ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: NFL scout, former Cardinal hosts football camp

HARLINGEN — Quarterbacks Joseph Vela of Rio Hondo and Dylan De Leon of Weslaco were all ears Friday at Harlingen High School.

Arguably two of the top QBs returning for this season both took part in the inaugural QB Super Six Challenge organized by former NFL and Harlingen Cardinal quarterback Sam Garza.

After a stellar career with the Cardinals, Garza starred for the UT-El Paso Miners and was later drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 1987. He played with the St. Louis Cardinals later that season during the NFL strike.

It was his only season in the NFL but he spent seven seasons in the Canadian Football League and now works as a professional scout for the Dallas Cowboys.

So when he spoke about becoming a better quarterback, Vela and De Leon listened.

"You could tell when he explained things he was at a different level than us," Vela said. "But what he said made a lot of sense. He's got a lot of experience."

Garza said 32 quarterbacks from across the Valley showed up for the daylong challenge.

Quarterbacks did combine training before lunch.

The list of quarterbacks was cut down to 10 for the second part of the camp then final six were chosen as the top quarterbacks in the Valley.

Along with Vela and De Leon, Edcouch-Elsa's Erik Niño, Donna's Richard Garza, Edinburg's Isaac Escobar and Harlingen's Mack Sanchez were chosen as the Valley's Super Six this season.

"It was intense," De Leon said. "There was a lot of competition out here. But he's (Garza) gone through it all. The ups and downs of football. And he's played at the highest level. So any advice he gives us is beneficial to us now and in the future."

Some notable names didn't compete like Harlingen's John Murphy and Mercedes' Albert Chavez.

Mission Veterans' Rick Alvarado made the cut of 10 but chose not to keep competing.

Vela said Garza gave them some very good tips.

"He told us he's learned a lot from other players and coaches along the way," Vela said. "Every thing he was teaching us was worth it. I'm going to stick with it and keep using it during the season."

The Super Six will be given a pro-style evaluation by Garza. The evaluation will be available on www.qbsuper6.com for college scouts.

The fact that Garza - a professional scout - is writing the evaluation gives it more legitimacy.

"Everything worked out great for us," Garza said. "I hope this challenge grows in the future and we can have all the top quarterbacks competing here next year. Overall we had great support from area coaches and Manny (Gomez) here in Harlingen."

Gomez and his coaching staff along with E-E head coach Joe Solis were on hand to help Garza with the Challenge.