Region football players show off at Prep Redzone showcase camp

Dec. 13—Editor's note: This story was corrected to say Joe Kramlich is from Kulm.

JAMESTOWN — Almost 100 kids from around the region were able to show off their talents to coaches at multiple different colleges and universities on Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Nelson Family Bubble on the campus of the University of Jamestown.

The Stock Up Showcase Tour event was organized by Prep Redzone, a website that scouts high school football players around the country and sends their information to coaches, including the University of Jamestown football coaches. Coaches from Minot State University and the University of Mary coaches also attended the event.

"I love it because it gives the kids an opportunity to see where they're at against other kids competitively," said James Kerwin, Prep Redzone on-site manager. "It gives them an opportunity to have coaches get eyes on them. It's also a great opportunity for the coaches to see the talent that is maybe outside their region or outside the state."

Kerwin said the organization chose to have the event in Jamestown because of it's proximity to other major talent hubs.

"I think that Jamestown represents an area where people can congregate from other parts from North Dakota and other parts of the country," Kerwin said. "It's a middle area that can recruit some of the best athletes to come and showcase their skills compared to driving somewhere else that's six or seven hours out of the region. The facilities here are remarkable, the dome is great, the coaching staff here at Jamestown is super inviting and skillful."

During the event, the players were put through various drills including the 40-yard dash, the broad jump and multiple position-specific drills.

Kerwin said the company was going to take all of the athletes' statistics from the drills and send them to the players and any interested coaches.

"What this is for the kids is for them to get an evaluation of where they're at from a skill standpoint and a metrics standpoint and then also it gives the coaches the opportunity to see these kids perform in this situation," Kerwin said.

Out of the 85 athletes who attended, there was only one local kid, Edgeley/Kulm-Montpelier's Joseph Kramlich. Kramlich said he signed up for the camp for free and took it as an opportunity to play football.

"It's been pretty good," Kramlich said. "My times are really good right now except for one. I had a 4.7 (seconds) in my 40 (yard dash), but otherwise it was alright."

For the second consecutive year, Kramlich was named the MVP for the defensive backs at the event.

"It's kind of fun (to compete against others) because I usually got better times than most, so it's pretty fun to look at," Kramlich said.

While he was being coached by some of the members of the Jimmies staff, Kramlich said he was using the opportunity to show his skills to coaches.

"I guess whoever wants to see it," Kramlich said. "I'm showing off for anyone that's watching."

One of those coaches was Jimmies head coach Brian Mistro who helped the defensive backs. Mistro said he enjoyed watching multiple players, including Kramlich who is from Kulm.

One of the other defensive backs at the camp was Quincy Stevens who also plays as a wide receiver from Platte, South Dakota.

"I tested pretty good with the drills," Stevens said. "I feel like I'm doing pretty good with my positions."

Despite being weeks removed from football season, Stevens said he worked to stay in shape so he could perform at the camp.

"My town doesn't really have a facility that's indoors so I've been lifting and running and stuff like that in the gym," Stevens said.

Stevens said he enjoyed getting to know his fellow players at the camp.

"I think it's pretty cool," Stevens said. "I'm a pretty friendly person, I like to make new friends. I think it's pretty cool that we have all these people here that are trying to compete for a spot, trying to do stuff, trying to go places."

Another player was John Eagle, a running back from McLaughlin, South Dakota, who got invited to the camp and wanted to attend to put a good day on film for coaches to see.

"Trying to get a couple offers, maybe some interest," Eagle said.