A week ago we had the rare and amazing privilege of spending three days inside the Nation's #1 football camp for linemen. That camp is now behind us but there can be no doubt that the kids that made it out to Trench Camp at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon will never forget the experience.
With Coaches like Stan Brock, Gary Zimmerman, Neil Elshire, and Steve Emtman leading the way the 70 kids who made it out got a 3 day dose of NFL Kick Ass technique. These boys not only leaned the finer point of the offense and defense line but they were given a virtual treasure chest of "Pearls of Wisdom". There is no way to tell you what went down there. That we will reserve for a Video which will follow this write up.
Today it is time to reflect on the kids who rose as the best linemen at the camp in terms of those who worked the hardest, improved the most, and at the end of the day proved they can dominate in the trenches. Here are the kids that stood out the most to our staff.
Dylan Donohue; 6'1"-270 Pounds Lakewood High School: 2014
Camp C0-Champioo
Dylan came in an unknown on the recruiting circuits and left as a serious candidate for collegiate attention. He improved greatly during camp and showed that his balance and strength put him in with the best linemen the Region has to offer.
With two years left and a great Coaching staff back home in Lakewood led by Coach Dan Teeter Dylan showed he is one to watch.
By the end of Camp he was Co Champion and proved to be unstoppable at the end of the day.
His pad level and strong get off stood at as skills he excels at.
Connor Humphreys- 6'3.5"-245 Pounds Central Catholic : Class of 2014
Camp C0-Champion
Humphreys is the #1 Defensive Linemen in the Class of 2014 in this Region. Mark my words.
Powerful, angular, explosive, aggressive, and a leader. All things that stand out. He is a dominating defensive end and anyone that catches Central Catholic play in the opener against Skyview is going to see that.
Portland State and Wyoming have offered him and once some film gets out there this season most of the Pac 12 will come running in. The kid is just that good. Not only was he dominating on the defensive side of the ball he showed that the offensive line is something he does very well too. Watch for this kid to be on the All American Watch list in the coming years.
Justin Outslay- 6'4.5" 280 pounds Salem Academy – 2013
Camp Co-Champion
Justin came in as a known entity and left even more so. Highly Coachable kid who has a 4.0 to go with his motor. In this frame he is svelte. There is no doubt that this young man has all the pieces you want in a big time linemen.
He is a good defensive linemen but really looks to be a kid that is meant to play the guard or even the Center spot at the highest levels. Playing for a small school like Salem Academy has made his road to college tougher. But a host of Pac 12 and other schools are circling and waiting for film.
He gained valuable skills at the camp and showed a nasty edge on the field, the ability to remain unshaken by mistakes, and a laser focus on the learning aspects. The only question right now is who will be first to offer him?
Bennett Muasau 5'10"- 290 Pounds Mountainview (Vancouver) 2013
Call him "Moose", the "Beast from the East", or "Swamp Thing" as one coach named him… this kid is amazing. There is not a better technician in the Pacific Northwest. And with that massive frame and skill set this young man simply can not be moved.
If he is coming at you your toast. Period. The most power and lowest pad level we have seen in a long time. Bennett is an excellent student, a terrific team mate, and a nonstop competitor.
His height may prevent him from playing at the highest levels but this young man will be a college football player and lead whichever team gets him to many many wins and represent himself in the best way always.
Alex Sirois 6'5"-305 Pounds Century High School 2013
Alex is a known talent. He came in with an offer from North Dakota in hand which places him in the Big Sky and left with an arsenal of skills to add to his already obvious athletic ability and talent.
Alex is growing still and is just starting to fill out. into a lean and lanky frame. His proportions are massive and he no doubt will be a 315 pound kid when his collegiate career really takes off.
He loves to pancake kids and has a high ceiling. We believe he is capable of playing with the best at the highest levels but can play early and lead any team in the Big Sky. Scholar kid as well who is superb in the classroom
Marqueese Royster 6'-235 – Lakeridge 2013
Royster has reinvented himself by dropping about 40 pounds as the 2013 season approaches. He gained major props at every camp and clinic is the Northwest and was a part of the USA National Team back East this Summer.
His technique off that Defensive Line spot was "special" . He was hard to stop and is so quick off the ball that he won 90% of his battles.
It is hard to imagine a kid who believes in himself more then Royster. If he was told he could not walk through a concrete wall there is little doubt he would prove that point wrong. He is tapped into an energy at another level and that and his obvious size make him a kid who is set to wreak havoc this season as he debuts at Lakeridge.
Jakob May 6'5"-275 Pounds Lebanon HS 2013
Jakob was a lot of fun to watch. He came in a lesser known kid and improved 200% in terms of the techniques needed to succeed.
He was a hard working camper who quietly worked his but off and made it tough on anyone who wanted a piece of him.
He is athletic and not heavy in that frame. His footwork was above average and he showed that he will be able to move on and have a terrific year at Lebanon which is a rising program and no doubt this big man is a big part of their success in 2012 and in this season as well.
Keaton Scavone- 6'2"-255 Pounds- Lebanon 2013
Keaton joins his team mate May as a kid we appreciated seeing at the Trench Camp. Another talented kid who is going to be a Senior leader for his team
He has a terrific motor and loves to battle. His pad level and strong upper body made him tough to compete with and he certainly is a guy who can go on and compete at the next level.
He was looking to learn and improve and did all of that. This was the sort of kid that needs to come to these camps. By improving and being taught by the coaches and our staff seeing him he took a leap as an athlete on several fronts. We loved this kid and his effort.
Tyler Deskins 6'5"-280 Pounds Kentlake 2013
Tyler is a top recruit for the Kent Valley this season and will lead his team as a Senior Linemen. He is being recruited by several schools and came into trench camp as a kid who has proven himself.
Another super smart and articulate kid in this bunch Deskins loves to battle and is seen here splitting a double team.
While he looks good along the defensive line he has a good body and demeanor at the Offensive side. That is probably where he will end up in college.
His skill improved and he was indeed a top kid at Trench Camp!
Zach Kraus 6'3"-285 pounds Canby
Zach is a terrific blocker and has above average footwork. He is a hard nosed kid who excels at run blocking and sure did improve his pass sets in the camp.
Canby is always tough to play with that Wing-T and this guys is going to be an All Area candidate on both sides of the ball.
Look for Zach to continue his skill set and be a leader for the Cougars this season.
Ryan Osterlund- 6'2"-260 Pounds – Wenatchee 2013
Wenatchee has a football team that is on the rise. And this young man is a big reason why. He came into camp the day after finishing a team camp where he went 5 days and played all week both ways in pads.
And he did not miss a beat. He has terrific feet, great hands, and is strong as well.
Moreover he does not like to loose. And he is going to give you all he has every down. His attitude was terrific and he is the sort of kid teams not only need but who become the essential elements needed to win League and State Championships. Great kid indeed.
Joe Pagh 6'4.5"-265 Pounds Madison High School 2014
Joe was a newcomer to our radar screen and we were really impressed by this kid and his team mates from Madison who made it to the Trench Camp. He was fighting a bad shoulder but showed he can man up and battle with the best of them.He rose a ton in terms of technique and plans to be back next season.
Joe has the size and the feet to be a very very good offensive line prospect. As he grows and people become more aware of him as a student athlete he can be in the recruiting discussion for sure.
Right now his skills from TrenchCamp should lead him into 2013 a top linemen.
Nick Sieber 6-8"-270 Pounds Wilson 2013
Most Improved Camper-
Nick was hurt at the close of Day 2 at Trench Camp but this massive kid was miles ahead of where he came in at by that point. He is so tall and has such long arms that he can be very good when the mechanics all fall into place.
He is a rising Senior and should be a PIL Linemen of note. We enjoyed meeting him and watching he and his team mates compete at camp all week.
John Stroebel 6'3"-315 Pounds McNary
Big John was basically the immovable object at Camp. He is going to be a very solid linemen up front on both sides of the call for McNary.
His size is a real advantage and he has a toughness as well. He hustles and takes no plays off that we saw.
As his Season unfolds we look for some improved speed and agility as well as the weight room to make this young man a contender for All League status. There is no doubt he will dominate a majority of his reps this year and he has a great camp at Trench Camp as well.
Matt Wernet 6'2"-235 Pounds Decatur 2014
Matt is going to be someone to deal with this season. This kid has one speed and that in fast.
He is athletic and has a naturally big frame. His genetics are going to make him big and that speed and agility is going one place. Up!
He won almost all his battles at Camp and if your anywhere near Decatur and looking for a rising stud kid you will not have to look any farther then this guy!
Isaiah Molden will be a returning linemen at West Linn and should really help that team under their new Coach Mike Fanger.
He is strong and has a very good skill set.
Isaiah displayed good balance, a low pad level, an above average get off, and that he is a good hand fighter.
His effort at trench-camp was notable and we look for him to be a leader for the Lions this season. A young man with a lot to offer any school.
Dakota Weir 6'2"-255 Pounds Auburn Mountainview 2014
Dakota was a terrific camper at Trench Camp.
Our overall assessment is that he has the total skill set needed to succeed as a top High School linemen and to have a chance to move on past there.
Dakota is quiet, tough, technical, and very tough nosed.
This is a young man we will be following into the future and one that certainly made his mark as one of the very top kids at the Trench Camp.
Beni Madrigal-Reis 5'11"-220 Pounds Arlington (WA) Freshmen
Under Class Men Stand Out
Beni is a young man on the rise. He showed terrific determination and coachability. Arlington has a good talent in this young man.
He hustled whistle to whistle and while it is not easy to see where his size will end up there is no doubt that his technical and athletic skills put him in a group of young men who can go on to succeed at the High School Level.
Massen Newton 5'9"-220 Pounds Lakeridge High Freshmen
CAMP MVP Underclassmen
Massen is the second cousin of Marqueese Royster. In the many years we have been covering HIgh School Linemen we have not seen a kid at this age this skilled.
Massen is explosive and he literally gave almost every linemen in camp all they wanted and then some. Looking at some of the physical mis matches he faced this incoming freshmen showed speed off the ball, the ability to stay low to the ground, and a motor you would have to see to believe.
Hard to say where he plays at Lakeridge but he is a force for the future.
Kalob Rahn – All Camp Award Kelso High School
Overall Camp MVP
This is the award for the one kid who stood out above all as the best of the best pound for pound linemen.
Kalob is about 5'10"- 185 pounds and for the most part was someone that nobody could block nor who anyone wanted to block.
He could be an All League and All State Tackle/Nose Guard. The kid is so fast and so tough that even the big boys oft he camp did not want a piece. If you bottle up Kalob Rahn you have something very very special.
He left his mark on the TrenchCamp in a way that was very memorable.
Here is a list of just a few others of the many kids that stood out at the Trench Camp:
- Dylan Wilcox- Madison High School Portland
- Bobbie Powers- Wilson High School
- Spencer Still- Jesuit High School
- Wyatt Brown- Astoria High School
- Chris Feskens- North Salem High School
- Christian Schweitzer- Thurston High School
- Kaden Prosser- Tumwater High School
- Garrett Owen-Thurston High School
- Steven Barfield- Illinois Valley High School
This is a camp any linemen Grades 8-12 should attend next year. It really was an amazing camp and we thank Coach Stan Brock at Football Camps of America for having us be such a big part of TrenchCamp this season.
The information is available at TrenchCamp.com.
