BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
Jaxon Shipley caught 218 passes at the University of Texas, and now he can’t wait to tell Valley athletes how he did it.
The 6-foot, 190-pound receiver from Temple, Texas, played at UT from 2011-14.
“The biggest thing for me in making the transition from high school to college, was I needed to learn how to be a more efficient route runner and to not give any indications or hints to the defensive backs that I am going to make a break now,” Shipley said. “How to set up a defender and how to create separation.”
The Rio Grande Valley passing clinic will be held from 8:30-11:30 a.m. today at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg.
Quarterbacks and receivers entering grades seven through 12 can register for the event at shipleyperformance.com/book-online.
“For everyone that is at the camp, the biggest thing that they can get is the mindset,” Shipley said. “The mindset going into the next level is what will set you apart. You have to take control of the situation by taking control of your mind first.”
Shipley signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2015. As with the jump from high school to college, he said the jump to the pro level required learning about the mental aspect of the game.
“I had the unique opportunity to play for one of the best wide receivers in NFL history in Larry Fitzgerald,” Shipley said. “I watched Larry Fitzgerald, every day, introduce himself to every person who came into that building. He took the time to pass on the things that he had learned and his knowledge of the game to every new receiver who asked.
“And I respected that a lot. The biggest thing was, it doesn’t matter how big-time you are. It doesn’t matter what achievements you have accomplished. You are never too big-time to give people the time of day. Whether they are an NFL Hall of Famer or a rookie free agent, or just a regular person off the street. We are all human beings, and we need to treat people the right way.”
Shipley has secured the assistance of two good friends to help with the camp: former Texas A&M quarterback Janson Moore, who will work with the quarterbacks, and former Texas State receiver Jack Rhoades, who will help Shipley with the receivers.
“A lot of techniques that we teach are things that we didn’t learn until we were in the later part of our college careers,” Shipley said. “Really what the kids coming to the camp can expect is drills and techniques that they can take and use, even the very next day. And hopefully they can apply those new skills to their toolbox. That’s the main thing that they can expect. Expect a lot of reps, and we will have a lot of footballs in the air.”
Shipley said quarterbacks will learn throwing mechanics, accuracy, footwork in the pocket and how to escape the pocket.
As for the receivers, Shipley said they will work on stance, different types of cuts, route technique and how to get off the line against the press.
A smaller receiver, Shipley said he had to learn how to beat defenders who are better athletes or have a size advantage.
“I think the biggest thing for those guys is learning how to be more efficient in and out of their cuts so that they can create separation against defensive backs,” Shipley said. “You don’t have to be a guy that is a blazer to do that, you just have to understand what you are doing and be able to stop on a dime and be shifty, and then you have to make the catch when the ball is in the air. You have to be a consistent pass catcher.
“Creating separation is the biggest thing at wide receiver.”