Greater Lansing football players showcase talents at MHSAA, MHSFCA spring evaluation camp
DEWITT ― Jadon Bender still has another three full seasons of high school football ahead of him.
But the DeWitt freshman wanted to take advantage of an opportunity to be seen by college coaches Tuesday morning.
That's why Bender was among 230 kids who took to the turf at DeWitt High School to take part in a Michigan High School Athletic Association and Michigan High School Football Coaches Association spring evaluation camp. This is the inaugural year for the camp.
"This is big time," Bender said in between a defensive backs drill. "It's always been my dream to play college football so just to get some exposure as a freshman, it's nice. It feels good."
Players from as far as Traverse City, Bridgeport and Cheboygan to several from local programs like DeWitt, Everett, Sexton, Laingsburg, Lakewood, Lansing Catholic and Fowler were among those who took part in drills with position groups as college coaches roamed around and watched.
The event attracted 64 college coaches ranging from Division I to Division III to NAIA schools. Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Eastern Illinois, Northwood, Saginaw Valley, Siena Heights, Grand Valley and Calvin were among the many schools represented.
"It was really good because I had 10 coaches walk up to me today, which was pretty nice," Fowler junior lineman Evan Curtiss said. "It was a good time to get exposure during the summer."
Everett's Sincere Wright believes he's made strides since the season ended last fall and made it a mission to show that growth. Tuesday marked the first camp he has attended.
"I feel like this can help a lot because a lot of coaches are out here (and can) see me," Wright said. "If I compete at a high level I think I can get noticed some more."
Several area football coaches helped make the event happen, running different position groups through drills. Laingsburg, St. Johns, DeWitt, Williamston, Okemos, East Lansing, Grand Ledge, Charlotte and Sexton had coaches assisting.
DeWitt coach Rob Zimmerman was glad to play a role in the event and helping to provide a spotlight on talent from Greater Lansing.
"It's inexpensive for kids and I think that's a huge part of this," Zimmerman said. "You have a lot of private businesses that make a lot of money off kids with recruiting and this is $20 for a kid that covers a shirt and that's it. There's not a penny that's made off it. Everybody that's involved is there just to try to help kids. For our area, that's a great thing because we haven't had many events like this in the Lansing area.
DeWitt is among a handful of sites across the state to host evaluation camps this week. Jenison and Jackson have also had camps and Brighton and Farmington will also host events.
"I hope it's exactly what you see," said MHSAA director Brad Bush of the camps going forward. "I just hope it provides another opportunity for our high school kids to be able to be seen by college coaches and it's a good way for us as the MHSAA to provide opportunities. Basketball has a very similar situation. The difference in basketball is you can't probably see as many kids.
"Basketball at the MHSAA with the Reaching Higher program has been around for a quite a while. It's very similar to what we're trying to provide (with football)."
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_ calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: High school football: Players get seen at spring evaluation camp
