Senior Bowl gives high school stars last chance to impress
University, junior among options in play
Kellen Forrest is one of the fortunate ones. Committed to the University of Calgary this fall, the youngster will continue to play and improve at the game he loves.
For many of the 130 individuals wandering the Mcmahon Stadium field this past weekend, this is the end. Which is what makes this Senior Bowl South camp so critical.
“It’s my last high school football experience ever so, as everyone out here says, it’s very important for me to go out with a bang,’’ Forrest, a running back from the Cochrane High Cobras said.
“I started in Grade 9 high school and I’ve always worked hard to improve and I want to show that right now I’m at my best and will keep improving.’’
The 18-year-old is hoping to be one of 40 players selected to the South all-star team that will compete on May 21 in the 23rd annual Senior Bowl in Edmonton. The squad will be announced by Football Alberta today.
Forrest comes in with a bit of a reputation. He was on the provincial team that took part in the Canada Cup of Football and was chosen to the all-star team. He’s not sure, however, that gives him an edge.
“I think maybe, but then again, no one makes the team for sure,’’ said the five-foot-11, 180-pound Forrest, who will take part in the Dinos’ spring camp this week and is eyeing a possible shift to defence.
“You have to come out this weekend and you have to give it your all or else you’ll get cut
You have to give it your all or else you’ll get cut because there’s a lot of great players out there. KELLEN FORREST
because there’s a lot of great players out there.’’
The camp was put on by the Calgary Colts, who used the three days to evaluate the young talent, some of which new head coach John Stevens hopes will choose his program.
“We get to participate in a great Football Alberta activity, to help these guys get ready to play in the Senior Bowl, and for a lot of these guys this will be their last football experi- ence,’’ Stevens said. “The other thing we get to do is, we get to recruit, so we get to identify players for our team, which is awesome. Southern Alberta is really blessed with a lot of great football programs and this is definitely an all-star weekend.
“Every year for me it seems to be getting better and better. More of the players are taking training more seriously and starting earlier. The guys who play at a high level are the ones who train with an agency and I would say probably half of the ones here are involved in some type of intense training.’’
Though Stevens saw many bright lights over t he weekend, he wasn’t about to tip his hand.
“I ’ m not going to say any names because many of those are guys I’m recruiting,’’ laughed Stevens, whose Colts’ spring camp will be May 4 to 6.
“Otherwise I’d be lying. There are some we’re very excited about, because they’re going to come play for us. We’re really happy that the vast majority are committed to stay in Alberta, which is one of the things we like to see.
“One of the things we try to do is upgrade our team every year. We want to be competitive, so we want to take the top players coming out of high school. Every year we send a number of guys off to university; a couple of our guys are even going to get a shot with the Calgary Stampeders. There’s always a need to replenish our roster.’’