Stories From the Road
Here you will find our Exclusive Series “Stories From The Road”.
In our never ending quest to cover the best of the Northwest we write a lot of stories. Every year we say good bye to another group of athletes and every year another crop rises. It is like the changing of the guard or Winter into Spring. This is our pattern and we love it.
Cameron McKernan of Kentridge High School is On His way
Every year we have a new group of parents and kids who have not had any previous knowledge about how this all works and so it is that we try and educate as well. That can be by listing the camps and combines worth attending or writing about how the process itself can work.
With that in mind we bring you the first of a multi-part series “Stories From the Road”. In this series we will follow the efforts of a few of the top football players in the Pacific Northwest as they make their best shot to get noticed and get on to school.
This may include a variety of topics but you will hear from them first-hand on what they are doing to make it from the humble hills and valleys of the Pacific Northwest to Saturdays on the NCAA Grid Iron.
In Part one of our series we catch up with the fastest and perhaps most physical of the big backs in the region; Cameron McKernan of Kentridge High School in Kent, Washington.
Cameron I am going to ask you a set of questions about your recent trip to California as well as a few other things. Please share with us your thoughts. They are as follows:
Dirk: Cameron… you have been to quite a few of these showcase and combine events haven’t you? What are they like? Do you have a favorite or one event that stands out?
Cameron: Yeah I’ve been to a few. I enjoyed the Comcast Competitive Edge combine May 30 2009 the most, the weather was great, and it was my first so I didn’t know really what to expect going into it. I was relaxed, and I think that helped me put up my numbers. The intensity and energy was the best so far that I have experienced. Obviously, it helps to have decent weather to get your best measurables. If you ask me they’re fun, you get to be around other guys of the game and showcase your talent.
Dirk: Tell us about the event you just went to in California…? What was it… How did you do… what was the competition like?
Cameron: That was the SF Underarmour combine and it was a bust. It got cancelled due to bad weather. It was raining buckets, cold and very windy. Guys actually got hypothermia so they had to cancel it. I did attend the Underarmour camp the day before and had fun. There was good talent (there always is in Cali) and the staff knew there business, that always helps. I worked at both receiver and running back. it was Too bad about the weather the second day, I don’t think I will be able to make it down to SF again for the rescheduled event.
Dirk: Do you think these events help?? I mean there is no coaches there so can it really help get your name out there? If so how?
Cameron: I think the combine events help validate your measurables for the coaches and it can help get you noticed by the coaches if you have strong measurables. It’s sort of like a double edged sword; You either post good numbers and help yourself, or post bad ones that can hurt. For me it helps put my name out there. I don’t have the huge stats most of the recruits do, with my injury last season and all, so I need to take the initiative in my recruiting process.
Dirk: Thanks for that great answer. Going forward into the Spring and Summer what are some other camps and clinics you plan to attend in the next 60-90 days?
Cameron: I got a lot I’m going to be doing this summer, which I’m pumped for. I love this game so the more I’m around he pigskin this summer the happier i’ll be.
May 1 Barton Marketing Combine Mercer Island High School
May 29 National Underclassmen Combine Seattle Franklin High
June 5 in Portland for the Nike Combine.
June 6 Nike Football Training Camp Corvallis
June 11 Oregon State Premier Performance Elite Half Day camp
June 12 Stanford Camp
June 13 Washington Skills Camp
June 15 Boise State Camp
June 18 Idaho Camp in Moscow outside of Pullman
June 19-21 Kentridge High School Camp at Central Washington
June 22 Washington State
June 23 Oregon
June 26 Idaho if I don’t go to their camp on the 18th.
Its going to be a lot of work, but I’m prepared and ready to take it head on and beside friday night lights, what can get better that summer football? You have to love to prepare, to love to play. I have already been to all the schools above on unofficial visits except for Boise State. Please let me know when you would like my thoughts and strategies on camps at colleges.
Dirk: Cameron you are a true “Road Warrior” and this first addition of “Stories From the Road” could not have been better. With your size and your build you appear to be on your way and that Eastern Washington offer is a nice one to have going into your Junior year. Best of luck to you and stay in touch.
Cameron: Definitely Dirk and thanks for keeping in touch. I will keep you and Washingtonpreps.com readers informed.
Dirk: Superb! Thanks again.
And there you have it. One great looking athlete clawing his way back from an injury and looking to be a man on a mission. This is how recruiting is done. Not everyone would go to this many events but in his case he needs to showcase what he has as his Junior year was missed. This type of commitment is what it takes to succeed at this point.
Stay tuned next week for Volume Two of “Stories From the Road”.
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