Snap after snap and spiral after spiral, quarterbacks are used to getting the most reps at practice, and summer activities are no exception. The Atlanta Quarterback and Receivers camp at Walton this past Monday through Wednesday was just another checkpoint on the busy offseason slate, but it marked a valuable three days of work that quarterbacks were taking full advantage of. The big bang of 7-on-7 tournaments a decade ago began to demonstrate the importance of summer to the following fall’s success and a dependable leader at the quarterback position became a must-have. These are the guys that can rally the team during the dog days of summer.
Leading the group of quarterbacks at the camp was Walton rising senior Price Wilson. The weight of the offseason is well known to Wilson as he prepares himself for his first complete season as the starter. Wilson stepped into the starting role last year after Parker McLeod, now with Alabama, suffered a high-ankle sprain midway through the season.
“I was ready because I knew in practice I followed Parker,” said Wilson. “I almost mirrored Parker, and I knew I was ready to step in and just take charge. I felt like the team kind of knew that I was ready too, so it helped.”
The team went 4-1 during Wilson’s time as a starter, with its only loss being at No. 1 Lassiter. He has since received offers from Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, Marshall and many others. Last weekend, he took a visit to Louisiana Tech and this upcoming weekend he will head to Southern Miss. In between visits was the camp this week and the upcoming George B. Maloof 7-on-7 Invitational this Friday at St. Pius X. The busy offseason schedule and valuable playing time Wilson saw last season is helping him approach each day with confidence.
“It gives me a little more experience, just going in and knowing what I’m going to expect just helps me out for this coming year.”
Wilson loves the competitive aspect that camps such as the Atlanta Quarterback and Receivers camp create, and with so many different schools in attendance, there is even more competition. Schools that would never play each other in the regular season are learning from each other’s different styles of playing.
“This camp is big for our wide receivers to come in here and kind of get a rhythm for the big 7-on-7s coming up the rest of the summer and this upcoming season,” said Wilson. “Just getting the rhythm and our routes down.”
St. Pius X has a lot of firepower this season, but coach Paul Standard is having difficulty choosing a starting quarterback. Rising juniors Matthew Nall and Joey Connors are competing for the starting role left behind by the lefty Jack Spear. While talking to the contending teammates it was clear that even with the ultimate starting job on the line, Nall and Connors are each other’s biggest support.
“He’s [Connors's] definitely faster than me,” admitted Nall.
Connors was quick to respond by pointing out Nall’s strengths. “He’s [Nall's] more of a passer, I’m more of a runner.”
Both Connors and Nall are unfamiliar to the varsity stage, but seem ready to be the starter. The two agree learning and working with Spear last year has helped them.
“I feel we’re both prepared because Jack has taught us everything he knows and he’s a great role model,” said Nall.
“There’s definitely the pressure, though, and you can’t take that away,” added Connors. “It’s definitely there, but I feel we’re both prepared to handle it.”
The camp helped the two as they continue their offseason battle.
“There’s so many other quarterbacks here and you learn something from each one. They have different styles of playing and you can take something from each quarterback and the tips from each coach,” said Connors.
St. Pius X hosts the Maloof Invitational 7-on-7 Tournament on Friday and the two quarterbacks will get another opportunity to sway coach Standard. St. Pius X, Dacula, Roswell, Milton, East Paulding, Norcross, Parkview, Dunwoody, Walton, Brookwood, Sequoyah, Peachtree Ridge, Mill Creek, Flowery Branch, Riverwood and South Gwinnett make up the field of 16.
For more about the camp read Walton hosts quarterback and receivers camp
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