Asante Elite Trenchmen Camp
West L.A. College plays host to the second round of Asante Elite Camps March 25-27.
While star prospects like Jaydon Mickens and Darreus Rogers showcased their skills at the Elite Quarterback Camp earlier this month, Elijah Asante welcomes former NFL All-Pro offensive tackle Irv Pankey to help run the Elite Trenchmen Academy.
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"This camp is about teaching linemen footwork, technique and teamwork," said Asante, who is also the head coach for Carson High School. "The skill guys get the glitz and glamor at camps, but football games are usually won and lost in the trenches.
"A lot of camps brush over the fundamentals of blocking, but we want to take it to another level with film and drills. Linemen are also a team within a team. They have to make checks and calls at the line, so we want to stress the importance of team work and competition.
"We'll obviously have one-on-one drills with the offensive and defensive line, but we will also have five-on-four drills and other scenario exercises to help the offensive line and defense line learn to make adjustments on the fly."
Pankey, who played offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams, will oversee each drill and instruct the campers on the finer points in run blocking and pass protection. He will be joined some of the best high school coaches in the City and Southern Section of California.
"Irv brings experience and a fantastic resume to the camp," said Asante. "He's blocked for Charles White and Eric Dickerson. He knows what goes on behind the scenes of the highest levels of football and is able to bring that to film study and practice."
After the Academy concludes, awards will be given for most valuable linemen, best technician, best footwork, best blocker and fastest lineman.
Among the linemen slated to attend the event are La Costa Canyon (Calif.) offensive tackle Erik Magnuson, Compton (Calif.) offensive tackle Lacy Westbrook, Corona (Calif.) defensive tackle Milo Jordan, Rocklin (Calif.) offensive tackle Fernando Villanueva and Santa Margarita (Calif.) offensive tackle Max Tuerk.
Also invited are Monrovia (Calif.) defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy, San Clemente (Calif.) offensive tackle Kyle Murphy, Encino (Calif.) Jordan Simmons, Westlake Village (Calif.) defensive tackle Justin Solis and Murrieta (Calif.) defensive end Jeremy Castro.