Top football prospects flood Tacoma to have fun, show their skills and give to worthy cause at 'Avery Strong College Showcase'

Six overall camp most valuable player awards were handed out, including one to touted Orange Lutheran (California) quarterback TJ Lateef as offensive standout

TACOMA - EJ Caminong was on an official visit at Oregon State University this weekend when a prior commitment came up.

He cut his trip to Corvallis short to make his way to Tacoma ... for a football camp.

For Caminong - and many of the top prospects in Washington and along the West Coast - this was no ordinary event. It was the "Avery Strong College Showcase" - in honor of the late daughter of widely-respected national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman.

"We were locked into coming to the Showcase once the date dropped," said Caminong, the top 2024 quarterback recruit in Washington from Garfield High School who has given the hometown Huskies a verbal pledge.

"He's been doing this for 20-plus years. He's been in this business. He's legit certified. Anytime he says something, people listen - and it tends to work out."

More than 500 prospects attended the inaugural camp Sunday at the University of Puget Sound - from the Northwest, California, Arizona, Hawaii, British Columbia and even Missouri.

Half the Pacific-12 Conference, including UW coach Kalen DeBoer and WSU coach Jake Dickert, was on hand to scout, among others, at all levels.

"There are very few people who are universally liked and respected," said Taylor Barton, the Avery Strong camp organizer. "You see it in the loyalty of kids cutting visits shorts, kids flying out to things, … and kids having offers that did not need to be here, and they are still here. And college coaches coming.

"Brandon does things the right way."

After a myriad of drills and one-on-one competitions, camp most valuable player awards were handed out.

One of them - the offensive MVP in the quarterback and wide receivers group - went to four-star quarterback TJ Lateef, the sixth-ranked signal caller in the nation's 2025 class out of Orange Lutheran, California.

His lively arm and quiet confidence quickly impressed camp coaches.

"He’s different-special," said Barton, a former quarterback at the UW who organizes the prestigious Northwest 9 Showcase. 

"That is a kid who is going to go a program and do what a CJ Stroud or a Bryce Young does where they are competing for national championships right away, and contending for a Heisman Trophy."

Photo by Todd Milles

SESSION I (offensive, defensive linemen)

Overall offensive MVP: Kodi Greene, Eastside Catholic

Overall defensive MVP: AJ Tanupo, Eastside Catholic

OL co-MVPs: Kai Holec, O'Dea and Tyler Miller, Galena

DL co-MVPs: Kenji Scanlan, Yelm and Camden Degraw, Coeur d'Alene

SESSION I (running backs, tight ends, linebackers)

Overall offensive MVP: Marcus Nixon, RB, Squalicum

Overall defensive MVP: Darrell Gipson, DL, Timberline

LB co-MVPs: Isaiah Patterson and Brayden Platt, Yelm

RB co-MVPs: Steve Chavez, Orange Lutheran and Parker Threatt, Bellarmine College Prep

TE co-MVPs: T'Andre Waverly, Kamiak and Kayden Stuit, Lynden Christian

SESSION III (quarterbacks, wide receivers, defensive backs)

Overall offensive MVP: TJ Lateef, QB, Orange Lutheran

Overall defensive MVP: Bryson Ross, DB, Eastside Catholic

QB co-MVPs: Quinn Boyd, Granada and EJ Caminong, Garfield and 

WR co-MVPs: Kage Repenn, Tahoma; Caden Butler, Olathe North; and Khris Norris, Graham-Kapowsin

DB co-MVPs: Benjamin Alefaio, Orange Lutheran; D'Aryhian Clemons, Spanaway Lake; and Joey Thomas III, Kennedy Catholic

SPECIALISTS (placekickers, punters, long snappers)

Kicking MVP: Luke Faccone, Puyallup

Punting MVP: Ira Hozack, Medicine Hat