LOS ANGELES -- Some of the best athletes in the West region were on hand for the first Nike Football Training Camp of the year on Sunday. Dozens of players stepped up with big performances, and five walked away with invitations to The Opening. Though the Recruiting Nation Top 10 is loaded with big men at the top, every position group has a representative, as the talent was spread throughout the camp.
(Note: The RN Top 10 is a RecruitingNation feature that will appear throughout the camp and combine season and rank prospects based strictly on their on-field performance at that particular event. It does not reflect what their overall prospect ranking will be when the 2014 rankings come out this spring.)
Royce Freeman
Imperial (Calif.) High | RB | 6-0, 216
The 6-foot, 216-pound running back has been on a recruiting tear lately, approaching double-digit offers. The most physically impressive tailback in attendance, Freeman made a strong first impression and backed that up with a great camp. While the event didn't highlight the downhill running style Freeman likes to employ, coaches said he did a good job showing every aspect of his game.
"He was very solid all around," the event's running backs coach, Barry Foster, said. "He's thick, strong and explosive. He showed great awareness and reaction all day. He's a tough runner with good blocking ability and a strong desire to listen, learn and get better on every rep."