Published Jul 2, 2010
Rivals.coms All-NIKE Camp Team - Defense
Rivals.com recruiting staff
Publisher
The 2010 NIKE Football Training Camp tour is in the books and Rivals.com was able to evaluate prospects at each of the 13 events across the country.
Advertisement
Our analysts got together and came up with their All-NIKE Camp Team based on the players' performances from all of the events. Today we take a look at the defense.
2010 ALL-NIKE CAMP TEAM - DEFENSE
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Camp: Los Angeles
Performance: "Townsend was explosive and strong on a consistent basis, showing a fantastic rip move inside and a good shoulder dip off the edge in one-on-one battles. He didn't have to set up many moves Sunday, as he blew by most blockers with his first two steps." - Rivals.com analysts Jeremy Crabtree
Camp: Los Angeles
Performance: "Barr's offer list is also one of the longest and best around, and he showed flashes of why he's got those offers with a good all-around effort on Sunday. Barr is more powerful than Townsend and he did a solid job of fighting through blocks and used his hands well, too." - Crabtree
Camp: Columbus
Committed to: Kentucky
Performance: "This powerful nose tackle had his way with most interior offensive linemen during the heated one-on-ones. For the most part he used good leverage and a bull-rush like a dozer collapsing the pocket while physically humiliating his opponent." - Rivals.com analyst Barry Every
Camp: Baton Rouge
Performance: "He is a short, stocky defensive tackle with tremendous strength in both his upper and lower body. His powerful base and punch make him very tough to defend as a bull-rusher but he is more than just a power rusher. Johnson is instinctual in his ability to get to the quarterback, he has great feet and he showed that he can be a technician as well." - Rivals.com analyst Barton Simmons
Camp: Gainesville
Performance: "He is just the complete package. He has good size and everything he does, he does it low. In the open field, Steward closes in a flash and then sinks his hips and breaks down to mirror the running back. In coverage, Steward runs with running backs and receivers like a corner." - Simmons
Camp: Blacksburg
Performance: "Grant is clearly special and already looks like an NFL linebacker. He has great size at linebacker, loose hips, great length and quick twitch ability. His strength is sideline to sideline pursuit, but he can also backpedal, flip his hips and cover faster and smaller players." - Rivals.com analyst Mike Farrell
Camp: Los Angeles
Committed to: USC
Performance: "Madden has some tremendous instincts that were on display both in drill work and in one-on-ones. Madden definitely projects as a WILL linebacker in college and he'll be a perfect fit for a scheme that allows him to use his speed to react and read the plays." - Crabtree
Camp: State College
Performance: "Grant showed very good ability to close on the ball. He was also able to play off the receivers and work in space. He is extremely strong and can press-cover with the best of them." - Rivals.com analyst Greg Ladky
Camp: Los Angeles
Committed to: USC
Performance: "Nobody at the event - at any position - was the type of athlete that Thomas is. He is still extremely raw as a defensive back, but he quickly picked up the pointers the coaches were working with him on and by the end of the camp was going head-to-head with the top receivers. Not bad for a guy that's played running back and safety throughout most of his career." - Crabtree
Camp: Gainesville
Performance: "Lyons is a heady safety, who understands coverages, reads the quarterback effectively and puts himself in positions to make plays. Where other defensive backs can get lazy, Lyons always has his shoulders over his knees, playing low, staying focused and competing on every rep as if it is the last play of the game." - Simmons
Camp: Columbus
Committed to: Kentucky
Performance: "He possibly had the best ball skills of any defensive back at this event. On more than one occasion during individual drills, he leaped and not only caught the ball at its highest point, but he caught the back half of the ball. During one-on-ones he also showed serious cover skills, and a real enthusiasm for the game of football." - Every
Camp: Tuscaloosa
Performance: "Freakish is an adjective that should be used sparingly when describing college football prospects but if anyone fits the bill as a freak athlete, Wilder does. He can easily run with running backs and tight ends, changes directions well and has great hips." - Simmons
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
S Tyson Coleman, Lake Oswego (Ore.)
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
DE Deion Barnes, Philadelphia (Pa.) Northeast; DE Giorgio Newberry, Fort Pierce (Fla.) Fort Pierce Central; DT Demetris Anderson, Fort Pierce (Fla.) Westwood; DT Jeff Worthy, La Habra (Calif.) Whittier Christian; LB Aaron Wallace Jr., San Diego (Calif.) Rancho Bernardo; LB Aarin Smith, Fresno (Calif.) Central East; LB Malique Micenheimer, Stockton (Calif.) McNair; LB Ryan Simmons, Cibolo (Texas) Steele; CB Tevin Mitchel, Mansfield (Texas) Legacy; CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Chino Hills (Calif.); S Travis Blanks, Tallahassee (Fla.) North Florida Christian (2012); S Dondi Kirby, Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway; CB William Likely, Belle Glade (Fla.) Glades Central (2013); ATH Albert Louis-Jean, Brockton (Mass.)
[rl]