Busy Weekend - Blacksburg to Huntington, WV
We had a busy weekend, but very rewarding.
Friday we had our middle school camp from 3:30 to 5:30, we have some very good talent in that group and some very good QB prospects. Our middle school program is working on their third straight undefeated season and it looks like if they put the work in the summer, like the last two groups have done, it could very well happen again.
Following the camp Me, senior QB Chris Hall, junior WR Drakar Harvell, Marvin Harvell (Drakar’s Father), DE Corey Marshall and I headed off to Blacksburg for Virginia Tech’s 1 day prospect camp.
These one day camps have become very important for those inbetween players without offers to go to, especially in the state of Virginia where there are very little opportunity for players to be seen because of no spring practice and NCAA regulations. Five years ago the Nike camps and the combines were the way to go but now they will not let college coaches attend these so the one days are the way to go, unless you already have the offers you are looking for.
We get to Lane Stadium the next day. Chris and Corey get a chance to talk with all the coaches, there were around 100 participants in the camp and there were several colleges there other than Virgina Tech. JMU, ODU, Richmond, and William and Mary were there as well.
They tested the players in the vertical, pro shuttle, 40, and got their height and weight. Then they went thru a period of offensive drills, defensive drills, finishing up with 1 on 1s.
They put Chris through it, testing him physically and mentally. Chris worked out at TE at Virginia Tech because thats what they are recruiting him as, and he did tremendous especially since he hadn’t played it since his sophomore year.
At the end of they day, they called Chris over and offered him a scholarship. Being a life-long fan, it was a dream come true for Chris. Turned out it was the only offer they extended that day.
Following the camp we hit the road again headed up Route 460 to Hunnington, WV for Marshall University’s camp the next day. Marshall is real excited with new coach Doc Holliday and the staff he has put together. Coach Petersen has returned to Marshall with Coach Holliday to coach QBs and serve as Assistant Head Coach. Coach Petersen was at Marshall back in their hey day in the late 90’s and early 2000s. He coached a couple of pretty good QBs during that time Chad Pennington (Miami Dolphins) and Byron Leftwitch (Pittsburg Steelers).
Coach Holliday is bringing the Florida style of offense to Marshall and said that Chris at 6′5″ 230 fits the mold of the type of QB they are going to recruit at Marshall. My goal for Chris was to have a choice and I was excited to hear that they were going to recruit Chris at QB. Chris ran well 4.52 and 4.64 in his two 40’s so he passed that test, and the rest was in the drills. Chris had a great day, as did his junior receiver Drakar Harvell. Drakar was making big time plays in the 1 on 1’s and looked excellent in the drills. I think WR coach Zach Smith who came from Florida was impressed with Drakar and this could be good for him next year when offers come out for him. I felt like Chris would get an offer based on the day he had there, and the next day we found out that he would be offered.
Thanks again to Ms. Marshall who allowed us to use her van for the trip, without her we would not be able to make these trips, and without these trips opportunities would not happen.
