Published Jun 27, 2012
Stacked Rutgers camp dominated by WRs
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PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The annual Rutgers 7-on-7 tournament once again took place on the campus of the Scarlet Knights and the roster of teams was stacked as usual with top programs from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, D.C. and elsewhere doing battle. There were 84 teams in all, but Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy took home the title led by quarterback David Sills. Here are the top offensive performers.
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1. QB, David Sills, 6-3/179, Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy, 2015:
Sills was the most impressive player at the camp. He has great touch on his throws, great footwork and goes through his progressions correctly. The Southern Cal commit is very developed and polished and bounced back from a few average performances at recent camps. Sills still needs to add arm strength, but he's only a rising sophomore and it's easy to forget that.
2. WR, Charles Callinan, 6-4/200, Jersey city (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep:
Callinan is incredibly athletic for his size. He has bulked up since his last camp and did not lose any speed or quickness. He has great hands and has the frame to keep getting bigger and could become lethal at tight end in college. Callinan's route-running was also very impressive; he has suddenness in his route running which is rare for a player his size.
3. TE, Garrett Dickerson, 6-4/240, Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic, 2014:
Dickerson was probably the best physical specimen on the field. He has exceptional speed for his size and very soft hands. At one point Dickerson lined up in the slot and blew past a very fast defensive back and caught a 25-yard touchdown in the middle of the field. Dickerson is also very strong and was rarely outmuscled for a jump ball.
4.RB, Daquan Worley, 5-10/160, Coatesville (Pa.) Coatesville Area Senior:
Using his excellent speed and quickness, Worley proved he is a dynamic weapon on offense. There were many plays where Worley would make a catch out of the backfield and make the first two defenders miss. The sure-handed Worley has impressive explosiveness and change of direction. Worley might be a little too small to be a feature back, but would be an excellent third down running back or slot receiver.
5. WR, Ishmael Hyman, 6-0/160, Holmdel (N.J.) St. John Vianney:
Hyman is a burner with supreme quickness and the ability to make people miss. His route-running is solid and he has great explosiveness in and out of his breaks. Hyman needs to put on weight at the next level and improve his catching ability. Hyman will almost certainly fit in at a D-I school as a slot receiver or return man.
6. WR Freddy Canteen, 6-1/167, Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian
Academy, 2014:
Canteen had a very good day catching the ball. At times he was the go-to receiver for Sills, making one athletic catch after another. Canteen has very good speed, was running good routes and was able to gain separation from the defenders all day.
7. TE, Anthony Firkser, 6-3/215, Manalapan (N.J.), 2014:
As a rising junior, Firkser is a big wide receiver who should develop into a tight end. He has a big frame to fill out and could present many problems for the defense if he maintains his speed as he grows. Firkser's height and strength made it easier for him to win many jump balls, especially in the red zone. Firkser has the potential to be a legitimate D-I tight end prospect.
8. WR, Ricky Rogers, 6-1/192, Monroeville (Pa.), Gateway, 2014:
It was easy to see Rogers has been working hard in the offseason. He has put on more weight and seemed a step or two faster. Rogers was consistently able to get open behind the safeties and would've had more touchdowns if it weren't for some errant throws. Two things Rogers should work on are his explosiveness out of his breaks and leaping ability.
9. ATH, Kyle Queiro, 6-3/185, Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic:
Queiro made a living in the middle of the field, using his great height to make an easy target for his quarterback. His sharp route-running and quickness made it easy for him to separate from the defender. Many times Queiro was able to find the zone between the linebackers and safeties and make a leaping catch, showing off his reliable hands. The Northwestern commit seemed to have an excellent understanding of his team's scheme.
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10. WR, Saeed Blacknail, 6-2/190, Manalapan (N.J.), 2014:
Blacknail was one of the most athletic players on the field, excelling as a safety and as a receiver. While playing receiver, he showed he has good quickness off the snap and has great leaping ability. Blacknail has a long stride, has deceptive speed but should work on his agility and catching ability.
11. RB, Noah Brown, 6-2/190, Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII, 2014:
A very gifted athlete, Brown was a consistent threat for his team. Lining up at receiver most of the time, he showed good acceleration off the line of scrimmage and above-average route-running skills. Brown has a longer stride, but that doesn't take away from his quickness and ability to separate from the defensive back. Brown is poised for a breakout year and could prove to be a big name in the 2014 class.
12. QB, PJ Walker, 6-1/195, Elizabeth (N.J.):
Walker has great athleticism and could be an excellent dual threat quarterback. He has great arm strength but should work on his footwork and touch. The Temple commit has pretty good mechanics, but his release still needs to be refined, which will help improve his accuracy. If he can make progress in these areas Walker could prove to be an excellent pickup.
13. ATH, Montae Nicholson, 6-1/189, Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway, 2014:
Nicholson was one of the more active players of the camp, always seeming to be around the ball. He played mostly at receiver and flashed good route-running skills along with great speed and decent hands. Nicholson also surprised many defenders with his deceptive strength and quickness.
14. ATH, Kiy Hester, 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic 2014:
Hester was one of the more impressive all-around athletes at the event on Saturday. Extremely agile and smooth for his size, Hester is deceptively quick and showed quickness on both sides of the ball. His long arms also give him another huge advantage, either as a receiver or a cornerback. Already possessing a number of early offers, Hester should be one of the top recruits in New Jersey next year.
15. WR, Ricky Jeune, 6-2/190, Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph's:
Jeune is a very consistent and reliable receiver with good hands, footwork and route-running ability. Though he is an impressive looking wide receiver with long arms and a big frame, he lacks great overall speed. That being said, he showed great focus, making multiple catches in traffic.
16. WR, Dhameer Bradley, 5-10/166, Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy:
Bradley again showed excellent speed and explosiveness and was a difficult assignment for any defensive back. Though he is a smaller receiver and was outmuscled for a few balls, Bradley had a solid day, making plenty of catches and was one of Sills' favorite targets. It seemed like Bradley's route running skills have improve as well.
17. ATH, Damon Mitchell, 6-2/175, Egg Harbor City (N.J.) Cedar Creek:
Though he could probably excel as a defensive back, Mitchell impressed as a signal-caller. His athleticism was very obvious even in this setting and he showed very good arm strength. Mitchell's delivery is slightly elongated, his release point needs to be fine-tuned and footwork improved. In the right system, Mitchell could thrive as a dual-threat quarterback.
[ RELATED: Sills leads Rutgers winner again]
18. WR, Daikeil Shorts, 6-1/199, Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy:
Shorts is a versatile receiver who could become more of an H-back or tight end. Shorts has good speed and quickness for his size and combines that with reliable hands. Shorts' route-running has improved, but needs to get better at the next level if he expects to be a regular contributor.
19. RB, Wendell Smallwood, 5-11/194, Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy:
As a well-built, solid running back, games of 7-on-7 are not Smallwood's forte. Taking that into consideration, he regularly made catches, but didn't see as many reps as past camps. Smallwood has very good speed and shiftiness for his size and has made it abundantly clear that he can catch out of the backfield and is a threat after the catch.
20. QB, Lamel Matthews, 6-0/203, Washington (D.C.) Dunbar:
Matthews is getting bigger and continuing to add good weight, improving his arm strength. He has pretty good accuracy but could work on his touch and footwork. Mechanically, Matthews is solid and the more he works the closer he is to proving he is a true D-I quarterback.
22. RB, Augustus Edwards, 6-1/222, Staten Island (N.Y.) Tottenville:
Edwards is a taller running back who lined up mostly as a wide receiver at this camp. He has pretty good hands and looked very smooth running routes. He is a very natural runner, gliding across the field cutting effortlessly. He didn't have as many catchable balls thrown his way compared to other receivers that are higher on this list. Given the same number of catchable balls as some of the receivers, Edwards could've been rated higher.
23. RB, Jonathan Hilliman, 6-foot, 201-pounds, Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep, 2014:
In an event generally dominated by quarterbacks and wide receivers, it takes a great deal for a running back to get noticed. While Hilliman was not a major weapon for St. Peter's Prep during the passing camp, when he was used he did not waste his opportunities. Possessing impressive size and quickness, Hilliman showed good hands coming out of the backfield and surprising elusiveness.
24. CB, Minkah Fitzpatrick, 5-10/173, Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep, 2015:
Fitzpatrick played against some older, more experienced competition during this camp. Probably more of a safety, Fitzpatrick was able to stay in good position and stick with most of the receivers opposite him. If he keeps developing, Fitzpatrick could become an excellent D-I prospect.
25. WR, Geoff Fairbanks, 6-2/180, Neptune (N.J.):
Fairbanks consistently used his good size and speed to get open. If it wasn't for some better quarterback play, he could've been higher on this list. Fairbanks should focus on making smoother cuts, improving his hands and becoming more explosive. If he develops these areas he could be a one- or two-year starter at a D-I school.
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