All activities kicked off on Friday, June 19th with the Football Showcase & Skills Challenge where several of the best in the area gauged their skill set and athleticism in a series of skill challenges and 1-on-1 competitions. (Results of the top performers will be posted later this week).

Amid hot temperatures, the festival continued Saturday morning with a FREE coaches’ clinic and our Super 7 QB & WR, Lineman, and Defensive Academies.

Headlined bye one of the best coaching staffs of any camp in 2009, the camp was directed by current 4th and Long co-star and legendary NFL assistant coach Joe Avezzano.

Quarterbacks were blessed with the opportunity to learn and train with highly regarded NFL quarterback coach Terry Shea, former Green Bay Packer quarterback Lynn Dickie, former Kansas State quarterback Joe Hatcher, and DSU senior instructor Joe Dickinson.

A rising star in the coaching ranks, Jon Embree spent time with both wide receivers and defensive lineman. The #1 target for Lynn Dickie and Joe Hatcher, Paul Coffman offered his expertise to receivers in attendance.

A member of the 1989 San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl championship team, Ricky Siglar mentored offensive lineman, and veteran DSU coach Mickey Joseph coached up the defensive backs and linebackers.

Athletes dedicated themselves to a rigorous training program that pushed their limits and tested their drive in the blazing heat. Below are keynotes of the weekend’s participants…..

QUARTERBACKS

Class of 2011 quarterback Daxx Garman (Midwest City, OK/Carl Albert) showed promise with continued development that he could emerge as an elite signal caller by the end of next fall. Daxx was compared by Jon Embree to his former quarterback – Koy Detmer – with his footwork noted as the reason. Coach Terry Shea raved about Daxx’s quick feet, and Lynn Dickie felt there was no question once Daxx fills out his body he will be a quarterback to watch. Garman also proved to be advanced in the classroom.

Anthony Abenoja (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley) showed excellent poise and has a great build and frame to be considered a division one quarterback. Primarily working out of shotgun, Abenoja made excellent strides with his drops and threw with great arm strength. Several schools should keep an eye on him this fall.

Lucas Hart (Marshall, MO/Marshall) had the biggest frame of the quarterbacks in attendance standing at six-foot-four, and may have made the biggest strides of any quarterback in attendance. Still a work in progress, Hart could give himself a chance to earn a scholarship at a D1 or D1-AA program this fall.

Nathan Wilson (Kansas City, MO/Park Hill) continues to make progress, and continues to fill out. Wilson was in attendance at our Chicago academy in May, and looked more physically mature in Kansas City. Coach Terry Shea felt he had the skill set to fit into any offense. Nathan will be one to watch in the Class of 2011.

Keaton Lewis (Wichita, KS/Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic) was in attendance at our Atlanta academy in March and has made great strides since that time. In Kansas City, Lewis displayed much better accuracy knowing where to place the ball. Lewis is one to watch in the Class of 2011, along with fellow Wichita quarterback Sam Dunne (Independent School) who had great touch on his ball, Ayrton Scott (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) who had great zip and was able to throw the ball downfield, and Connor Sapp (Ashland, NE/Greenwood) who is a southpaw at the position with a good frame and arm strength. All are quarterbacks to keep an eye on.

Kelvin Brandt (Omaha, NE/Creighton Prep) and Austin Billingsley (Mound City, KS/Jayhawk-Linn) are both Class of 2010 quarterbacks that lack division one size, but proved to have great dedication to playing the quarterback position and made improvement throughout the weekend. We look forward to tracking their progress during their senior seasons.

Youth quarterbacks in attendance were as strong in both ability and coach-ability as any academy we’ve held in 2009. Particularly, there was a very strong group of freshman-to-be (Class of 2013) quarterbacks: Parker Davis (Dodge City, KS), Alec Winsor (Olathe, KS), Holdyn Halperin (Olathe, KS), David Cornwell (Omaha, NE), and DeAntay Hightower (Independence, MO). If these young men remain dedicated to the position and the commitment required to develop and succeed, we’ll be talking about them again down the road.

Other youth quarterbacks that showed promise for the future included: Alec Ditoro (Omaha, NE), Tristan Threatt (Lee’s Summit, MO), Nicholas Duncan (Springfield, MO), Trevor Luther (Creston, IA), Jacob Kaiser (St. Joseph, MO), Kohl Hollinquest (Lee’s Summit, MO), and Jacob Hess (St. Joseph, MO).

WIDE RECEIVERS

Chase Salazar (Lee’s Summit, MO/North) received time at defensive end, in addition, to wide receiver. He proved to be a better athlete at wide receiver and has excellent size at six-foot-four, 215-pounds. May not have the frame to be a defensive end, but could move inside to tight end. Versatile athlete that deserves D1 looks.

TJ White (Kansas City, KS/Archbishop O’Hara) plays quarterback for his varsity squad but trained with Jon Embree and Paul Coffman at our Kansas City academy where certain schools have projected him at the collegiate level. White proved to be a fluid athlete that had good hands with the ability to go out and snag the ball. A division one athlete looking for a position; do not rule out quarterback; nor should you rule out defensive back. He is a Class of 2010 prospect to watch.

Quenton James (Sioux City, IA/East) is a Class of 2011 prospect to monitor. Good size and route runner. Has strong hands and can go up and get the ball in traffic. Can still become a more explosive force, but has tools to work with at the position.

Cory Palmer (Wichita, KS/Independent) and Daniel Poynter (Wichita, KS/Independent) both worked very hard throughout the weekend and made noticeable strides in route runnings and catching with their hands. They will be key targets for Sam Dunne.

Kindred Williams (Kansas City, MO/Sumner Academy) is a freshman-to-be that appears to have a good growth potential and displayed some natural ability at the position. He will need to continue to put in the necessary work in order to maximize his ability.

Shacquille Cook (Wichita, KS/Northwest) had great dedication for the position, and improved through the weekend but will need to continue to concentrate and finish off plays.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

Tyler Ewy (Louisburg, KS/Louisburg) is a Class of 2011 that left many of the coaches on-hand excited with his future potential. Already a stout six-foot-two, 260-pounds, Ewy had exceptional footwork and the ability to bend his knees. Ewy really impressed coaches Paul Coffman and Ricky Siglar with his where-with-all and balance to engage at the point of attack. He has a chance to develop into a highly recruited lineman by the end of next fall.

Cole Heissel (LeMars, IA/Gehlen Catholic) had the best growth potential of the lineman in attendance with an impressive frame at six-foot-six, 240-pounds with the frame to get even bigger. Heissel showed good overall athleticism and was able to naturally move his feet. He held up strong at the point of attack. He’s still a work-in-progress, but certainly should be on the radar for many D1 schools.

Liam Murray (Brewster, NH/Hebron Academy) is a big lineman at six-foot-six, 340-pounds that has an opportunity to develop into a solid lineman at a lower level school but has to improve his overall conditioning and flexibility. A personable young man with strong work ethic; Murray is a prospect for D1-AA and D2 schools to monitor.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Matthew Knott (Shawnee Heights, KS/Shawnee Heights) showed the most marked improvement of perhaps any athlete in attendance over the weekend. I saw Knott get coached up by Jon Embree to a point he became un-block able and dominated. Knott has a great frame at six-foot-five, 230-pounds and competes with great intensity and a high motor. Coach Embree coached Knott to properly apply leverage and use his hands to a point he began looking more like a mid-to-high major D1 prospect.

Taylor Wallace (Kansas City, KS/F.L. Schlagle) is a big body with good overall athleticism and agility. Wallace holds strong at the point of the attack, and has long arms to effectively engage opposing lineman. With a frame to get bigger, do not rule out Wallace anywhere along the defensive line OR offensive line.

Tyler Keller (Wichita, KS/Northwest) and Zach Joseph (Omaha, NE/Millard West) are both Class of 2012 lineman that worked hard and look to make bigger contributions to their respective teams.

LINEBACKER

Christian Hoffman (Webb City, MO/Webb City) is a prospect to watch in the Class of 2011. Hoffman has a good frame at six-foot-two, 205-pounds and should be able to effectively put on 20 to 25 pounds. Hoffman impressed Coach Mickey Joseph with his ability to play in the flat, as well, as the ability to put his hand down and rush the passer off the edge. Coach Joseph felt Hoffman had good football speed.

Jake Long (Kansas City, MO/Rockhurst) plays defensive lineman for head coach Tony Severino but trained as a linebacker at the academy where he projects at the next level. More likely suited for a lower level school, Long plays with a great understanding and effort. He was a joy for the coaches to work with.

Ibrahim Ramsey (Kansas City, MO/Lincoln College Prep) is a stout defender that made strides and displayed good overall ability, but will have to continue to play with maximum effort on every down. Ramsey is a Class of 2011 prospect.

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