Purdue Football: Manning Passing Academy major opportunity for David Blough
By Ryan McNeill
Purdue football’s David Blough was invited to be a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy and here’s why that’s a big deal.
Over the past decade, some of the elite college quarterbacks have been coaches at the Manning Passing Academy. Players like Andrew Luck, Odell Beckham Jr. and Colin Kaepernick all saw their profile soar after attending the camp either as counselors while in college or when they were campers in high school.
Purdue’s starting quarterback, and the Big Ten leader in passing yards last season, David Blough, will be one of the counselors at the legendary football camp this summer.
According to USA Today, Blough is excited about the opportunity to work with some NFL greats while teaching young kids.
"“I hope to learn as much as I can. It’s going to be a great experience, getting to learn from Peyton, Archie, Eli and other professionals,” Blough said in a press release sent out from Purdue’s PR team. “These are guys who have played at the level to which I aspire. I want to learn how they handle everything that comes with playing quarterback. I plan on taking my notebook and sitting up front and learning as much as I can from them. I was so excited when I got accepted that I took a picture of the email and sent it to my dad and coaches back home.“I’m also looking forward to giving that all back to the next generation of quarterbacks with the campers who are there. It’s important to me to help them in any way that I can. I’m really looking forward to the experience and bringing back as much as I can so I can apply it to Purdue football.”"
While at the Manning Passing Academy, counselors will work with high school players, teaching them technique and fundamentals, as well as a collection of drills that are used in college programs.
Blough will be one of 25 college quarterbacks acting as counselors this summer. Included on that list include 2016 Heisman winner Lamar Jackson from Louisville, Clayton Thorson from Northwestern and Mike White from Western Kentucky.
The chance to battle with those other quarterbacks in the weight room and on the field should prove to be an invaluable experience for Blough.
Besides getting to workout and practice with other elite college quarterbacks, another added benefit for Blough is he will get the chance to pick the brains of Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Archie Manning; three men who have helped grow this camp into one of the elite training grounds for high school football players. They are also three quarterbacks who have tremendous success as quarterbacks in college and the NFL. Having the opportunity to watch how those three men approach training, diet and learn how they dissect video is a great opportunity for any young quarterback.
It will be interesting to see what this experience can do for Blough. Keep in mind, it was during the Elite 11 camp final that Blough shined and eventually earned his college scholarship.
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If Blough can impress the right people this summer, it will do wonders for his chances of attracting NFL scouts to watch him during his upcoming junior season.