Piney Woods Passing Academy debuts

NFL players, college quarterbacks teach campers from all over Texas skills to success on, off field

by Ali McNew, VOW staff|Aug 28, 2019

Friday Night Lights. For 10 weekends, towns big and small all over the nation stop for the glory of Friday Night Football. But, what these dedicated football fans don’t realize is that for the hard working athletes, football season never ends, and that those exciting Friday nights will be the ones that will impact their lives forever.

The Piney Woods Passing Academy, headed by Head Athletic Director Michael Wall, held its first session this summer to help the athletes prepare for the upcoming season. 

“This camp is designed specifically for quarterbacks and wide receivers, but we also touch on some running back skills and some defensive player positions,” Wall said.

Students anywhere from third grade to ninth grade can participate in this camp. It is especially beneficial for incoming freshmen to allow them to get specialized training before high school tryouts.

“I went to the camp so I could better myself and be more prepared for the season,” freshman Terrence Moffett said.

Although the coaches teach valuable technical skills, they are also helping the athletes learn to be a better, well-rounded people.

“We approach the intangible side of the game as well,” Wall said. “These are the types of things that make you a great player, teammate, and overall citizen. So, it is a different approach than other camps.”

Along with experienced NFL players, the Piney Woods Passing Academy was also able to host numerous college quarterbacks.

“All of our coaches at the camp have played for a college, and most even have NFL experience,” Wall said. “We had Charlie Brewer, who is a quarterback at Baylor, come out and be a guest speaker on the first night, myself, Coach Jake Hubenak, who is a former A&M quarterback, Michael Bishop, who played for Kansas State and even went on to the NFL, and Scott Dreisbach, who played at the University of Michigan, and three different NFL teams.”

Overall, this camp gave athletes of all ages the chance to learn from talented and experienced coaches and helped them expand their game. 

“The coaches provided excellent feedback to us,” freshman JR Scholwinski said. “I think these coaches and players provided a great opportunity to hear their experiences and how football has affected their lives.”