10 Jul Preseason Scouting Notes: Camryn Bynum, CB, California
Redshirt Senior| 6’0” 190 lbs | Corona, CA | July 19, 1998
A patient, disciplined and instinctive press corner who is eminently scrappy and supremely effective as an open-field tackler
Overview:
Camryn Bynum is a former 3-star recruit who has started 38 consecutive games for the California Golden Bears defense and will head into his second straight year as a team captain in 2020. He primarily plays press man and the deep third/quarter from a side pedal in Cal’s single-high heavy, 2-4-5 defense. Bynum plays outside, often matched up against the opponents No. 1 receiver, and is asked to play on an island often, whether opposite a trips formation, or in MEG while in Cover 3/4.
Strengths:
– Aggressive, consistent and thoroughly experienced as a jammer
– Shows great peripheral vision and instinctive route recognition in zone coverage
– Does a great job staying in phase and on top of receivers
– Very patient with his hips. Isn’t manipulated by deceptive moves often
– Highly efficient wrap-up tackler who takes conservative, clean angles in run support
– Solid ball skills. Plays through receivers to the ball and shows good timing on pass break ups
– Wedges receivers to the sideline with strength and body control when they try to release vertically outside
– Short-area quickness helps him mirror receivers (even jitterbug guys) quite well on quick routes
– Very communicative pre-snap. Shows good leadership skills as a team captain
Areas to improve:
– Lacks the straight-line recovery speed to get back in phase after losing ground vertically
– Hip fluidity and transitions are adequate, but could be improved upon
– Struggles to shed blocks against long-armed players
– Occasional balance issues against curls and comebacks. Ability to stop and start is average
– Limited film in off-man coverage
Injury concerns:
Recovering from surgery on his lower left leg (has been seen in a knee brace). Would have knocked him out of Spring practices had they not been canceled
Projection:
Bynum projects to fit best as an outside CB in a Cover 3-heavy scheme that allows him to align in press frequently. He has the tools to play in the slot as well due to his history of success against both smaller receivers and bigger tight ends, and that versatility could potentially boost his draft stock. Bynum doesn’t have many technical flaws, giving him quite a high floor as a prospect, but his merely average straight-line speed and length limit his ceiling and draft stock. Expect Bynum to be a bargain as an early Day 3 selection, though he has a good chance to go on Day 2. He will likely be a solid, versatile backup as a rookie and could become a passable NFL starter by his second season.
What to watch in 2020:
Will Bynum’s left leg injury hamper his ability? He’s had a consistently clean bill of health throughout his time in Berkeley until now, and it will be worth monitoring whether he is a step slow early in the season. Additionally, how will Bynum adjust to a new DB coach? With Gerald Alexander moving onto the NFL to take the same job with the Miami Dolphins, former Arizona and Boise State DC Marcel Yates will take over.
- XTB’s Director of Scouting
- Bay Area-born sports lover who has worked in the football industry as a journalist, coach, film analyst, and scout.
- Currently a graduate student attending the UMass Sport Management program, and received his BA in journalism at Hofstra University.