A large part of high school football, especially when making the next step to play at the collegiate level, is attending and excelling at various showcases observed by college coaches. These showcases often take place during the off-season. As summer approaches in the upcoming weeks, Choate hosted their 8th annual showcase this past Tuesday.
The event provided an opportunity for players from various schools to show off their skills to college coaches and sports scouts. Unfortunately, with the impact of the pandemic during the 2020-21 season, Choate could not hold the showcase last year. After a year-long break, the Choate Prospect Showcase has returned.
Ral Nwogbo ’23, a defensive lineman in his second year of playing football, noted, “Especially as someone who hasn’t played for a long time and doesn’t have much film, I think that camps play a pivotal role because it allows coaches to see my athletic ability and football skills.” Nwogbo continued on, explaining how Choate has a large football program, which played a role in why he started and continues to play the sport. “As we can see, we’re doing what many schools can’t. We can host our own showcase where colleges from around the US come and watch us play, and coaches really trust Spinnato, which is a big part of it.”
Varsity Football Head Coach LJ Spinnato shared the “behind the scenes” of the Choate Prospect Showcase. Coach Spinnato spoke of the showcase’s origins and how it began as an event between Choate and Cheshire Academy. It has since grown extensively, with multiple prep schools attending the event annually now. “We saw a need to pool recruits from multiple schools and give college coaches a chance to see them workout…It draws in a bunch of coaches from all over the country to come to see a group of players from multiple schools, so their recruiting is more efficient, and our attempts to get our kids noticed is more efficient, too,” said Coach Spinnato.
Regarding challenges faced when setting up the showcase, Coach Spinnato explained, “Initially it was probably easier to set up. However, you had to learn about what the college coaches wanted to see as a young coach and how to organize a showcase like this. I will say that it was a little bit harder without social media, but we had fewer people and it was a smaller event…As Choate has become more of a destination to recruit good quality young players and people, obviously more attention is drawn to the showcase.”
Football showcases mean a lot to the players, allowing athletes to prove themselves on their home fields — an opportunity many players will be taking advantage of. So, with great excitement, the Choate Prospect Showcase is welcomed back to the off-season schedule. Crank it!
