By Scott Kennedy
Director of Scouting
Posted Mar 18, 2013
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Joseph Yearby of Miami Central was named running back MVP of the Nike Camp held in Miami on Sunday. After this drill, there wasn't much question who was going to win the award. See Yearby in action in this video by FOX Sports Next.
Joseph Yearby (5'9/190) is a running back from Miami Central that is currently ranked the No. 4 running back nationally in what can be considered the best running back class in several years.
Yearby has already committed to play college football for the Miami Hurricanes. Never one afraid to compete, Yearby came out to the Nike Football Training Camp on Sunday at Barry University in Miami to claim his second consecutive running back MVP award from the counselors.
There aren't a lot of drills in shorts and t-shirts that favor linebackers on the spring and summer camp circuit, but Nike has one drill set up that definitely favors the linebackers by giving a running back a very narrow window to try and beat him without being touched.
The drill is tough enough for the running backs that if the back is able to create enough space that the linebacker only touches him with one hand, it's considered a win for the running back.
To not get touched at all takes a special player, usually a tiny, quick slot receiver type. To do it at 190 pounds, not once, but twice shows an elite level of change of direction.
Yearby lets his play on the field do the talking and the crowd make the noise. After posterizing some poor linebacker, Yearby did nothing more than turn back around with a sheepish grin as the coaches, players, and spectators still buzzed about his elusiveness.
To sum up how difficult this is to do, I watched roughly 100 reps of this drill. Three of the reps had a running back go untouched. Two were by Yearby (the third was Cedric Miller of Miami Norland).