‘Gridiron Showcase’ getting up to Pro Combine speed

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — To have players who are able to perform effectively on both sides of the ball is almost a requisite for football teams representing schools of modest class sizes.

But to learn both offensive and defensive positions could only make you a more well-rounded and versatile player.

During a brief coach-and-parents meeting in the bleachers at Comet Field between sessions of Friday’s “Gridiron Showcase”, Charles City head football coach Bryan Bjorklund informed that this season — Bjorklund’s fourth in leading the Comets — there will be more emphasis on training players on both sides of the ball.

The “Showcase” represented the final day of the annual Charles City Football Camp. The Comets held a similar if not inaugural event last summer, but this year’s showcase — which featured middle school and high school sessions — added some wrinkles while borrowing several drills/tests from NFL-prospect combines.

One was the Receiver Skills Gauntlet where participants, starting from one sideline, catch a pass thrown from one side, turn around to catch a pass thrown from the opposite side, and then break toward the other sideline through a “gauntlet” of other pass throwers positioned on both sides. Participants were tasked to catch each pass on the run before immediately discarding the football on the way to the next stage. After catching and tucking in the final pass, the participant runs through a cone-line lane along the far sideline to complete the drill/test.

Though Charles City has lost its record-setting receiver Keenan Wiley from last season due to graduation, there may be some able replacements as indicated by several flawless and in-stride runs through the gauntlet.

Another wrinkle the showcase incorporated was “Run-in Flys” to what was its standard 40-yard dash from last season. Utilizing computer chip and laser technology, this timed participants 20 yards after their starts … about at the point when they reached their fastest speed of their sprints.

For the high school players, there was (again) the Bench Press station. But for this showcase, the emphasis was on achieving the greatest total of “reps” rather than clearing the greatest weight.

There were several outstanding efforts, including that from incoming sophomore Hunter Boehmer (pictured in photo), and incoming senior Jose Flores, who performed the most reps at 205-pounds, and who was recently lauded by his coach for his perfect attendance in the weight-room this summer.

The Comets are scheduled to host a scrimmage against Crestwood on Aug. 23 starting at 6:30 p.m.

The season-opener will be the following Friday (Aug. 30) against Oelwein at Comet Field. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.