Being the starting quarterback for any high school in Texas comes with pressure. Football is ingrained in our communities and a large portion of the team’s success falls on the quarterback. This means quarterbacks across the state spend their summers preparing extensively for the upcoming season. A popular part of that preparation includes attending camps, and Under Armour’s Quarterback Ranch is one of the most popular in DFW.

A two day skills academy for quarterbacks and receivers, the Quarterback Ranch focuses on mechanics and footwork, as well as some film study. Southlake Carroll quarterback Quinn Ewers attended Quarterback Ranch over the weekend in preparation for the season and said the camp helps him prepare in a way regular workouts can’t.

“Just getting reps and mentally prepare,” Ewers said. “Honestly just trying to fix a couple things with my mechanics and get my job right; ready for the season.”

While working out with his teammates throughout the summer certainly helps, it is a welcomed change for camp attendees to get instruction from a group of coaches specifically focusing on the quarterback position. The first group session on Thursday included getting footwork right on drop-backs and eliminating unnecessary hitches. 

Most camp attendees hail from Texas, however the camp isn’t closed off to visitors from other states. One of Thursday’s more impressive performers hails from Bismarck, North Dakota. Kade Rohlfs has spent part of his summer visiting family in Frisco and noticed an all around difference from North Dakota as soon as he stepped on the field.

“Different talent level, like, a lot from North Dakota,” Rohlfs said. “It’s very different. Just a lot of different athletes agility wise, just coaching, everything is a lot different. It’s a cool atmosphere.”

Rohlfs will take back valuable experience and coaching with resources likely unavailable in North Dakota to help lead Bismarck High School next season. The summer is a time to get better as a player and the level of competition at Quarterback Ranch is one not found at many camps. Quarterbacks come from all over the state to compete, including a nearly nine-hour drive from San Benito, Texas, for Andres Villagran. The level of competition and quality coaching makes the drive more than worth it.

“Just knowing that there is going to be awesome competition here,” Villagran said. “I saw [Stephenville quarterback] Kade Renfro here, I wanted to compete against him because I know he’s one of the best quarterbacks in Texas. Just trying to get that really good coaching that I know they bring to this camp. I’m looking to compete against who is top dog here to see where I am against them.”

With the season kicking off in less than 45 days and team training camps coming up in a little more than three weeks, July is an important month for self training and growth. The Quarterback Ranch helps quarterbacks of all kinds prepare for their upcoming season, whether from a powerhouse like Southlake Carroll, a south Texas kid like Villagran, or adding a little Texas talent to North Dakota high school football.