DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
As the Manning Passing Academy celebrates its 20th anniversary this week, it’s a bittersweet moment for Donna High senior quarterback Edward Dougherty.
Dougherty, who threw for 450 yards and ran for 697 more as a first-year starter for the run-dominant Redskins in 2014, has attended the annual four-day camp the last four years. This year is his last, as the camp — initiated by former New Orleans Saints great Archie Manning and his sons to help develop young athletes — is only open to players in grades 9-12 in high school.
“It’s a great experience,” Dougherty said. “You get to meet the Mannings and college quarterbacks. I just try and soak it all in, especially with this being my last year. I’m going to miss it.
“My big thing is paying attention to the fundamentals and techniques and every single thing they teach you.”
Dougherty said he’s seen considerable improvement in his leadership skills, footwork and arm strength, crediting the camp, which attends to offensive skill position players, for the progress. Dougherty specifically stressed the importance of staying “even-keel” as a quarterback, never getting too high or too low.
“In order to get people to follow you, you have to earn their respect,” Peyton Manning tells the campers, according to The Associated Press. “The best way to earn their respect is maybe not necessarily by talking to them. It’s by showing them. By being the first one out there. By being the last one off the field, working hard, kind of earning that platform.”
Archie’s sons Peyton and Eli, of the Denver Broncos and New York Giants, respectively, help lead the camp, along with an assortment of big-name college quarterbacks.
This year, some of those names include TCU’s Trevone Boykin, Oklahoma’s Trevor Knight and Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg. In the past, players like Jameis Winston (the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft) and Marcus Mariota (the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft) have worked the camp.
In all, there are 37 college quarterbacks and approximately 1,200 participants at this year’s camp, which concludes Sunday. There are about 10-12 kids per coach, allowing for a more intimate setting for instruction.
Other than Dougherty, other Rio Grande Valley athletes in attendance include Donna High receivers Bo Barrera and Jonathan Sandoval, and McAllen Rowe quarterback Hector Bosquez, among others.
“They’re very rule-oriented at the camp,” said Luis Dougherty, Edward’s father. “They expect professionalism. They emphasize being timely. They have kids from 47 different states, and even from other countries. The experience opens eyes.”
Dougherty had the opportunity to work with Peyton Manning on Friday. Dougherty said Manning emphasized eye placement split down the field and keeping feet moving in the pocket.
This year the camp is hosted at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The camp schedule is rigid. There is a 6:30 a.m. wake-up call, three two-hour practices per day and a curfew of 11 p.m.
Participants can choose to be a day camper or overnight camper. Dougherty has been an overnight camper each of his four years.
“I like the independence. It’s like a college routine,” he said. “You’re set by a schedule; you’re off on your own on campus. You’re staying in dorms. It just gives you an idea of how things will be after high school.”
Registration is open every October for the camp. Cost is $605 for overnight campers and $460 for day campers. A $100 non-refundable deposit is necessary.
“Edward came up to me when he was in eighth grade and told me about the camp,” Luis said. “He’s a huge Peyton Manning fan. The camp teaches just like how Peyton is — solid work ethic, playing the game right. Playing smart.”
For Edward, who also attended a University of Florida week-long camp a few weeks ago and has aspirations of being a Gator, the experience is priceless.
“You just learn so much, you get better, and it gets you prepared for the season,” Dougherty said. “We have district title hopes this year. We want a deeper playoff run this year. We’re all working to achieve our goals.”