Sports Zone

QB diary: Days 1 & 2

An inside look at the summer schedule and travels of a top-flight quarterback prospect. Ryker Rohaley, a rising sophomore, will publish a daily diary from the Manning Passing Academy this week on Chronicle1909.com

DAY 1: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25

This is Ryker Rohaley and I’m going to bring you along for my last football camp trip of the summer. Here’s an inside look at what all goes in, and comes out of a football camp. But this isn’t just any camp. This is the Manning Passing Academy, run by Peyton, Eli, and their father Archie.

The second we landed in New Orleans we rented a car and took off to visit a university, as we have done three years in a row. This camp has become a tradition with my dad and me since I was in early middle school.

The day we arrive is always a fun day off to get prepared for camp and unwind front the jet lag. Last year we visited LSU, so this year we were off to Southern Mississippi, to the house that Brett Favre built!

Ryker takes in “The Rock” at Southern Miss

As we usually do, we got very lucky and found an open gate and snuck into the stadium. We had “The Rock” (its nickname) all to ourselves. We played on the field for about 10 minutes and got hit with the afternoon southern downpour. We were soaked! But, in our running for cover we found about every door unlocked. We went up into the press box and suites and even the scoreboard control room. It was crazy!

Sheldon High’s Ryker Rohaley visits the Brett Favre display at Southern Mississippi

We had our own private tour. We were careful not to disrupt anything, didn’t want to get in any trouble. We stoped in to the athletic center next door on the way out and it was left unlocked just for us too! We walked right in to see their wall of fame where Brett Favre’s trophies were. We turned the corner and found ourselves in the locker room!  Doors were wide open! There were helmets, cleats, and dirty jerseys lying all over the floor. It was the coolest thing ever. We didn’t want to get in trouble so we left pretty fast, but not before we got some good pics and a lifetime of memories!

Chris (left) and Ryker on their first day in Louisiana, visiting Southern Mississippi University.

Today was the greatest stadium adventure we ever had, and we’ve had lots! Can’t wait to get up bright and early and start camp Thursday!

DAY 2: THURSDAY, JUNE 26

Thanks for joining me on day two of my Manning Passing Academy camp trip.

Dad and I were one of the first ones at Nichols University to register at camp. We were an hour early so we could get in and out right away and have enough time to go visit the University of Louisiana and make it back before evening practice.

More than 1,500 athletes turned out for the Ragin’ Cajuns football camp.

We got lucky once again! The Ragin Cajun’s stadium was wide open so we had free rein of the field. We explored all over and went up the tunnel the players run out before the games. We made our way to the athletic facility and walked right in to see all the bowl game trophies and different uniforms and historical artifacts. We were about to leave and my dad noticed an open gate to the practice fields so we assumed that meant we could explore it too. The bay door to the indoor field was wide open so we were able to see that too! Some punters/kickers were warming up and one gave me a team ball! That just gave the whole visit a perfect ending!

Ryker with Jalon Daniels, Kansas’ starting QB and Big 12 Conference Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year.

We got back to camp just in time to meet our counselors. My coach was Kansas’ starting QB Jalon Daniels! I’m a huge fan of his so I was totally shocked and excited and got a pic with him right away. Most of the counselors are starting D1 college quarterbacks, it’s so awesome! Last year I had Dillon Gabriel as my counselor.

Ryker met Louisville QB Miller Moss.

We had our first practice, which was just conditioning drills and I about melted in the heat. My dad met legendary coach John Gruden just walking around the stadium while I was out there dying. It was all worth it though when I noticed Arkansas QB Taylen Green as we were leaving. I asked for a pic and he asked me all about where I was from and played, such a nice guy! Then I met Louisville QB Miller Moss to top that!

Ryker met Arkansas QB Taylen Green, who recorded the seventh 3,000-yard passing season in program history last year. 

We finally got back to the hotel about 9 p.m. and I have to be up for my first of three practices (six hours total) at 7 a.m. so I’m going to sleep

Thanks for letting me tell you my story. More to come tomorrow, if I survive the heat … haha.

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