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June 23, 2009

GMC Prep football players shine

Wesley Zant stars at Mike Hodges camp in Cochran, Matt Harrison turns heads at Georgia Southern camp

Special to The U-R

Last week GMC Prep sent 12 offensive linemen to the Mike Hodges Camp of Champions in Cochran. This elite level, working football camp included 11 two-hour plus practices and a competion over the course of five days. More than 500 offensive linemen were in attendance including representatives from such state powerhouses as Buford, Cairo, Peachtree Ridge, and Northside Warner Robins.

During the camp, several GMC players were selected as standout players from their groups and asked to participate in several competitions at the conclusion of camp. New GMC Offensive Line Coach Brett Marshall was pleased when evaluating the camp.

“Overall, I was very pleased with the work and effort that we got at the camp. The boys did a good job and learned a lot about how to be a football player. If I had to pick an MVP for the camp it would be first year sophomore Wesley Zant. He had a great camp and is going to be a solid football player,” said Marshall.

Zant, along with Kyle Tucker, D.J. Clayton, John Sanders, and Mack Brooks were singled out by the coaches at the camp and asked to participate in the individual competitions at the end of the camp.

While the linemen were working hard in Cochran, 11 of their teammates were working beside beautiful Eagle Creek on the campus of Georgia Southern at the Chris Hatcher Offensive and Defensive Skills Camp. The camp, run by Georgia Southern coaches and guest college and high school coaches from around the country, is designed to provide individual instruction for all skill positions and allow players to get work on both sides of the football.

“This camp is unique,” said GMC Head Coach Brad Owens. “Most camps specialize in just one position or one side of the ball. At this camp you can change positions every practice, and for a small school like us it is great since we have a lot of two-way players and players who may be counted on at more than one position. This provides our kids with a chance to get professional instruction at their secondary as well as primary positions.”

During the camp the Bulldogs also participated in a 7 on 7 passing tournament with the help of a borrowed quarterback from South Forsyth High School and posted the camps second best record at 5 and 2.

“We had a lot of fun in 7 on 7. The camp director asked me if we were going to participate and I told him that even though we had our back 7 on defense that we were leaving all of our wide receivers except for one and our two varsity Q.B.’s at home since they just got back from camp. He suggested loaning us a Q.B., and I figured why not. We needed the work on defense,” said Owens.

The decision to play turned out to be a good one — after a rough start the Bulldogs reeled off four wins in a row including the camp stunner on the last night of competition.

The last game of the last night GMC had to face an elite group of prospects brought in specially by the Georgia Southern coaching staff for a closer look.

The team, coached by the GSU staff and running their plays, came into the contest undefeated and very confident.

“Cocky would be the word I would use. They were really trying the whole camp to stand out and had gotten under the skin of a few of our players,” said Owens. “Whatever they said or did it must have backfired.”

The Bulldogs hammered the elite team 26 to 8 with most of the camp and coaching staff watching and cheering them on. During the game GMC’s Matt Harrison put on a show catching pass after pass and scoring several long touchdowns. He also caught the eye of the coaches.

“After that game GMC and Matt got a lot more respect. I had three different coaches approach me afterwards inquiring about Matt and asking for a highlight film and info,” said Owens. “Overall I thought this and all of our camps have gone very well. I’m just so glad that during these tough economic times we were able to financially help these kids thanks to the success of our auction and the help of our dedicated parents.”

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