Summer work paying dividends for 2013 OL

Canton, Mich., offensive lineman Cameron Dillard knows he is not there yet, but with two seasons still left in his high school career he does not need to be. The 6-3, 280-pound Dillard spent his summer on the road, showing college coaches his progress thus far.

"I have gone to Eastern Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan," Dillard reported.

Besides the camps mentioned, Dillard also made unofficial visits to Indiana and Cincinnati this month at the behest of those coaching staffs. Among the schools he worked out for, Dillard specifically felt the interest from West Virginia, Michigan and Notre Dame rose as a result of his workout.

"At Michigan, Coach [Darrell] Funk told me that I am a scholarship player and he liked what I had done at Michigan's camp. He wants to see my first three games and we'll go from there," Dillard said. "Notre Dame said I rose my stock with them and Coach Martin wants me to come down for a couple games. Coach [Bill] Bedenbaugh from West Virginia said he liked everything I did at the camp and also wants to see my first three games."

Although no new offers have arrived in the immediate aftermath of his camp showing, Dillard entered the camp season with an offer from Eastern Michigan already in hand.

"That was actually during the Spring Evaluation Period," Dillard said. "I felt really honored that they offered me. I felt very blessed that I was able to have that opportunity."

The work has not stopped during the times when Dillard has been at home in Canton this summer. The rising junior hooked up with former Michigan strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis, who started his own place after leaving Ann Arbor last winter.

"Working with him has been great," Dillard said of Barwis. "The last seven weeks I feel I have started to become that complete athlete coaches are looking for. It's mainly conditioning and also more hip mobility and flexibility."

Dillard is being recruited to play either guard or center at the college level. He will be starting for the second year at right tackle for Canton High, and looks to continue his progress into the fall.

"I'm really looking forward to showing what I have improved on over the summer, which is mainly my pass blocking," Dillard said. "I also want to continue to be that dominant run blocker that I am known for. I got all-league last year, so I hope to get that or better this year."