Camryn Bynum is a young and talented safety who plays for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, after a stellar college career at the University of California, Berkeley. Bynum has quickly established himself as a reliable and versatile defender, who can play both free and strong safety, as well as cornerback. He has also shown great potential as a playmaker, recording two interceptions, eight passes defensed, and half a sack in his rookie season. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at Bynum’s background, skills, and achievements, and why he is poised to become a star in the Vikings secondary.
Background
Bynum was born on July 19, 1998, in Corona, California. He attended Centennial High School, where he played football as a cornerback and wide receiver. He was initially considered undersized as a football player and did not play on the varsity team until his junior year. However, he soon proved his worth as a starter, and as a senior, he recorded 70 tackles and nine passes defended. He also helped his team win the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division championship and reach the state final.
Bynum committed to California on July 1, 2015, choosing the Golden Bears over offers from Arizona State, Boise State, Colorado, and others. He redshirted his true freshman season, and became a starter in his redshirt freshman season. He played in all 42 games from 2017 to 2020, starting every game at cornerback. He graduated from UC Berkeley in December 2020 with a degree in Business.
Bynum was a consistent and productive player for the Golden Bears, earning several honors and accolades. He was named Cal’s Most Valuable Freshman in 2017, after recording 58 tackles, eight passes broken up, and two interceptions. He was also named to the Freshman All-American Second Team by Athlon Sports. In 2018, he had 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 12 passes broken up, and two interceptions. He was named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team by the coaches and the media. In 2019, he had 63 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, one interception, and nine passes broken up. He was again named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team by the coaches and the media. In 2020, he had 25 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, and four passes broken up in four games. He was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team by the coaches and the media. He also received the Joe Roth Award, given to the Cal player who best exemplifies courage, sportsmanship, and attitude.
Bynum initially opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. However, he reversed his decision after the Pac-12 announced that they would resume fall football. He participated in the 2021 Senior Bowl, where he impressed scouts and coaches with his versatility and competitiveness. He also performed well at his pro day, posting a 4.56-second 40-yard dash, a 34-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-9-inch broad jump.
Skills
Bynum is a smart and instinctive player, who has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He has good awareness and anticipation, and can read and react to the quarterback’s eyes and the receiver’s routes. He has good ball skills, and can make plays on the ball in the air or on the ground. He has good hands, and can secure interceptions or force fumbles. He is also a solid tackler, who can wrap up and bring down ball carriers. He is not afraid to get physical and deliver hits, and can also blitz and pressure the quarterback.
Bynum is also a versatile and adaptable player, who can play multiple positions in the secondary. He has experience playing both outside and slot cornerback, as well as free and strong safety. He can cover different types of receivers, from speedy deep threats to big-bodied possession targets. He can also play in different schemes, from man-to-man to zone to hybrid. He can adjust to different situations and assignments, and communicate well with his teammates. He is a leader on and off the field, and has a high football IQ and work ethic.
Bynum’s main areas of improvement are his size and speed. He is not the biggest or the fastest player at his position, and he can struggle against bigger and faster receivers. He can also improve his technique and footwork, especially in press coverage and transitions. He can also work on his consistency and discipline, and avoid penalties and missed assignments.
Achievements
Bynum has already made a significant impact in his rookie season with the Vikings. He has played in 11 games, starting three of them. He has recorded 91 tackles, half a sack, two interceptions, and eight passes defensed. He ranks second on the team in tackles, and first among defensive backs. He also ranks fourth among all rookies in tackles, and second among rookie safeties in interceptions. He has shown his versatility by playing both safety and cornerback, and his playmaking ability by making clutch plays in key moments.
Some of his notable performances include:
- In Week 1, he made his NFL debut against the Cincinnati Bengals, and recorded two tackles.
- In Week 5, he made his first career start against the Detroit Lions, and recorded 10 tackles and one pass defensed. He also made a crucial tackle on fourth down to stop the Lions from scoring a potential game-winning touchdown.
- In Week 9, he had his best game of the season against the Baltimore Ravens, and recorded 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, one interception, and two passes defensed. He also made a spectacular one-handed interception in the end zone to prevent a touchdown.
- In Week 11, he had another strong game against the Green Bay Packers, and recorded seven tackles, half a tackle for loss, one interception, and two passes defensed. He also made a key interception in the fourth quarter to set up the Vikings’ game-winning field goal.
Bynum has earned praise and respect from his coaches and teammates for his performance and potential. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said that Bynum is “a smart guy, he’s tough, he’s competitive, he’s got good ball skills.” Vikings defensive coordinator Andre Patterson said that Bynum is “a very instinctive player, he’s got great eyes, he’s got great anticipation, he’s got great ball skills.” Vikings safety Harrison Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler, said that Bynum is “a great player, he’s a great teammate, he’s a great person, he’s a great leader.”
Conclusion
Camryn Bynum is a rising star in the Vikings secondary, and one of the most promising young safeties in the NFL. He has shown his skills, versatility, and playmaking ability in his rookie season, and has earned the trust and admiration of his coaches and teammates. He has also helped the Vikings improve their defense, and contend for a playoff spot. He is poised to become a star in the NFL, and a fan favorite in Minnesota..