Brian Derby's Offensive Linemen Camp

Click on the Picture to see some great shots from The Brian Camp Nike Combine in 2006!! Report from The Brian derby Offensive Line Camps 2006 Nike Combines!! While most football fans glorify the skill players for their heroic touchdown runs, passes and catches, the real warriors of the field often go unnoticed. Though they do not put up the impressive statistics acknowledged by the morning newspaper, the big men on the field know that the path to success goes through them, literally. Do not be fooled by their commonly robust frame, because offensive linemen must put in arguably more work in the off-season than any other position to prepare for Friday’s night’s rigorous battles. With this in mind, we ventured all around Oregon to find the state’s best and most enthusiastic pass blockers. As we first strolled in Beaverton’s Five Oaks Middle School, and later to West Salem High, many of the best linemen from various schools in the Portland Metro area had joined together for the Brian Derby football camp as they anxiously anticipated our arrival. The Nike-sponsored Derby O’Line camps teach these rapidly growing athletes the important fundamentals of blocking with some of the best coaches in the game at any level. Coming from proud collegiate football programs such as Linfield, Western Oregon, and a strong core from Hawaii, these experienced O’Line coaches also touched on some of the finer points of mastering the position while stressing to each kid the importance of discipline and teamwork. Linemen from all ages came to these week-long camps, ranging from pop-warner beginners to high school senior studs like Myles Wade and Erik Hochhalter who have both accepted full scholarships to play for University of Oregon and Portland State University respectively. Regardless of age and experience, all the high school big men were excited to show other schools around the state what their team would boast on the front line next season. As expected, all eyes were on Wade and Hochhalter who did not disappoint all of their overly attentive viewers. Wade, who will be a senior at Central Catholic High School, proved to be dominant over the rest of the field with his exceptional 79.42 individual SPARQ rating. Throwing up an outrageous 38 bench press reps, Wade showed flashes of what the Ducks are expecting out of him in 2007 as he toppled every other beast at the camp to take home the camp’s one-on-one title. West Salem High School’s senior sensation, Erik Hochhalter, was not far behind Wade as he put up an eye-popping 69.36 rating. Putting up flat out impressive scores for an offensive linemen, Hochhalter posted a 5.00 second 40 yard dash, 4.59 second pro shuttle, 23 bench press reps, and the day’s best vertical jump of 29.1 inches. Though these two elite athletes showed why they are legitimate Division 1 recruits, by no means did they overshadow the dozens of linemen that will be competing in Oregon prep football during the 2006 season. Without a doubt, the offensive success of a team rests on the broad shoulders on its O’Line.