Lock ‘Em Up + Lay ‘Em Down: Linebacker Notes from Camp Season

<!-- 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":"Gavin Toland","_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":"Morris Knolls","_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-6a2c0a20aaa38"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Morris Knolls, a traditionally rough and tough team, is set to have Gavin Toland to compete this year at the linebacker rotation. For Toland to experience success, it would be to his benefit to lower his pad level just a bit. Doing so will enable him to move more freely and quickly in any direction, and also disengage with blockers better.</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":"Troy Demikoff","_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":"Wayne Hills","_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-6a2c0a20aaaf6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Demikoff name is one that ought to be familiar in Wayne, as Wayne Hill's Head Coach is Wayne Demikoff. Assuming there is a bloodline there, Troy Demikoff played with a certain level of savvy that you would expect from a prospect who has a coach in the family. Demikoff moved with a great deal of urgency and absolutely sold out to make plays, as he broke on throws quickly and urgently. Additionally, he also showed a distinct change of speed. Demikoff can, however, make sure he finishes his drills through his landmark.</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":"Malachi Banks","_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":"Elmwood Park","_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-6a2c0a20aab8f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Malachi Banks is a prospect who showed his eagerness to make plays. Leaning forward, Banks wanted to head downhill first - which is a good thing. Next time I see Banks I would like to see him be more efficient with his movements - get more work done in less steps.</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":"Isaiah Butler","_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":"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-6a2c0a20aac2a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the best looking linebackers attending was Elizabeth's Isaiah Butler. At about 6'3" with a lean, tapered frame, Butler looks every part of what you want in a linebacker. I noted him participating in the box drill. Butler moved well, but effortless is not the correct word - he appeared to be very casual and comfortable moving in terms of his tempo. That said, he did move fluidly.</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-back-notebook-volume-ii">Defensive Backs, Volume 2</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-linebacker-notebook-volume-ii">Linebackers, Volume 2</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-receiver-notebook-volume-i">Receivers, 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 -->