College standouts enjoy learning from NFL greats

While the Manning Passing Academy is highlighted with big name college quarterbacks every year teaching younger high school boys a thing or two about football, the young guns are not the only ones absorbing information and learning.

Words such as “honor,” “blessing,” and “soaking it up” were fairly common among the big names attending the academy. The quarterbacks could not say enough about the Manning family and the MPA because it provides them with an opportunity to learn from some of the games best quarterbacks.

Baylor quarterback and Heisman hopeful Bryce Petty described the experience with a simple “awesome.”

“It has been great just being able to throw with Peyton and Eli is great,” Petty said. “Just being able to hear what they do and what they’re looking at and how they drop is awesome.”

USC quarterback Cody Kessler said the learning curve does not stop with Peyton and Eli and said being out there with his peers and some of college football’s best is a great way to educate yourself as a quarterback.

“We get to hear what they go through at their programs and it helps me out,” Kessler said. “I am trying to take as much as I can away from them while I am here.”

Second year counselor and Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner likes getting to see how the other carry themselves.

“We have a lot of confident guys. We have a bunch of different swaggers out here with the way everybody carries themselves,” Gardner said. “It is a bunch of great leaders, so I feel like everybody can learn from everybody.”

Grambling quarterback DJ Williams, son of legendary quarterback Doug Williams, talked about the overall experience of every single player and coach who attends the camp.

“You got a million passing yards between all of these guys and a million years of football, especially from these coaches, so you can learn a lot,” Williams said. “I feel like you can never know enough. I can learn something from some of these high school kids. It is about learning everything you can.”

For many of these quarterbacks, they grew up watching Peyton who is entering his 17th season in the NFL and Eli who is entering his 11th season. The two of them combined have three Super Bowl titles and five appearances. Peyton has been argued as one of the most cerebral signal callers to ever play.

The two of them have essentially been icons for many of the counselors. Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel described working with the Mannings as surreal.

“When you look up and you are standing face to face with Peyton and Eli because those are guys you look up to and they are somewhat of heroes. It is honestly a dream come true,” Kiel said. “I watch these guys on Sundays and I get to talk to them and at the end of camp we are close because of the same goals and wanting to be leaders for our teams.”

Unfortunately for Kiel, he was not able to attend the first day where the quarterbacks got together with the Mannings for a workout in John L. Guidry where they threw routes to receivers. Kiel’s flight was late to arrive and said it “stung” not being able to be there for that.

Among some of the participants were former LSU standouts and now NFL rookies Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants and Jarvis Landry of the Miami Dolphins.

For many of the quarterbacks, it is not about the X’s and O’s nor the mechanics, but simply getting to understand how to train yourself and approach each day.

Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion wants to pick their brains as much as possible by asking questions and absorbing everything they say.

“The Mannings are legendary for their approach and how they work,” Mannion said. “One of the things I want to learn is how they approach a practice or how they approach a drill or workout.”

Gardner raved about the Manning’s poise and consistency in their approach. He said Peyton talked to them about always getting out to the fields a half hour early to get a sweat going before they take the field.

“What they bring to the whole game is just amazing,” Gardner said.