Stellar group set to compete at Top Gun
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WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The third annual FBU Top Gun Camp will kick off on Wednesday and will feature some of the nation's top prospects competing against each other. The running back group is especially deep led by Cibolo (Texas) Steele five-star Malcolm Brown. However, they will be going against a formidable group of linebackers in what could be the matchup of the week.
Brown, a 6-foot-0, 210-pounder who is ranked as the nation's No. 1 running back and No. 10 prospect overall, was at last year's Top Gun Camp as a rising junior. He was joined by fellow Texas standout Aaron Green from San Antonio James Madison and the duo impressed but are looking forward to being a year older and more experienced.
"We're just here to have fun, but it is good to know what to expect a little more," said Green. "Being one of the youngest guys last year and now one of the oldest you come in with more experience and a better idea of what to expect. But it's all about the competition, we came here to compete."
Brown, the more soft-spoken of the two, agreed.
"You come in with more confidence," he said. "It's good to know what to expect and I know from last year that the competition will be good here and that's what makes you better."
Brown and Green, a 5-foot-11, 191-pounder, will be joined by Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips four-star Demetrius Hart and some very impressive underclassmen. Class of 2012 stud Barry Sanders, the son of NFL legend and former Oklahoma State star Barry Sanders will be on hand as well. The Oklahoma City (Okla.) Heritage Hall back has early offers from Texas Tech, Texas A&M and others. He will be joined by Olney (Md.) Good Counsel running back Wes Brown, who also has early offers, and 2014 phenom Sony Michel from Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage who came to prominence as an 8th grader last season playing varsity ball.
But as good as the running backs are, they will have their hands full with a linebacker group led by five-star Curtis Grant from Richmond (Va.) Hermitage who was also on hand last year.
"I don't look at it any differently except that I'm older," Grant said. "It seems friendlier already though, last year I was younger and I met like six guys at the whole camp because everyone was older. This year I met six people in the lobby just getting here so I guess it's just different because I'm a year older now and one of the older guys."
Grant, a 6-foot-3, 222-pounder, will be joined at linebacker by four-stars Travis Hughes from Virginia Beach (Va.) Kempsville and Anthony Sarao from Absecon (N.J.) Holy Spirit. Class of 2012 linebacker Kwon Alexander, who has more than 20 offers already, will represent his class from Oxford, Ala. Iowa commitment Mike Orloff from Danvers (Mass.) Lawrence Academy will also be on hand working out at linebacker representing the 2011 prospects.
Another good matchup will be amongst the big men as Rivals250 offensive lineman Ethan Hutson from Destrehen, La., leads his side of things against Georgia studs Ray Drew and Stephon Tuitt. Hutson, an Ole Miss commitment, is a 6-foot-4, 295-pounder and is ranked as the No. 1 offensive center in the country. He is joined by Owings Mills, Md., offensive tackle Donovan Smith, also a four star, and Hollywood, Fla., guard Jared Maldonado. Class of 2012 offensive lineman Mike Madaras from Olney (Md.) Good Counsel has early offers and will also be on hand.
On defense, Drew and Tuitt are a great combination at defensive end and tackle respectively. Drew, a 6-foot-5, 243-pounder from Thomasville (Ga.) Thomas County Central, will be hard to handle with his speed off the edge while Tuitt, a 6-foot-5, 260-pounder from Monroe (Ga.) Monroe Area uses his size well. Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic defensive tackle Lance Callihan and Lufkin, Texas end Darrell Kelly-Thomas are also 2011 defensive prospects of note. Class of 2012 stud Eddie Goldman from Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate Academy is also expected to be on hand and Lynchburg (Va.) Brookville defensive end Korren Kirven is another 2012 prospect to keep an eye on.
Finally, the wideouts and defensive backs will do battle and battle for passes from an interesting quarterback group. Leading the wide receivers are Stanford commitment Ty Montgomery from Dallas (Texas) St. Mark's and Missouri commitment Wesley Leftwich from Columbia (Mo.) Hickman, both three stars. Iowa commitment Marcus Grant from Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts will also be working out along with Berwyn (Pa.) Conestoga standout Dexter Bridge and American Heritage sleeper wide receiver Marken Michel, the older brother of running back future star Sony. Class of 2012 big man Romond Deloatch from Hampton (Va.) Phoebus will be hard to check with his 6-foot-5, 206-pound frame.
On the defensive side of things, Rivals100 stud safety Wayne Lyons from Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Dillard leads a talented group. The 6-foot-0, 190-pounder will be joined by fellow four-star Blake Countess from Olney (Md.) Good Counsel and three-star safety Mike Caputo from Imperial (Pa.) West Allegheny. Class of 2013 defensive back Kendall Fuller, a teammate of Countess at Good Counsel, has the makings of a future star as well.
Finally, the quarterback group is intriguing led by a few top 2011 prospects and two underclassmen to watch. Killeen, Texas dual-threat Michael Cummings, a Kansas commitment, is the biggest name at the event but is joined in the 2011 class by Mililani, Hawaii signal-caller Trent McKinney and Williamsville (N.Y.) South gunslinger Joe Licata. Class of 2012 stud Skyler Mornhinweg from Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph's, an early Stanford commitment, could be the best quarterback at the event while Ashburn (Va.) Stone Bridge big man Ryan Burns has already earned an offer from Boston College without taking a varsity snap. The 6-foot-5, 207-pounder is one of the top young quarterbacks to keep an eye on.
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