The Student News Site of Malvern Preparatory School

Friar's Lantern

The Student News Site of Malvern Preparatory School

Friar's Lantern

The Student News Site of Malvern Preparatory School

Friar's Lantern

Morning Football Showcases Attract College Coaches

Morning+Football+Showcases+Attract+College+Coaches

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Sean Christman ’17 & Pat Ferraiolo ’17

The Friar football players have been passing, running, and kicking in the early-morning fog since Coach Brady’s arrival.

If you want to play college football, you might have to set an early alarm clock. That’s what Malvern players have been doing recently, as college coaches have been coming from all over to watch them. Before school, rising seniors and select underclassmen go out onto Malvern’s turf in order to showcase their skills.

Newly hired football head coach Aaron Brady says that the school has been visited by 78 college coaches since April 22. “I would have liked to reach 100 but the Division III schools do not typically recruit in the spring,” said Brady.

For the players, it is an exciting opportunity. “I love the showcases,” said junior Mike McCarthy, “We get a chance to prove ourselves in front of a number of college coaches as well as meet with those coaches after the conclusion of the showcase.”

Junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook agreed. “I think it’s great to see our team get more exposure than we have in the past,” said Hornibrook.

[learn_more caption=”See a list of 78 colleges that have visited Malvern Football since April 22″]

University of Albany

Army

Ball State University

Bentley University

Boston College

Brown University

Bryant University

Bucknell University

Buffalo University

Butler University

University of Central Florida

Central Michigan University

University of Cincinnati

Colgate University

Columbia University

University of Connecticut

Cornell University

Dartmouth University

Davidson University

University of Dayton

University of Delaware

Dickinson University

Duke University

Duquesne University

Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Michigan University

East Stroudsburg University

Fordham University

Georgetown University

Harvard University

Holy Cross College

University of Illinois

James Madison University

University of Kentucky

Kutztown University

Lafayette College

Lehigh University

University of Maine

Marist College

University of Maryland

University of Massachusetts

University of Miami

Millersville University

Monmouth University

University of New Hampshire

Northwestern University

Oberlin College

University of Ohio

Old Dominion University

University of Pennsylvania

Penn State University

University of Pittsburgh

Princeton University

University of Rhode Island

University of Richmond

Robert Morris University

Rutgers University

Sacred Heart University

St. Anselm’s College

St. Francis University

Stanford University

Stetson University

Stony Brook University

Temple University

University of Tennessee

Towson University

Tulane University

University of Virginia

Vanderbilt University

Villanova University

Virginia Tech

Wagner University

Wake Forest University

West Chester University

Western Michigan University

College of William & Mary

University of Wisconsin

Yale University

[/learn_more]

These coaching visits are not brand new to Malvern. “We have had similar showcases for other sports, like soccer and basketball,” said Athletic Director Kurt Ruch. “This is the first time we have had one for football. It was orchestrated by Coach Brady using his connections in the college coaching world.”

According to Ruch, the morning sessions are showcases for the visiting coaches, not football practices.  Inter-Ac rules do not allow for off-season football practices.

“The morning showcases are positive in many ways,” said Brady. “It allows the coaches to see our players in person, it does not disrupt class, our players get discovered, and coaches will come back each year because they like to get outside.”

Coach Brady also stressed that getting outside to watch players was a nice break from the monotonous and boring task of driving all over the country as a coach.

For the coaches, it’s an opportunity to come watch some very talented football players in person. For the players, it’s a great chance to make impressions and hopefully get noticed. “I was most excited to play in front of Princeton. It is cool to be able to say they came to look for possible student-athletes at Malvern,” said McCarthy.

“It’s always great to play in front of a coach at any level, but it’s most exciting when the big time coaches come through. It’s pretty cool when you’re just having fun with your team and schools like Kentucky, Pitt, and Virginia Tech come to check it out,” said Hornibrook.

Not only do the players get to play in front of the coaches, but at the end of the sessions, the players actually get to have a conversation with the coaches. Face to face encounters are the best way for players and coaches to form a bond. Hornibrook also stated that the showcases help the players to work well with one another.

Another goal of these workouts is the promotion of Malvern Football nationally. According to Coach Brady, these types of events allow for nationwide exposure of Malvern players. “I will set the bar high for our players, and coaches know that about me,” he said.

These events are something that is beneficial to everyone involved, and certainly plays well into Brady’s philosophy: “Every day we either improve ourselves or lower ourselves. We never stay the same.”

 

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