On Sunday, nearly 250 football players will compete at the 4th Annual Indiana Winter Showcase at the SPARTA complex in Fishers, Indiana. Each year, the state is well represented with potential prospects eager for a shot at being noticed by scouts and college coaches. This year the event has attracted prospects from six states, coming as far as Wisconsin and Georgia. This event is not your regular camp or combine. With more emphasis on competition, the energy is at a high level throughout the building.
Camp Director Harvey Scruggs, believes this event serves as a spring board for a lot of Indiana recruits. “Each year we have guys without offers come in and compete very well, which in turn gives their a recruitment a much needed boost” said Scruggs. “Believe it or not, kids like Jovan Swann, Pompey Coleman, Markell Jones and Darin Kirkland have competed in this event with zero offers and very little buzz heading into the event”. Swann now at Stanford, was a under the radar prospect when we first saw him in action two years ago at this event. “Hardly anyone was talking about Swann, but through our partnership with Indiana Preps, we were able to see what probably only his high school coach knew, that this kid had a ton of potential” Scruggs said. “You go back through his recruitment, we were first on Swann”. Scruggs who is also a high school assistant varsity coach believes the camp alone isn’t responsible for kids earning offers. “We don’t pride ourselves on saying a kid received an offer because of our camp. The kid’s hard work and his high school coaches are the reasons why. Our event is to showcase that kid”.
Under the radar prospects are not the only players that compete in this event. In years past highly touted prospects like Hunter Johnson, Chris Evans and Markese Stepp have participated in the event. This year will be no different. There will be several players in the building holding multiple offers, but Scruggs insist that’s not particularly the camps focus. “A lot of camps build their roster with four-star kids, stalking kids with offers, to make their camp look good and to attract the media guys”. Scruggs believes the event itself will entice kids to compete. “We don’t chase kids. The kids with offers come to our event to compete and the kids without offers want to prove themselves”.
This year Scruggs says the camp will increase the exposure of all the athletes by using social media. A live stream via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram will give those at home, particularly college coaches an opportunity to checkout area talent in real-time. There will also be a replay available on the Preps 2 Prospects YouTube account.
The 2017 Indiana Winter Showcase is shaping up to be the best one yet.
CAMP ITINERARY
Session I – OL DL RB TE LB
8:00am – Check-in
9:00am – Showcase
11:30am – Conclusion
Session II – QB WR DB
11:00am – Check-in
12:00pm – Showcase
2:30pm – Conclusion
INDIANA PREPS SPORTS NETWORK 