After recently placing seven free agents on NFL rosters, CAMP presented by HUB Football, the brainchild of NFL super-agent Don Yee, is set to host its next CAMP this Sunday in San Diego
CAMP presented by HUB Football, the brainchild of NFL super-agent Don Yee, is hosting its next free agent workout CAMP for aspiring free agents from around the country this Sunday (May 23). It’ll be the third CAMP of 2021 and it will take place at Helix Charter High School in San Diego County.
The list of attendees is an impressive one as it includes former Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson, who spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020; former Wisconsin and Florida State signal-caller Alex Hornibrook; long-time Denver Broncos’ linebacker Brandon Marshall, who was a starter on the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 team; former Carolina Panthers corner Bené Benewikere; former Chargers linebacker Korey Toomer, and former Austin Peay defensive back Juantarius Bryant, who recently fell victim to a highly-publicized tryout hoax, but he will be in San Diego this weekend and he is eager for his long-awaited opportunity to work out in front of NFL scouts.
HUB Football’s first two CAMPs of 2021 have led to seven free agents signing NFL contracts, four more receiving mini-camp invites, and three others signing with CFL teams. The NFL signees include running backs Darius Clark and Mikey Daniel (Carolina), defensive end Jamell Garcia-Williams (Arizona), tight end Cheyenne O’Grady (Cincinnati), safety Ladarius Wiley (Seattle), linebacker Quentin Poling (New Orleans) and defensive tackle Olive Sagapolu (Atlanta). The mini-camp invitees include quarterbacks Roland Rivers III (Pittsburgh) and Josh Love (Cleveland), tight end Graham Adomitis (Indianapolis) and wide receiver La’Michael Pettway (Houston). CFL signees include cornerback Prince Charles Iworah (Montreal) and linebackers Nigel Harris (Saskatchewan) and Ethan Aguayo (Edmonton).
CAMP is an opportunity for aspiring free agents to show off their skills for talent evaluators across the NFL and other professional leagues, including the CFL. Yee created it as a pathway for aspiring pro athletes to showcase their talents. It is not a combine-style workout, but rather CAMP is designed to mimic workouts that take place routinely at NFL facilities across the country. Players do individual work with position coaches and compete in one-on-one drills. Since its inception in 2019, nearly half of the NFL teams have attended CAMP to scout free agents in-person.
“I started HUB because the pathway to the NFL needed innovation and choice,” explained Yee. “The current pathway is highly inefficient and it is focused on everyone but the player. With HUB, we’re building a pathway that specifically addresses player and NFL club issues. That’s never been done before, especially by an independent group like ours.”
What makes CAMP unique is that it limits its roster to 50-60 players, ensuring that only the best-of-the-best receive an invitation to participate. And CAMP uses former NFL players and coaches to lead the players thru the workouts.
“On average, we receive about 300 applications for each CAMP,” said senior VP of Operations Tom Goodhines. “We don’t run 40s or have guys do three-cone drills so there’s tremendous demand from players who want to participate. Our goal is to give the players a legitimate chance to showcase their skills while doing actual football work. That’s what the teams are coming to see.”
Players pay a small registration fee to participate and they have an option to purchase a copy of their film from the day, film which is distributed to every NFL and CFL team. Players also pay their own travel costs to and from San Diego, but the results have spoken for themselves. Since Yee originally launched CAMP presented by HUB Football in 2019, a total of 241 players have participated in the program, and 49 have gone on to sign professional contracts, an impressive 20.3 percent.
More information about CAMP Presented by HUB Football is available at the official website: https://www.hubfootball.com.
