AVC Football Camp: Defensive Backs, Volume V

<!-- 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":"Elijah Thomas","_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":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cardinal Hayes (NY)","_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-6a32cb4748b15"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the most electric defensive backs was Elijah Thomas. Thomas did not slow down, at all, during the L-Drill - and frankly did not need to break down much when working to change directions. Aside from his top-end ability to change directions, Thomas looked extremely fast in pairing drills. When opening and running with a fellow defender, Thomas covered about 2.5 times the ground his partner did, lapping him in the process.</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":"Ahkeim Brown","_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":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Erasmus Hall","_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-6a32cb4748b69"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A rising senior, Ahkeim Brown represents Erasmus Hall. During indy I got a solid look at him. I thought that Brown's pad level was too high and must improve, as I suspect it hinders his ability to effectively change directions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2044195"],"_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-6a32cb4748b95"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With a good build and fluid movements, [player_tooltip player_id='2044195' first='Dylan' last='Adams'] fits perfectly into West Orange's 3-3 stack defense. Like many others, Adams can stand to play with lower pad level. Doing so will help him bend corners more tightly and have balance when looking to tackle. Surprisingly, with a rock-solid, chiseled core, Adams did not have the recovery speed to make plays on under thrown balls. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1247757"],"_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-6a32cb4748bb5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cardinal Hayes also sent [player_tooltip player_id='1247757' first='Jordan' last='Brito'] to camp. Brito. A smaller guy, Brito did not have to break down much when moving. Next time I see Brito, I would like to see him use his speed a bit better and have better reactions to breaking on the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1666478"],"_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-6a32cb4748bdd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The last cardinal from flock that flew down from the Bronx was [player_tooltip player_id='1666478' first='Maison' last='Martin']. Although I did not think Martin stopped/started particularly well, he manages to cover a lot of ground... quickly. He was a bit confused during indy on just how exactly to perform a drill he was asked to do, but once coached up Martin shined. This moment also showed his coachability. I thought that Martin moved his best when on a 45 degree angle and breaking backwards. Lastly, he is a disciplined defender who did not bite on double moves and also flipped his hips and ran well.</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-back-notebook-volume-iii">Defensive Backs, Volume 3</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-defensive-back-notebook-volume-iv">Defensive Backs, Volume 4</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-defensive-backs-volume-v">Defensive Backs, Volume 5</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-defensive-line-notebook-volume-ii">Defensive Line, Volume 2</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-defensive-line-notebook-volume-iii">Defensive Line, Volume 3</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-defensive-line-notebook-volume-iv">Defensive Line, Volume 4</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-linebacker-notebook-volume-iii">Linebackers, Volume 3</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-linebacker-notebook-volume-iv">Linebackers, Volume 4</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-offensive-line-notebook-volume-ii">Offensive Linemen, Volume 2</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-offensive-line-notebook-volume-iii">Offensive Linemen, Volume 3</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-receivers-notebook-volume-ii">Receivers, Volume 2</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><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-quarterback-notebook-volume-ii">Quarterbacks, Volume 2</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/avc-football-camp-quarterback-notebook-volume-iii">Quarterbacks, Volume 3</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->