IRVINE – A second chance.
That is what the Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase prep combine provides high school football players not recruited by Division I colleges. It bears the name of the late legendary UCLA coach because he founded the California version of the Showcase concept.
The 11th such prep combine was held Saturday at Great Park in Irvine, bringing overlooked players together with coaches from Division II, Division III, and NAIA schools from throughout the country. California community colleges are also represented, and some of the participants are players from community colleges.
In the past, the biggest percentage of participants came from Los Angeles and Orange County. On Saturday there was a contingent from the San Joaquin Valley and at least one participant from Arizona. That could be the signal of a trend, as organizers look to expand their target areas to increase participation in this one-day, free non-profit event.
The players go through morning drills for three hours as the small college coaches look on and jot down notes and bib numbers. The drills are conducted by a crew of “staff coaches” consisting of former NFL and college players and coaches. There were some 60 on hand Saturday.
After the morning drills, the players get a chance for one-on-one meetings with the small college representatives.
Through the first 10 California Showcase combines, more than $40 million has been awarded in scholarship and financial aid to some 1,100 athletes who made college rosters. Approximately one in every four participants end up on a college roster.
The showcase concept is the brainchild of Phil Camp, a former Houston high school coach. The first one was held in 2006. There are now six throughout the country.
Camp, often called the “godfather” of showcase combines, was again an invited guest at the weekend event in Irvine. A dinner at an Irvine hotel Friday night kicked off the event.
The seven-member board of directors…
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