First annual Big 40 quarterback camp offers competition for Coast quarterbacks
High school quarterbacks from across South Mississippi had a chance to compete with some of the best signal-callers in the state over the weekend as they continue to prepare for the 2022 season.
Six Gulf Coast gunslingers participated in the invite-only 601 Elite Quarterback Big 40 camp on Saturday hosted by private quarterback coach Wyatt Davis.
The camp offers both high school and junior college quarterbacks the chance to compete with each other as preseason summer camp wears on.
It’s the camp’s first annual event and was put together to help further the exposure of local athletes.
“I felt like it was due time to have an event like this for quarterbacks in the state of Mississippi,” Davis said. “There’s a lot of talent in the state. ... We wanted to do something where we bring all the guys together and let them compete and have a little fun. Just bring a lot of light to these guys, they’re very talented and they work hard in the offseason.”
Representing the Coast were quarterbacks Kaden Irving from Gautier; Christian Turner of Harrison Central; Dylan Moran from Hancock; Deuce Knight from George County; Jacob Palazzo of Gulfport; and Hudson Osborne from St. Stanislaus.
Many of the quarterbacks in attendance have worked with Davis before and were glad to have the new opportunity.
“It’s really fun to come out here,” Palazzo said. “Wyatt (Davis) always has fun with us. There’s a lot of competition out here.”
For some, including Irving, Palazzo, Turner and Osborne, the event is one of the last competitions they will compete in as high schoolers heading into their senior seasons.
But for Moran, a junior, and Knight, a sophomore, it gives them a platform to compete with older and more experienced quarterbacks as they enhance their own games.
“That’s what a quarterback has to have, competition,” Knight said. “It’s always a competition at this spot because only one person can be on the field (at quarterback). You just have to go out and give it your best. If you want to be the best person on the field at quarterback, you got to be that guy.”
Knight, like many other attendees, has been looked at by college coaches and is already up to four offers to play at the next level, including ones from Ole Miss and Tennessee.
With the goal of the camp being aimed at exposure, it does help move the spotlight over some of the smaller schools in the state. Osborne hails from 3A St. Stanislaus, but was ready to battle with the rest of the state’s top passers.
“There will be a lot pressure out here today,” Osborne said. “A bunch of guys have offers, a bunch have committed. It’ll be a good stage to represent Friday night and getting me ready for Friday nights.”
The high school season begins with jamboree matchups on Aug. 19 before Week 1 of the regular season on Aug. 26.
