All-Poly Camp no longer the best kept secret in recruiting

(Michelle Tessier, Deseret News)


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LAYTON — The All-Poly Football Camp started in 2001 with just 30 kids.

Now just 13 years later, the camp attracts more than 500 athletes and some of the best coaches in the country. The camp is no longer the best kept secret in recruiting.

"The secret is out," Utah State football coach Matt Wells said. "Salt Lake International Airport has been busy the last couple of days with a lot of people flying in with different logos."

The All-Poly Camp is open to all races and ethnicities, but gets its name from the athlete's introduction into the Polynesian culture as many of the coaches and pro athletes participating in the camp are of the Polynesian descent.

"You don't get a camp like this anywhere else in the country," East High School football coach Brandon Matich said. "To have all of the focus on Utah and (its) athletes is pretty special."

University of Colorado Head Coach Mike 
MacIntyre, right, talks with University of 
Washington Head Coach Chris Petersen, left, and 
BYU Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall, center, as 
players run warm-ups during the All Poly high 
school football camp at Ellison Park.
University of Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre, right, talks with University of Washington Head Coach Chris Petersen, left, and BYU Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall, center, as players run warm-ups during the All Poly high school football camp at Ellison Park. (Photo: Michelle Tessier, Deseret News)

Matich had a few of his players attend the camp, including Stanford commit Christian Folau.

"I'm excited to improve. There is always room for improvement. The coaches here are very good," Folau said.

While the camp features many players from Utah, elite prep athletes from across the country also find time to come to this camp because of the exposure to and knowledge gained from some of the best coaches in the business.

Dru Samia, one of the nation's top offensive line prospects out of California, said, "There is no words to describe or money you can put on (the All-Poly Camp). You just have to come out here and experience it."

"I think it is great for exposure, but it is also great to get great coaching," American Fork offensive lineman James Empey said. "They obviously all know their stuff, and it helps us get better."

The focus of the camp is broken down into three aspects: attitude, academics and athletics.

"The goal is to teach these kids what we teach at the college level, and hopefully they can take one or two things away and apply it in their upcoming season," Wisconsin defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a said.

The growth of the camp has been reflective of the state of Utah high school football as coaches around the nation are starting to give more attention to its athletes.


I think people are starting to recognize the talent here.

–USC football coach Steve Sarkisian


"I think people are starting to recognize the talent here," USC football coach Steve Sarkisian said. "I don't know if the kids have necessarily gotten all that much better from where they were 10 years ago, but people are starting to recognize (the football talent in Utah)."

While players were in awe of the collegiate coaches in attendance, all coaches were appreciative of all the work All-Poly Camp organizer Alema Te'o has played in expanding the state's recruiting footprint.

"They learn more than just football. They learn how to be a great teammate and how to overcome adversity, whether it is from Alema and his staff, or the college coaches that are out here," Wells added. "This is a tremendous event, and Utah high school prospects benefit from it."

Brighton High School linebacker Osa Masina is one of those directly benefiting from the spotlight on high school football in Utah. Masina, one of the state's top prospects in the 2015 class, currently holds 21 offers from schools across the country, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford and Wisconsin, in addition to all three in-state schools.

"There aren't a lot of opportunities where you can compete against all your friends in the state with full pads and a full game," Masina said. "I've never been able to participate with injuries the last two years, so it meant a lot to me to get out to this camp and finally do it."


This is a tremendous event, and Utah high school prospects benefit from it.

–Utah State football coach Matt Wells


As the talent of high school athletes continues to improve in Utah, more players will get the opportunity to go on and play college football.

"Everybody is competitive, but we all respect each other. Everyone is together as a family," Desert Hills safety Gabe Sewell said. "It didn't matter what classification players were from, everyone got along well and we just played as if we were one team."

Gabe's cousin, Boogie Sewell, agreed. "You get the best competition in the nation. This is such a great opportunity to learn from these legit college coaches. I couldn't have gotten this anywhere else."

Robert Jackson is the cross platform sports and weather producer for ksl.com and KSL-TV. He has covered the Utes for KSL since 2008. You can catch him and co-host Brian Swinney Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. on the Ute Sports Report 1320 KFAN.

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