The field featured teams from Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York/New Jersey, Maryland/DC, Virginia, New England and Ohio. There were several players from Michigan at the event, but due to legislation in that state the players all had to be split up. No more than two could be on each team or it would threaten a player’s eligibility. It is a rather archaic rule, but it is there. New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania each fielded two teams. One team called the Mid-State’s team was comprised of players from just about everywhere.
The camp started out on Sunday morning with the players going through position specific drills. The players were then separated into teams for the 7 on 7. The teams were separated into four groups. Each team would play the other three teams in their group, then the teams would be seeded for a single elimination tournament.
After pool play it was decided that the top seeds were Pennsylvania One, Maryland/DC and Illinois. Maryland/DC coached by Til Campanaro battled through a bracket with Illinois and Virginia to reach the finals. While Pennsylvania One beat a very good Indiana team, New Jersey One and New England to reach the finals.
Prior to the final, the Maryland/DC team and the Pennsylvania team met at the 50-yard line and started to jaw like a Florida/Florida State battle. The two teams matched up fairly well, but the smaller and faster team from Maryland/DC was too quick and the injury bug had hit the Pennsylvania team. During the teams second game of the day tight end Brock DeCicco (Thomas Jefferson) was in a violent collision in the end zone. DeCicco landed face first on the turf and suffered a concussion, along with a very bloody nose and turf burns. He was done for the day. Wide receiver Corey Brown had been released from the hospital just days before with flu like symptoms, but he played both ways the entire tournament. Five-star linebacker Dorian Bell suffered through a strained quad, but he never let up and played until the end.
Maryland/DC was led by (Dunbar) running back Tavon Austin who may be the most dangerous player in the country when he gets in the open field. Austin looks like a bigger version of Noel Devine. Michael Campanaro (River Hill) who is always the model of consistency caught touchdown passes in every game his team played. (Anne Arundel) wide receiver Alec Lemon performed quite well for his team. Campanaro’s teammate Malek Redd came up big a few times for his squad including two circus catches in the championship game that he so kindly dedicated in his post game speech.
“You’re still my boy Bob (Lichtenfels),” Redd said. “I told you I was going to do something special.”
The tandem of Leon Kinnard (Loyola) and Jonathan Perry (Dunbar) at quarterback was tough to beat. Kinnard does not possess typical quarterback size, but he was able to roll out and find his targets. (Dunbar/DC) wide receiver Deon Long also had an exceptional day. The Maryland/DC defense also played very well led by two impressive corners Darrick Scott (Thomas Johnson) and Courtney Bridget (Calvert Hall). Leron Eddy (River Hill) really improved his game since we last saw him. He took on a defensive leadership role for his team.
Pensylvania rode the talented arm of (Danville) quarterback Andrew Shoop to the finals. Shoop had an outstanding day throwing to Corey Brown (Gateway), Dontae Brown (Penn Hills) and back-up quarterback D.J. Barney (Strong Vincent), Barney was forced to play wide receiver when DeCicco went down. The first game at wide receiver Barney scorched the Indiana defense for two long touchdowns. Barney’s teammate Deonte Flemings played both was and may have been one of the top five performers of the camp. Brown provided lock down coverage all day at corner as well. Dorian Bell also played both ways and was the most physically impressive player in the entire camp along with Gerald Hodges from New Jersey. (Perkiomen School) cornerback Abdul Smith raised his stock considerably with an outstanding performance, while playing safety. The two youngsters from Pittsburgh Central Catholic Jeff Knox and D.J. Meyers showed that they will be the cream of the crop in the class of 2010. Linebackers A.J. Fenton (Erie McDowell) and Nick Sizemore (Manheim Township) both had fairly solid days. Sizemore is still waiting for his first offer, but it should be coming soon. Shoop is a player that we have liked since day one, because of his outstanding film. After seeing him at (6-2/195) we’re convinced that he is a very solid D-I prospect who used this tournament as his stepping stone to some national recognition.
Indiana coached by Scott Powers (Benton Catholic) played very well led by the quarterback tandem of Morgan Newton (Carmel) and Jordan Luallen (Center Grove). Both showed why they are among the nations best at their position. The pass catching trio of tight end Tyler Eifert (Bishop Dwenger) and receivers Duwyce Wilson (Columbus East) and Demory Lawshe (Lawrence North) were tough to beat. We have been talking about Wilson being one of the best in the Midwest and he certainly did not disappoint. One player who showed some flashes in the open field was Jamill Smith (Muncie South). Smith at 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, just needs to realize he is not a quarterback and focus on being what he is and that is a dangerous player with the rock in his hands. TyQuan Hammock (Bishop Luers) was the quiet leader of the Indiana defense, along with Joe Rippe (Carmel). Lawshe played defense as well and looked very good while doing it. Taylor Schoen from (Benton Catholic) had a solid day at safety for Indiana.
New Jersey was led by event co-founder KaShann Simmons. The Garden State squad talked the talk and walked the walk until the semifinals when they lost to Pennsylvania One. The team was led by freshman phenom Tyrone Johnson (Plainfield). Johnson is mature beyond his years and nothing seemed to rattle him. Tyree Watkins (Camden) played as advertised and showed why he has racked up some early offers. (Penns Grove) athlete Aaron Hayward still only holds a Rutgers offer, but he consistently proves he is one of the best players on the East coast. One of the most gifted players in attendance who was under our radar is (Paulsboro) safety Gerald Hodges. He likely won’t play safety in college, but at a chiseled 6-3, 205-pounds he will be one heck of a WLB. Hodges holds a handful of offers from the likes of Penn State, Maryland, Syracuse, Rutgers and Iowa.
The Illinois team was one that not a lot of people talked about heading into the event, but they did afterwards. Two talented quarterbacks Jordan Roberts (Aurora) and Jon Budmayr (Marian Central Catholic) led the way. Roberts played very well and was one of the top quarterbacks on hand. His height could be a stumbling block for some teams, but mechanically he is as good as they come. Michigan tight end Reid Fragel was as advertised. The (Grosse Point South) standout could play tight end, but he also is capable of becoming a very good offensive tackle as well. Michigan State commit Chris Norman (Renaissance) showed why he accumulated the early offers that he did. He is without a doubt one of the best in the nation. The team also had its share of relatively unknown players who put themselves on the map Joe Orlando (Maine South) and Austin Baker (Driscoll Catholic) drew a lot of praise from on lookers.
Pennsylvania Two did not feature quit the same talent as the other squad from its home state, but they battled anyway, (Cardinal O’Hara) wide receiver Christian Sutton had a very solid day as did (Kiski) wide receiver Jeff Jackson. The team also featured a pair of Gateway players who also looked tremendous Bryan Williams and Jeff Parrish.
Virginia was hyped for its first game of the day against Pennsylvania One then it was all down hill after that. Everyone decided they’d do anything to cover the nation’s top rated wide receiver Logan Heastie (Great Bridge). One team even left an open man, so they could double cover Heastie. To his credit, despite his lofty status Heastie battled all day long and showed a great competitive spirit. West Virginia fans are getting a great one. Joining Heastie at West Virginia will be quarterback Tahj Boyd (Phoebus) who did look to be his reported (6-foot-2). Boyd looked very good early one, but look to run out of gas late after having to throw so much all day. (Lake Taylor) linebacker Mike Privott is a bit undersized, but he never quits and just keeps on coming. He was definitely the emotional leader of the team. Rudy Rayner (Princess Anne) and Patrick Young (Green Run) also looked very good. Brandon Scott (Forest Park) missed his junior season, so events like this are crucial for him and he did not disappoint at all. Laroy Reynolds (Maury) impressed us in San Antonio back in January and he did in Akron as well.
The Ohio teams did not feature a lot of the state’s upper tier talent, but it gave some others a chance to shine. (Coventry) wide receiver Jeff Walker has a great day and showed his is one of the states best players. (St. Ignatius) wide receiver Joey Parris made plays all day long and gained a lot of respect for his efforts. (Cleveland Heights) wide receiver Bryan Underwood played as advertised. He showed why he has a handful of early offers. Defensively, two linebackers really stole the show for the Ohio squad Zakee Bashir (Walnut Ridge) and Austen Moore (Springfield North), both should see some offers flowing in this Spring.
The Mid-State team was kind of a mixed bag that featured players from everywhere. Minnesota standout Bryce McNeal had a great camp. He battled through an ankle injury he sustained later in the day, but when he was at top speed he was very good. Shamari Benton (Brother Rice), normally a linebacker, but he played safety and played it well. At his size he will likely have to play safety at the next level. Jamil and Jamal Merrell from (Wilmington/DE/Hodgson Vo-Tech) looked and played the part. The 6-foot-4 twins may be the top two players in the state.
The New York/New Jersey team didn’t have a lot to brag about on the day, but Tyray Forte (Plainfield) was all over the place and caught several touchdown passes.
Stay logged on to Scout.com this week as we bring you plenty of content from the Badger Sport/New Level Athletics Skills Pass Camp in Akron.