linebacker to get open. Later on against a matchup that was draping all over him, a hot pass came in. Adams demonstrated soft hands and the ability to high point the ball through traffic as he converted the pitch-and-catch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1467533"],"_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-6a2abd8f9b1bb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Perhaps the most highly rated prospect that I have seen on the camp circuit thus far, [player_tooltip player_id='1467533' first='Michael' last='Rogers'] showed blazing speed. Typically running backs are a bit slower than receivers. This is not the case for Rogers. The way he moved and ran was more akin to a receiver than a running back. I cannot wait to see what he can do in a spread offense with gaps opened and space to operate.</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":"Jalen Aponte","_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":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Union","_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-6a2abd8f9b244"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jalen Aponte came off as a prospect that is better served watching film on than evaluating at a camp. During this particular camp Aponte was unable to create the separation needed as a pass catcher - something backs are exclusively asked to do at camps. That said, I profile him as more of a power runner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1645689"],"_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-6a2abd8f9b27b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A back who might have top-end speed is [player_tooltip player_id='1645689' first='Maurice' last='Dantzler']. I noted that he makes quick cuts without losing speed. I also thought that he has elite ball tracking skills when thrown deep. As such, Dantzler uses his hands well while stuttering opponents to create space.</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":"Jamiir Gregory","_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":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Elizabeth","_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-6a2abd8f9b2e8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The second Elizabeth tailback that I took note of was Jamiir Gregory. A slighter back, Gregory appeared to be a track star. Simply nobody could keep pace with his speed in, in anything he did.</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-defensive-line-notebook-volume-i">Defensive Line, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-linebacker-notebook-volume-i">Linebackers, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-offensive-line-notebook-volume-i">Offensive Linemen, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-running-back-notebook-volume-i">Running Backs, Volume 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-quarterback-notebook-volume-i">Quarterbacks, Volume 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->