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PETOSKEY — Connor Berg and Jace Shaw see a lot of each other at Petoskey football practices.
With Berg along the offensive line and Shaw rushing off the edge of the defensive line, it makes a lot of sense that the two would be quite familiar with each other by now.
Outside of Petoskey, the two have also been well aquatinted this summer.
Both standout football players entering their senior season with the Northmen, Berg and Shaw have been busy hitting camps all across the state, from Central and Western Michigan, to Ferris State and more.
For both players, getting in front of college coaches on the camp tour has been a fun ride.
“It’s been great, especially with Jace,” Berg said. “We compete against each other technically with him playing D-line and me on the O-line. We’ve yet to take a rep against each other, but it’s been fun. It’s fun to see your teammate go out and cook a guy, then you turn around and do the same thing.”
Both have stepped up their recruiting efforts this summer and it’s been paying off for them.
Berg has been everywhere across the state and college coaches have taken note of his 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame, with the ability to add even more to it.
“The past two months I’ve put on probably 20 pounds but I’m still moving the same,” he said. “I’m actually faster and jumping further than I ever have after putting weight on. I’m excited to keep it going and trying to put on about 10 more.”
Berg got into the camp scene a bit late in the process, recovering from a knee injury following his sophomore year on varsity, making him a new prospect to college coaches, but a coveted one.
“My first two (offers) came after about a year difference when I was coming back from my knee injury and started walking again,” Berg said. “That hit home and just showed how much my hard work paid off.”
This summer, Berg has picked up football offers from Grand Valley State, Michigan Tech, Saginaw Valley State, Northern Michigan and more at the Division II level, along with a preferred walk-on spot with Western Michigan.
“It feels amazing knowing I’ve got all these options and have all these great schools that are very interested and want me to be a part of their program,” Berg said. “I’m very excited.”
The process is far from over for Berg, with teams always looking for a good size athlete that can play tackle, center or anywhere else. On Tuesday at Petoskey, Berg was even running routes.
“Every team has told me they’re recruiting me as an athlete,” Berg added. “I’ve been talked to about playing D-line, tight end, O-line. That’s why I’m out here running routes.”
For Shaw, the process is just beginning as well, with many of the same camp stops as Berg.
“It was fun getting out and competing,” he said. “My favorite camp was actually the first, the Big Man Camp. It’s all full pads and I got called out when we grouped around the middle because I won a drill. It’s just fun and got me hyped.”
A 6-foot-2, 200-pound defensive edge for the Northmen, Shaw was off most radars until a breakout junior season that came with 50 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, four sacks and an interception.
Well known as one of the best athletes at Petoskey, even with his large frame, he had the chance to show off his ability to bend and speed rush this summer.
It’s the same athleticism that made him an all-state basketball player this winter and standout on the track in the spring, competing in seven different events, from pole vault and discus, to sprints and relays.
“I just try to do the most that I can to make the most of my athletic abilities,” Shaw said. “Pole vault was just completely random. It was something fun and new I wanted to try, so why not?”
Shaw’s hoping to get up to around 210 pounds this fall, but, regardless, teams have already started to see the potential. Along with standing out at larger camps, he picked up offers from Olivet and Hope College.
“It’s great to get offers,” he said. “Knowing that a team wants me to play there, it’s a great honor.”
Check back for more on a Northmen football athlete.
Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at [email protected] and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey's Connor Berg, Jace Shaw picking up steam on recruiting trail
Continue reading...
With Berg along the offensive line and Shaw rushing off the edge of the defensive line, it makes a lot of sense that the two would be quite familiar with each other by now.
Outside of Petoskey, the two have also been well aquatinted this summer.
Both standout football players entering their senior season with the Northmen, Berg and Shaw have been busy hitting camps all across the state, from Central and Western Michigan, to Ferris State and more.
For both players, getting in front of college coaches on the camp tour has been a fun ride.
“It’s been great, especially with Jace,” Berg said. “We compete against each other technically with him playing D-line and me on the O-line. We’ve yet to take a rep against each other, but it’s been fun. It’s fun to see your teammate go out and cook a guy, then you turn around and do the same thing.”
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Both have stepped up their recruiting efforts this summer and it’s been paying off for them.
Berg has been everywhere across the state and college coaches have taken note of his 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame, with the ability to add even more to it.
“The past two months I’ve put on probably 20 pounds but I’m still moving the same,” he said. “I’m actually faster and jumping further than I ever have after putting weight on. I’m excited to keep it going and trying to put on about 10 more.”
Berg got into the camp scene a bit late in the process, recovering from a knee injury following his sophomore year on varsity, making him a new prospect to college coaches, but a coveted one.
“My first two (offers) came after about a year difference when I was coming back from my knee injury and started walking again,” Berg said. “That hit home and just showed how much my hard work paid off.”
You must be registered for see images attach
This summer, Berg has picked up football offers from Grand Valley State, Michigan Tech, Saginaw Valley State, Northern Michigan and more at the Division II level, along with a preferred walk-on spot with Western Michigan.
“It feels amazing knowing I’ve got all these options and have all these great schools that are very interested and want me to be a part of their program,” Berg said. “I’m very excited.”
The process is far from over for Berg, with teams always looking for a good size athlete that can play tackle, center or anywhere else. On Tuesday at Petoskey, Berg was even running routes.
“Every team has told me they’re recruiting me as an athlete,” Berg added. “I’ve been talked to about playing D-line, tight end, O-line. That’s why I’m out here running routes.”
You must be registered for see images attach
For Shaw, the process is just beginning as well, with many of the same camp stops as Berg.
“It was fun getting out and competing,” he said. “My favorite camp was actually the first, the Big Man Camp. It’s all full pads and I got called out when we grouped around the middle because I won a drill. It’s just fun and got me hyped.”
A 6-foot-2, 200-pound defensive edge for the Northmen, Shaw was off most radars until a breakout junior season that came with 50 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, four sacks and an interception.
Well known as one of the best athletes at Petoskey, even with his large frame, he had the chance to show off his ability to bend and speed rush this summer.
It’s the same athleticism that made him an all-state basketball player this winter and standout on the track in the spring, competing in seven different events, from pole vault and discus, to sprints and relays.
You must be registered for see images attach
“I just try to do the most that I can to make the most of my athletic abilities,” Shaw said. “Pole vault was just completely random. It was something fun and new I wanted to try, so why not?”
Shaw’s hoping to get up to around 210 pounds this fall, but, regardless, teams have already started to see the potential. Along with standing out at larger camps, he picked up offers from Olivet and Hope College.
“It’s great to get offers,” he said. “Knowing that a team wants me to play there, it’s a great honor.”
Check back for more on a Northmen football athlete.
Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at [email protected] and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey's Connor Berg, Jace Shaw picking up steam on recruiting trail
Continue reading...
