Another shot of the drills
— John Domen (@JDDsays)
Passing drills here
— John Domen (@JDDsays)
Football drills happening now. Hear about it today
— John Domen (@JDDsays)
All these guys getting loose hope to impress for one of 28 roster spots. Same story for other groups just as big.
— John Domen (@JDDsays)
Tryouts happening today at Verizon Ctr for the Arena Lg Washington Valor. Hear more this pm
— John Domen (@JDDsays)
WASHINGTON 鈥� The Washington Valor had about 360 shirts made up for those trying out for the squad to wear. The organization didn鈥檛 think that many would show up 鈥� but they ended up running out of shirts.
D.C.鈥檚 new Arena Football League team has only 28 roster spots to offer, and it drew a wide range of players all hoping to lay claim to one during its tryouts Saturday. Some have NFL experience, if not years of major college football under their belts. Others hadn鈥檛 played since high school.
鈥淔or a lot of these guys, it鈥檚 a realistic shot,鈥� said head coach Dean Cokinos. 鈥淟ong, short, they鈥檙e in front of us. When you鈥檙e evaluating players you do it nowadays mostly off the video. Eventually, you want to get in front of a coach or a scout. And when you do an open tryout, it kind of flips the process. The reality of it is they have a better shot because we see them first live.鈥�
Words like that would be encouraging to Joseph Campbell of Laurel, Maryland. The 29-year-old engineer by day went to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore 鈥� a school that produced Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Shell decades ago but doesn鈥檛 have a team anymore.
鈥淎t the end of the day, there鈥檚 a lot of guys out here, there鈥檚 a lot of talent out here, but you just have to compete. You see guys running the 40s and you can tell these are college athletes,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淎t the end of the day, it鈥檚 all about competition. If you make plays, you make one or two or three plays, you鈥檙e going to get looks.鈥�
Quarterback David Olson is another guy hoping for a look. The South Carolina native started his college ball at Stanford, where he backed up Andrew Luck, who would eventually be drafted No. 1 overall. He finished his career at Clemson before entering the ranks of indoor football.
鈥淚 just finished my first indoor season in the CIF [Champions Indoor Football] with Wichita Force,鈥� said Olson. 鈥淚 signed there mid-season and we went 7鈥�0 from there with me as starter and won the championship. I鈥檝e been sending that film out, and sent it to Coach Cokinos, and he said to come up here and throw for him, so I鈥檓 really excited about it.鈥�
He鈥檚 hoping success in the arena league will carry him to the next level.
鈥淚 love the game, but I鈥檓 also on a path trying to move up to the NFL,鈥� Olson said. 鈥淭his would be a great stepping stone.鈥�
This is also a path that other players and coaches have taken. Redskins coach Jay Gruden played and coached in the Arena League. Former quarterback Kurt Warner got his start playing indoors before eventually becoming an MVP and Super Bowl champion.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity for these guys,鈥� said Cokinos. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great for our team here, the Valor, our organization, for the league, really. It shows you the enthusiasm we鈥檝e generated in a short period of time.
鈥淭his is an opportunity for everybody to find a job with us.鈥�
