How attending 'the premier football camp in the country' elevated Hillsdale quarterback Kael Lewis

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JEROMESVILLE − When you go on the very first page of the website and scroll just a little bit down in the middle, you'll see it.

The Best There Is: The premier football camp in the country.

Those are the exact words you'll see when you go onto the website for the all-but prestigious Manning Passing Academy.

You heard correctly.

The football camp that was started and is run by "Football's Royal Family" in the Mannings for over 30 years.

That is College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning, who's the Executive Director. NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and possibly soon-to-be NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Eli Manning, along with the oldest brother Cooper, as they all serve as Senior Associate Directors.

That's where Hillsdale junior signal-caller Kael Lewis spent five days over this past summer at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The camp is catered to skill position players (quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end), with boys and girls entering grades 8-12 all eligible to attend.

Where Lewis got the idea to attend the preeminent football camp in the nation came from none other than from his head coach Trevor Cline, who was a quarterback himself in high school.

"You have to sign up a year in advance. Coach Cline actually went to it in high school, so that's how I found out about it," said Lewis. "He went with a buddy. He told me about it and I signed up for it. It was a fun trip. It was five days and pretty much all football and a bunch of reps."

After having a breakout sophomore year where he threw for 3,053 passing yards, 35 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions and had a 63.7% completion percentage, was a Division VII All-Ohio Second Team and Northeast Inland District First Teamer, while leading Hillsdale to the school's first-ever state championship game, Lewis wanted to sharpen his toolbox even more heading into his junior season.

So, was attending something he wanted to do or felt was needed?

Said Lewis, "I would say both. I definitely wanted to but it was also a need because I had goals this year. I had goals this season of going to a state championship. To make it there, you have to prepare like a state champion."

That mindset absorbed by Lewis over the summer has transferred over to this season, where he finds himself back in another Division VII state championship game this Saturday in Canton. In terms of his play at quarterback, he's even more refined. His numbers bear that out − 70.4% completion percentage, 27 TD passes, 3 INTs, 2,325 passing yards − along with bumping up to being a Division VII Northeast Inland District First Teamer.

"The numbers he put up last year as a sophomore was unbelievable. He's continued to progress as a quarterback and the thing that's impressed me the most with Kael is how well he's taken care of the football," said Cline. "To only throw three interceptions through 14 games is a credit to him and the amount of film he watches and how he prepares."

From a quarterback's perspective attending the Manning Passing Academy, Lewis said it was the competition he fed off of being around other players.

"Definitely seeing the other competition there and competing with other people. That's what we were doing the entire time," he said. "Understanding their mindsets. How you prepare and the mentality going into a game. They split us up and I was in a group with about 10 people and they were all from Ohio. So it was kind of cool talking with them about what they did during their high school season."

With there being 125 professional coaches working the camp, there was plenty to learn football-wise. Lewis underlined that they worked "a lot on RPO" and "just footwork with that and where to keep your eyes."

Yet, if you ask him what's the biggest piece of advice he received, it's about staying calm when the going gets tough.

"I would say if something is not going your way, don't give up," said Lewis. "They spoke about that a little bit."

On the field this season, it's obvious to see that Lewis has elevated his play in two key areas: Throwing on the move and scrambling more outside of the pocket.

"I think I've just gotten more confident in my feet in a way," Lewis said. "Last year, I kind of just sat in the pocket. This year, I have a clock in my head. One … Two … Three seconds. If it's not there, then I'm running."

With some of the best quarterback minds in football history present, you wouldn't blame any of the young campers, including Lewis himself, for being awestruck by such football greatness, right? Or was it strictly business on improving?

Replied Lewis, "I would say a bit of both. There was about 30 Division I starting quarterbacks that run all the drills. My favorite moment was when we did 7-on-7s and we played against Arch Manning's team. That was pretty cool. I got to meet him."

The University of Texas quarterback wasn't the only high profile football name Lewis met and took a photo with. He took pictures with Jon Gruden, LSU quarterback Grant Nussmeier and Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson.

His favorite encounter in the whole experience?

"I would say my encounter with Peyton was the best," said Lewis. "I got to talk with him a little bit."

As of now, Lewis will turn his concentration to guiding Hillsdale to a state title on Saturday and says he's not sure if he'll head back to the Manning camp leading into his senior year.

"I'm not sure yet," Lewis said. "I'll definitely be going to a bunch of college camps. I'm not sure that will be on the list or not."

Whether it is or not, the benefits from Lewis attending have been evident on the gridiron this season.

jamessimpson@gannett.com

Twitter/X: @JamesSimpsonII

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Hillsdale quarterback Kael Lewis learns from Manning Passing Academy

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