GREENCASTLE
Instead of easing itself into its summer schedule, Seymour High School’s football opens the preseason by going up against the top talent in the state.
The Owls returned to DePauw University this week to attend the Bishop Dullaghan Camp for a second straight year, putting in work against programs that boast numerous conference, regional, and state championships.
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The camp, which ran Monday through Wednesday, had players work on a plethora of skills.
There were two “opportunities” Monday, three Tuesday and another two Wednesday. Each session was two and a half hours long, and the players were fed in the dining halls and had individual team meetings the first two days.
Players engaged in inside, 1-on-1, 7-on-7, and 11-on-11 competitions against players from other schools. Among the teams in attendance at the camp this week with the Owls were Ben Davis, Westfield, Fishers, Crown Point and Bloomington North.
Owls head coach Mike Kelly, who is entering his third year at the helm, said that he’s using the camp to help evaluate where the team stands.
“We have the opportunity to compete against several different teams. We’ve seen lots of defenses and offenses,” Kelly said. “It’s getting our guys working on their assignments and alignments. They’re working on their responsibilities, and it has been very good from that respect.
“We’re seeing which guys want to compete. That’s what the deal is right now. You can lose in June if you’re being stupid and doing things the wrong way. I think we have guys that we can trust and compete with. We’re all focused on the same thing. We want to find out where we are and who is physically able to compete.”
Kelly said that Tuesday’s practice was the third time the Owls had put helmets on so far this summer, but it was the first time there was contact.
All players wore helmets and shoulder pads for their protection, but contact was not live below the waist.
“This is probably the toughest competition we’re going to face all year,” Owls senior offensive lineman Jake Roberts said. “We’re just working on our base plays right now — the bread and butter. We’re working on technique against some good athletes.
“We’re tough and work hard. We’re not the biggest group, but we have potential. Coach Kelly says (potential) is a dirty word. I agree. It’s there, we just need to go out and get it. There are a lot of young guys that are stepping up and stealing reps. Everyone is working hard.”
Outside of the high school coaches, the camp was run by former Ben Davis coach Dick Dullaghan and DePauw University football coach Billy Lynch. Bishop Dullaghan camps started in 1974.
The Owls will look a lot different on the field this fall. Fifteen starters — including 10 on defense — graduated from last year’s team that finished 6-4.
Senior linebacker Ethan Corwin is the only returning starter on the defense for the Owls.
“We’ve been working on a lot of stuff and getting closer as a team,” Corwin said. “We’ve been communicating and working hard. Last year, I was more of an emotional kind of leader when I played. I tried to get everyone juiced up. Now, I’m stepping into more of a role. I’m trying to help everyone out and getting everyone ready to play.”
A handful of new faces will also work on the sidelines on Friday nights.
“We have several (coaching) changes,” Kelly said. “We have a new offensive line coach, two new DB (defensive backs) coaches, another linebacker addition and a new wide receiver coach. We have a lot of new, young guys that I’m excited about. Our guys are excited about our staff, and it’s good to see.”
Owls senior quarterback/defensive back Brendan Smith said he’s confident the Owls will continue to improve as the summer grind continues.
“We had a lot of guys graduate from this past season, but we have a lot of good, young talent coming in. I think it’s going to be a good season,” Smith said. “We have a lot of guys moving around. I’ve been changing positions and know that a few other guys have been going both sides of the ball. We’re just trying to learn as much as we can to help the team out and get better for the season.”
Kelly said he’s looking for guys to step up on and off the field.
“We say it all the time, ‘great teams are player-led, good teams are coach-led.’ We want our guys to be leading each other and holding expectations for each other,” he said.
On top of its summer training program, the Owls will host a scrimmage with Bloomington North and East Central on June 27. SHS travel to Salem for another scrimmage on July 19 before holding its team camp at the end of July.