Midwest prospects excited for SMSB Camp

The Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp kicks off Thursday at Wayne State University in Detroit, and the buzz about this year's event continues to build. As many as 70 prospects with Division 1 offers are expected to compete at the camp, and coaches representing more than two dozen college football programs will be in attendance to scout campers.

For a prospect like Chagrin Falls (Ohio) Kenston linebacker Percy Johnson, the Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp not only gives him a chance to compete against other Division 1 talents, but also the opportunity to add to an offer list that already boasts several MAC programs. A former residence of southeast Michigan, Johnson is well aware of the opportunity the Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp presents him.

"This is my third year going," Johnson said. "This camp means a lot to me and I'll be seeing players I've been playing against since I was little. There's a lot of good competition and I'll be matching my skills up against them. I heard people from Chicago, Cleveland and a lot of different states want to be there, so it will definitely make me better."

In years past, the Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp consisted almost totally of prospects from the state of Michigan, and more specifically the city of Detroit. Due to the high exposure of the camp, and the quality of on-field and off-the-field instruction, however, the camp has attracted more prospects from other states in the Midwest and even as far away as Arizona and Virginia.

One prospect who will be attending his first Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp this year is Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Dwenger running back Remound Wright. The Rivals250 prospect attended the Michigan Football Showcase in February, which is run by the same group - the Lifting As We Climb Foundation - that runs the Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp.

"I hear it is a very fun camp," Wright commented. "I'm looking forward to seeing guys I've been competing against the last two years and been building friendships with. I think they are a Christian group too, which is very appealing to me."

Other Rivals250 prospects expected to be in attendance this weekend include Saginaw, Mich., wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett, Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville offensive lineman Aundrey Walker, Detroit Cass Tech cornerback Delonte Hollowell and Highland Park, Mich., athlete Raymon Taylor.

In years past, the Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp has been a coming out party of sorts for several underclassmen, including Hollowell who has already accepted an offer from Michigan. This year, the list of underclassmen expected to attend features some promising names, including Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's linebacker James Ross, Chicago Simeon offensive lineman Jordan Diamond and Detroit Cass Tech teammates Royce Jenkins-Stone and Terry Richardson.

One underclassmen who could see his stock shoot up after this week's Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp is Detroit Martin Luther King 2012 athlete Dennis Norfleet. The 5-9, 170-pound Norfleet has had impressive showings already this off-season at the Michigan Football Showcase and Columbus NIKE Camp. He has missed the Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp in past years because of conflicts with AAU basketball, but knew he needed to be in attendance this summer.

"Since this is my 11th grade year, I need to go to a lot of camps," Norfleet said. "Other guys have told me there is a lot of competition [at Sound Mind, Sound Body] and a lot of the top guys from the state go and compete. There will be a lot of coaches and I think it is important because you've got to prove that you are the best in the city."

The Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp will take place over the course of Thursday June 17 and Friday June 18. Each day will feature extensive on-field work, but there will also be instruction on character and life skills as well as speaking presentations from several college coaches. Additional information on the camp can be found at SMSBCamp.com.