Wide receiver Jahmel Mackey, from Kings Fork High School (Virginia), catches a pass as the Marshall University football team hosts a one-day recruiting camp inside the Chris Cline Athletics Complex on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Ironton High School quarterback Kayden Edwards (22) runs through a drill as the Marshall University football team host a one day recruiting camp inside the Chris Cline Athletics Complex. Edwards holds offers from Marshall, App State, Bowling Green and WVU.
Wide receiver Jahmel Mackey, from Kings Fork High School (Virginia), catches a pass as the Marshall University football team hosts a one-day recruiting camp inside the Chris Cline Athletics Complex on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Ironton High School quarterback Kayden Edwards (22) runs through a drill as the Marshall University football team host a one day recruiting camp inside the Chris Cline Athletics Complex. Edwards holds offers from Marshall, App State, Bowling Green and WVU.
HUNTINGTON òòò½ÊÓƵ” More than 200 college football hopefuls packed into the Chris Cline Athletics Complex at Marshall University on Sunday afternoon for the third and final summer camp hosted and run by Thundering Herd staff.
The turnouts, Marshall coach Charles Huff said, have been lower than previous years, but Sundayòòò½ÊÓƵ™s was the largest of the summer, with 217 high school prospects attending. More than half of them were from West Virginia, Ohio or Kentucky.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI think thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s just a changing of the guard with where college football is,òòò½ÊÓƵ Huff said. òòò½ÊÓƵœKids are realizing they have limited chances to get into some of these college spots, so they are being very direct about what camps they are going to, what kind of feedback they are getting, the whole nine yards.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Players came from 16 states, including West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, Maryland, Alabama, Indiana and Georgia.
A slew of local players were among the participants. Huntington, Cabell Midland, Spring Valley, Ironton (Ohio), Fairland (Ohio), Chesapeake (Ohio), Ashland (Kentucky) and Boyd County (Kentucky) were all represented.
òòò½ÊÓƵœKids are being more intentional about camp and itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s not just, òòò½ÊÓƵ˜Hey, Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m going to Marshallòòò½ÊÓƵ™s camp, or this schoolòòò½ÊÓƵ™s camp,òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ Huff said. òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s more about, do they have a legitimate chance to play at Marshall? So our numbers have been slightly lower, but the quality of talent has been higher.òòò½ÊÓƵ
He said thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a nationwide trend, and saw it firsthand when he and other coaches spent time at 11 other team camps in addition to the three they hosted.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIt gives us a chance to cast the net a little bit wider and put live eyes on more guys, ultimately for us to be able to make better decisions in the end,òòò½ÊÓƵ Huff said.
òòò½ÊÓƵœYouòòò½ÊÓƵ™re looking at other schools and their numbers are similar, where maybe they had 300 last year and they have 150, maybe 175 this year,òòò½ÊÓƵ the Herdòòò½ÊÓƵ™s coach continued. òòò½ÊÓƵœAgain, itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s an intentional mindset, and it helps, because kids can make a decision if they are interested in Marshall but know weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to be at X, Y or Z camp.òòò½ÊÓƵ
With camp season behind them, many of Huffòòò½ÊÓƵ™s assistant coaches will take some time off before turning their attention to preparation for the season, which begins Aug. 31.
But Huff is sticking around.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWeòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve never really turned it off. We got 15 new guys that came in a month ago and weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re trying to get them acclimated,òòò½ÊÓƵ Huff said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThe coaches will go on vacation. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m going to opt out of vacation this year, just to try and stay around these guys a little bit longer.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Luke Creasy is a reporter for The Herald-Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @LukeCreasy or reach him by phone at 304-526-2800.
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