BeeDee
05-16-2005, 09:06 PM
Bringing this over from Rivals.
Nike Camp visitors leave impressed
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James Bryant
Recruiting Analyst
Some college coaches are complaining that schools that are selected to host camps, such as the Nike Camp in Oxford Sunday, receive a recruiting boost due to being able to showcase the school to visiting prospects.
Grant Gannon
Prospects were impressed with facilities, as were other visitors.
Judging from the reaction of several Ole Miss Nike Camp attendees Sunday, not only did Ole Miss receive a boost in recruiting, but also the camp went a long way in showcasing not only the football facilities but the entire campus and university.
Several Rivals.com executives made their first visit ever to Oxford and were left impressed with the campus and especially the facilities.
"Absolutely awesome - unbelievable," were the words of one Rivals.com executive used to describe the indoor practice facility.
Although the Ole Miss Nike Camp was smaller in terms of the number of attendees, another Rivals.com employee was quick to point out that he preferred the Ole Miss camp over the camp in Athens.
"Georgia had almost 500 attendees, but the prospects benefit here from having a smaller camp," he said. "For example, the quarterbacks here probably received twice as many repetitions here as they would have received had they attended in Georgia.
"These facilities are the best of any schools we have been at this spring," said one Nike camp instructor.
"No wonder Ole Miss is getting the attention they are getting on a national level in recruiting," said O.P. Walker Head Coach Terry Wilson. "The Rebels shouldn't lose out on any athlete they want with these kind of facilities."
"I love the facilities, I love Oxford and I love the energy and enthusiasm of the new coaching staff," said Ole Miss commitment Kendrick Lewis of O.P Walker. "That's why I'm committed to Ole Miss."
According to Jonathan Hollins, one reason he has changed his favorite to Ole Miss Sunday is because of the Rebels first class facilities and the way the Rebel coaching staff is recruiting him.
"Everything is brand new, great facilities, I really like them a lot, it's a really big and pretty place," said Hollins.
Jared Mitchell, an athlete from Westgate H.S. near New Iberia, La. was one athlete that impressed Rivals.com officials with his talents at wide receiver.
At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Mitchell looked the part and displayed the part during the one on one drills.
"I really like it here at Ole Miss, a very nice place, nice atmosphere and state of the art facilities," said Mitchell.
Many Ole Miss fans wondered if it was worth while having the Nike Camp in Oxford on Sunday since college coaches couldn't evaluate talent due to a NCAA rules.
Some thought that schools having camps on Saturdays had a distinct advantage over Ole Miss. That was not the case, as many came away from the Ole Miss Nike Camp truly impressed, leaving little doubt that the Nike Camp was certainly worthwhile.
Meanwhile, don't look for Nike Camps to go away according to Rivals.com officials.
"I don't see (the NCAA) banning these types of camps," Rivals.com general manager Bobby Burton said. "They are too useful to the athletes. They really are beneficial to the athletes."
Burton pointed out that camps are likely to be rotated among schools in the future.
Nike Camp visitors leave impressed
------------------------------------------------------------------------ --
James Bryant
Recruiting Analyst
Some college coaches are complaining that schools that are selected to host camps, such as the Nike Camp in Oxford Sunday, receive a recruiting boost due to being able to showcase the school to visiting prospects.
Grant Gannon
Prospects were impressed with facilities, as were other visitors.
Judging from the reaction of several Ole Miss Nike Camp attendees Sunday, not only did Ole Miss receive a boost in recruiting, but also the camp went a long way in showcasing not only the football facilities but the entire campus and university.
Several Rivals.com executives made their first visit ever to Oxford and were left impressed with the campus and especially the facilities.
"Absolutely awesome - unbelievable," were the words of one Rivals.com executive used to describe the indoor practice facility.
Although the Ole Miss Nike Camp was smaller in terms of the number of attendees, another Rivals.com employee was quick to point out that he preferred the Ole Miss camp over the camp in Athens.
"Georgia had almost 500 attendees, but the prospects benefit here from having a smaller camp," he said. "For example, the quarterbacks here probably received twice as many repetitions here as they would have received had they attended in Georgia.
"These facilities are the best of any schools we have been at this spring," said one Nike camp instructor.
"No wonder Ole Miss is getting the attention they are getting on a national level in recruiting," said O.P. Walker Head Coach Terry Wilson. "The Rebels shouldn't lose out on any athlete they want with these kind of facilities."
"I love the facilities, I love Oxford and I love the energy and enthusiasm of the new coaching staff," said Ole Miss commitment Kendrick Lewis of O.P Walker. "That's why I'm committed to Ole Miss."
According to Jonathan Hollins, one reason he has changed his favorite to Ole Miss Sunday is because of the Rebels first class facilities and the way the Rebel coaching staff is recruiting him.
"Everything is brand new, great facilities, I really like them a lot, it's a really big and pretty place," said Hollins.
Jared Mitchell, an athlete from Westgate H.S. near New Iberia, La. was one athlete that impressed Rivals.com officials with his talents at wide receiver.
At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Mitchell looked the part and displayed the part during the one on one drills.
"I really like it here at Ole Miss, a very nice place, nice atmosphere and state of the art facilities," said Mitchell.
Many Ole Miss fans wondered if it was worth while having the Nike Camp in Oxford on Sunday since college coaches couldn't evaluate talent due to a NCAA rules.
Some thought that schools having camps on Saturdays had a distinct advantage over Ole Miss. That was not the case, as many came away from the Ole Miss Nike Camp truly impressed, leaving little doubt that the Nike Camp was certainly worthwhile.
Meanwhile, don't look for Nike Camps to go away according to Rivals.com officials.
"I don't see (the NCAA) banning these types of camps," Rivals.com general manager Bobby Burton said. "They are too useful to the athletes. They really are beneficial to the athletes."
Burton pointed out that camps are likely to be rotated among schools in the future.