ON THE WEB
View photos from this event at MyDaytonDailyNews.com
Opponents weren’t seeing double of Dunbar football standout Terrance Landers during Friday’s 7-on-7 passing tournament at Welcome Stadium. But it sure seemed like it.
“That’s my little brother,” the senior said of sophomore Joseph Scates. “He looks up to me a lot. I’ve been taking care of him since I was little and he was littler than me.”
This was the seventh year for the University of Dayton football program to host this event. Used primarily as a recruiting tool for the Flyers, the day-long event drew 16 teams in morning and afternoon sessions.
No records were kept and there was no champion. Teams had to cover 40 yards to score and were allowed one running play. There was no tackling or blocking and no linemen.
But that didn’t prevent play from getting chippy.
“It’s an opportunity for us to give back to the community,” UD assistant coach Landon Fox said. “We had four Dayton Public Schools here, which is always good. Also, it’s an opportunity for us to evaluate to see guys run around and throw and catch and use that for recruiting.”
Emphasis in these common summer events is on receiving and no one did that better than Landers and Scates. When Landers didn’t score following a strike from quarterback Lamar Florence, Scates did.
That likely will happen a lot this coming season. Landers was a starter on Dunbar’s state final four basketball team last season, but football is his future.
A 6-foot-4, 170-pounder with 4.54 speed in the 40-yard dash, Landers already has offers from Iowa, Purdue, Pittsburgh Ohio, Miami, Ball State, Bowling Green and Kent State but remains uncommitted. With another productive season at receiver and returner, his recruiting stock could soar.
Scates also should generate a lot of college interest during his Wolverines career.
“We got a very explosive group on the outside,” Dunbar coach Darran Powell. “Hopefully, we can get us some time, get the ball to them and let them work.”
Fairborn coach Roy Thobe is using the passing tournaments for one of three potential starting QBs to emerge.
“They’re all good athletes and they all bring a different skill set to the plate,” Thobe said. “It was fun and that’s what it’s all about, good, healthy competition.”
Springfield defeated Fairborn in overtime to conclude the afternoon session. Games were held at the stadium and on the neighboring grass football fields by UD Arena.
“(Friday) was a good day,” Springfield coach Maurice Douglass said. “It was a chance to see some different uniforms flying around and see some different formations.”
Springfield will be at a Mansfield passing tourney on Tuesday. Every Wednesday in July, Springfield goes to Trotwood-Madison for a passing session with the hosts, Dunbar and this coming week Northmont.
Teams are allowed 10 coaching days during June and July. Most will be used on similar camps. The first day of preseason camp is Aug. 1.
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