After playing at some of the top Division I football programs in the country, some of Durango High School’s top former football players haven’t forgotten where they came from. A group of former Demons are hosting The Elevation Youth Football Camp on May 17 at Durango High School.
The group of former Durango football players includes University of Colorado safety Ben Finneseth, University of Colorado wide receiver Tagert Bardin, Southern Methodist University offensive lineman Joshua Bates, Butler Community College long snapper Zachary Haber and Colorado Mesa University quarterback Tyler Harms.
Finneseth came up with the idea for a youth football camp in Durango after one of his good friends he met at the University of Colorado did one at his high school. Finneseth’s friend’s camp did very well and Finneseth realized Durango didn’t have anything like that. He brought it up with the rest of the guys. They discussed the best date for all of them and landed on May 17.
“It'll be a good thing for a lot of kids in Durango to get to see guys like us,” Finneseth said. “They don't get to see that stuff ever, so it's going to be really cool. It’s a good opportunity for all of them because when I was in high school and middle school, I would have jumped at that opportunity.”
Finneseth said the name comes from helping kids elevate out of Durango. He knows how hard it is for Durango kids to be recognized in sports and football specifically.
In addition to the former Durango stars, a few guys like Finneseth and Bates are planning on bringing some college teammates to help out.
Finneseth said the camp will be open to all ages and the logistics of the camp won’t be fully set until about a week before the camp once the guys know how many kids are coming.
The camp will be split into three sections: A kindergarten through fifth grade group, a middle school group and a high school group.
Competition and getting the kids interested in football will be the focus of the youth group. The middle school group will be focused on teaching the basics of football with fieldwork, coverages and route concepts. The high school group will be focused on how to get to the next level with setting up recruiting profiles, coverages, how to watch film and more.
The guys hope the camp can be an annual thing if they get a good turnout the first year. The camp isn’t just open to Durango kids; football players from Bayfield, Ignacio and Cortez are also welcome.
Early registration opened on April 3 and closes on April 29. Those who register early get a t-shirt. Final registration closes on May 15. The camp costs $75 per person and the proceeds will go to the Durango Football Club and YAFL (Young American Football League).
The sign-up page has more information along with the camp’s Instagram and Facebook page.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
