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Football University continued its 2016 camp season in Phoenix, AZ from April 22-24.  More than 200 student-athletes experienced NFL-level technique training, learning from FBU’s elite faculty of NFL coaches.

Two players in the McClintock High School secondary were among the top players at FBU. 2017 DB Quintin Matthews won the camp Leadership Award. His size and length are impressive while he showed explosive movement to the ball. Matthews displayed good field awareness in field coverage. Matthews can be a great leader; out of the deepest group at camp, he showed great leadership qualities. Matthews’ teammate at McClintock, 2017 DB Kyndel Snyder is a little bit taller than his teammate with a built frame. He was explosive and displayed long speed. Snyder is good in transition, flipped his hips accurately and blanketed receivers all weekend.

Another McClintock standout was 2017 OL Zane Hekking. He wasn’t the most well-known lineman but easily the best lineman in camp. Low and fast out of his stance, Hekking spent sustaining and finishing blocks moving defenders. He was impressive to the coaches with his ability absorb new information and execute. Joseph Ramos, Deer Valley HS received an invitation to the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Combine. Ramos showed superior strength and speed against the competition. He used his hands and feet well sustaining blocks. Ramos could improve as a finisher but he did well turning defenders.  Ramos reportedly holds an offer from Arizona State University.

2019 QB Nathan Clayton, Tempe HS was also invited to participate in the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Combine.  Clayton was the only quarterback selected as a top performer and one of the most impressive overall players at camp.  He displayed a long, smooth release with excellent arm strength.  Clayton was on target all weekend and proficient hitting receivers on time through the entire route tree.

On the same side of the ball, 2018 RB Je’on Moss, Mountain Pointe HS is a big, physical back who showed surprising athleticism throughout the weekend.  Moss made accurate catches well out of the backfield.  He also showed good vertical speed running routes up the seam.  Moss continually took LB’s of their feet in one-on-one drills. 2019 RB Jaden Carroll, Williams Field HS is a strong, good looking running back and impressive against the older competition.  He was the best catching the ball down the field. Carroll is a smart route runner who showed good shake with the ball in his hands.

2017 WR Andrew Carlsen, Sabino HS has extremely quick feet. This kid is quicker than fast and used his foot speed to continually keep defenders off balance. Carlsen was the best receiver at camp, utilizing space across the middle of the field. His ability to bring in many poorly thrown balls was impressive.

Two standouts heading to Chaparral High School in the fall put in work for the middle school group. 2020 RB Deavon Crawford won the camp Leadership Award for the middle school group. Crawford holds a good combination of quickness and speed.  He is dynamic with the ball in his hands and caught the ball very well out of the backfield.  Overall, Crawford was the best play maker at the youth camp. 2020 K Tommy Christakos, a potential prospect as both a wide receiver and a kicker, has an ideal frame for a kicking specialist.  He is smooth and consistent as a placekicker.  Christakos has good balance and explosion through the contact.  His finish point stays down his target line and the ball flight is repeatedly high and deep on kickoffs.  He will more than likely become a national prospect in high school.

Christakos was not the only kicker who impressed at camp. 2018 K Juan Ramirez, Brophy Prep won the kickoff and punting competitions. Ramirez proved his A-ball was better than any of the other campers. He was not the most consistent specialist in camp, but he showed very good leg strength throughout.  Ramirez is a raw left-footed talent who has a good upside with technical development. 2017 LS Charles Satnan, Smith-Cotton HS (MO) snapped with accuracy and speed that was occasionally hard to catch.  He was balanced and followed through to his target.  His punt snaps had a high spin rate and were flat to the target.  Satnan’s field goal snaps were fast and repeatedly into the holders hands. 2017 P Cole Nixon, Liberty HS won the last man standing kicking competition. Nixon has a tall, lanky frame and displayed excellent leg strength. As a punter, Nixon was smooth and balanced through contact. He did a relatively good job laying the ball on his foot. He needs to work on gaining a stronger follow through and higher finish point. Nixon did a really good job staying low and through the ball on his field goal attempts. He utilized a lower ball flight in tough wind conditions and is a very good combo player with a high ceiling.

Three versatile athletes worth mentioning in Phoenix start with 2017 ATH Denzil Latimore, Dobson HS. Latimore was the Gatorade Award winner and best overall player in camp.  Even though he plays slot receiver for his high school, he spent the weekend as an outside vertical threat. Latimore showed good burst off the line and was precise through his cuts.  He was explosive with the ball in his hands repeatedly gaining big yardage after the catch. 2017 ATH Bowen Blake, Edison-Huntington Beach HS (CA) demonstrated a smooth release with a quick delivery. Blake showed good accuracy by putting the ball in tight spaces where only the receiver could get it. He has marginal arm strength but performed very well on short and intermediate throws. Even though he played quarterback at camp, Blake is a very athletic player and reportedly starts at free safety for his high school team. 2020 ATH Micah Bowens, Bishop Gorman HS (NV) won the Gatorade Award for the middle school group. He has a lean, athletic build and physically stood out from the rest of the youth group. Gorman makes quick decisions while routinely hitting receivers in stride. He shows enough arm strength to make all throws asked of him.

Wrapping up the top performers on the defensive side of the ball, 2019 DE Reed Ryan, Waunakee HS (WI) has a strong frame with room for growth.  Ryan has good speed off the edge and the offensive tackles struggled to stay with him.  He uses his speed as a big advantage at the line. Ryan is a raw player who needs to develop as a football player. With proper development, he has a very high ceiling. 2018 DL Colin Maslin, Hamilton HS is an undersized player who displayed good playing strength and speed out of his stance.  Maslin used his hands well and showed gap quickness. He was the most difficult interior lineman to block and won every 1-on-1 opportunity during observation. 2017 ILB Charles Walker, Millennium HS has good upper body strength and routinely knocked players off their routes. Walker showed the best range of any of the linebacker’s in camp. He has good route awareness and host the ability to cover faster receivers in small spaces.

Football University is built on the foundation that Technique Plus Talent Beats Talent Alone. Since 2007, the FBU experience has focused on intense position-specific technique training taught by our expert faculty of over 125 NFL-experienced coaches and players.

Enroll at Football University and take your game to the next level this off season.

xosCONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.

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