BCP’s final camp before Xecutives on June 28th gave us plenty of talking points. The amount of registrants from the classes of 2017 and younger was nearly 100 prospects, but that didn’t stop the upperclassmen from doing their thing. The young bucks did provide us with a glimpse into the not-so-distant future and the big fellas in the trenches were wrecking shop as usual. It might have been a home game for Pasco County’s prospects, but Hillsborough came and showed us what was what for the time being. Plenty of coaches got to see kids they wouldn’t ordinarily get to see and that’s always fun to witness while one thing can be said for certain; this year’s Xecutives should be as good as it gets. Here now are those six points further explained.
“Nah lil’ man, you gotta wait.” -The Class of 2016
Although much was made about the significant youth movement on the roster this event, it was the now-crowned “BMOC’s” that took eight of the nine spots available for MVP honors. Sure, there was no shortage of impressive talent from those lower class, but the seniors showed the one thing that was impossible for those younger fellas to achieve at this point: experience and consistency. At times it looked like you could pick any one of the three or four of the ’17’s at any one of those position groups for MVP’s, but in the end it was the guys you most-wanted to show they’re ready to be leaders when the chin straps get buckled and the lights come on this fall. The time will surely come for many of those ’17’s and ’18’s and even beyond, just not now.
“Yeah, whatever old man. We’ll see about that.” -The Class of 2017-19
First, it should be noted that yes….we are in fact mentioning some members of the classes of ’18 and ’19, but with cautious optimism of course. It’s now time for the ’17’s to start playing and executing like they’re the second in command or ready to step up if they’re asked to be starters now, but we can’t help but literally pray that these “babies” stay healthy and eligible throughout their careers until it’s time to truly pull back the curtains. It’s a risky proposition trying to plot the next four to five minutes…much less years, but by golly wait until you get a load of what’s in store for this region. Get some shades and some sunscreen. It’s gonna be bright.
“Man, y’all have NO chill…” -The Earth below
It’s starting to become a thing. The offensive and defensive lineman attending these camps are getting bigger, faster, stronger…and downright meaner. The hardest spots to judge by far on Sunday were these position groups since the depth and size was just so…big. It really doesn’t matter what county, what school or what position along each line in the trenches that are represented at these events. These boys are providing great theatre and some pretty good examples of why you still need these “big uglies” more than just about anything else at this level. Big props to all y’all, big fellas.
They repped their home turf well, BUT…
Make no mistake about it there were plenty of guys doing big things from Pasco on Sunday. However it was Hillsborough bringing home six of the nine awards on the day. That wasn’t the only story as prospects from Crystal River, Hardee, Hernando and Lakewood Ranch definitely showed out. Seminole and Clearwater both had players doing big time work out of Pinellas, but the usual suspects from schools like Sunlake, Wiregrass, ZCA, Wesley Chapel, Ridgewood and even River Ridge gave the folks and staff what they wanted to see. For those scoring at home, the Xecutives invites by county stand like this:
Hillsborough -50
Polk -17
Pinellas -16
Pasco -11
Manatee -2
Hernando -1
Volusia -1
The more you know…
One of THE BEST parts of the camps is seeing coaches actually get to coach without the million other stressors that go into the prep for a game. One of the other things is getting to see the reactions to coaches seeing prospects they’d otherwise have no clue existed or just realized they’ve noticed a baller that happens to be on their schedule this fall. Either way, the shrinking of the football universe is always a win-win in instances like Sunday. Countless coaches (more than recalled in recent memory) were buzzing about the potential of prospects and their willingness to compete. The interaction and knowledge base these guys bring to the fold along with tireless energy MUST be commended along with the appreciation acknowledged when you see them go to work with these young men. It never gets old.
THREEEEEE WEEEEEKS….
So the qualifying camps for Xecutives have now come-and-gone, but that doesn’t mean the suspense for who fills out the final spots for the 28th will subside. We don’t know who’s going to finalize that list as of right this moment, but we can finalize the thought process that this might be one of the most explosive events in this series’ history. From top to bottom there will be tests at every position within the groups and the competition might get downright beyond-the-thunderdome insane when they show up to get after it on June 28th. Until then, keep it locked to the site for anything and everything associated with Sunday’s event and for Xecutives which will be here in no time.