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Art Kehoe Still Making An Impact On The Football Field

Larry BlockSFHSSports: Twitter | Facebook

Since 1979 when Art Kehoe first put on a University of Miami football uniform, the fire and passion that took him through those years as a player and 30 as a coach, still burns inside.

While many offensive line coaches this time of year are running camps at colleges and universities from coast to coast, this Hurricane coaching and playing icon is spending his summer away from the spotlight this year, and hundreds and hundreds of high school football talents are benefitting in a major way.

This past Saturday, as the late morning sun roared toward 90 degrees, Kehoe was out there leading over 100 area line hopefuls through drills and teach these high school football players the same way he did some of the best that ever played at UM.

"You get no special treatment out here," Kehoe yelled at the athletes. "If you want a scholarship and financial help getting to the next level, you cannot take days off."

Remember, this is the same Art Kehoe who developed such standouts as Ereck Flowers, who was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. So, being out on a Saturday morning working the Elite 7-on-7 & Lineman Challenge was something that many of these high school athletes and colleges needed to grasp.

Glenn and Ryan Stout, who put on these educational and informational events – ranging from the classroom to scholarship opportunities and ways to attain them, understand the importance of having someone with the knowledge, teaching and developing skills and being able to help maximize the athletes.

"Any football fan who knows the University of Miami tradition, certainly understands what having Coach Kehoe out here with us is all about," Glenn Stout explained. "Man, this is just a blessing to have a man with those credentials out here teaching and making young men better."

During his time working with the Hurricanes' offensive line, Kehoe produced seven players (Eric Winston in 2005, Brett Romberg in 2002, Bryant McKinnie in 2001, Joaquin Gonzalez in 2000, Richard Mercier in 1999, K.C. Jones in 1996 and Leon Searcy in 1991) who received first-team All-America honors.

"You get out of anything what you put in," Kehoe told the players. "Just understand that we linemen are a different breed. You know exactly what we all are."

THE COMPETITION WAS FIERCE
If you are an offensive or defensive lineman, this event was something that you needed to be a part of – and with programs such as Cooper City, Piper, Archbishop McCarthy, Coral Glades, Taravella, Western, West Broward, Miami Springs, Stranahan and Douglas taking part – it was very competitive.

Douglas is one of those programs, under head coach Willis "Peanut" May, that has remained in the spotlight the past few years – after beating Deerfield for the first time in 15 years. But this season, most of the eyes of college coaches and opponents will be right there on the offensive and defensive lines.

Perhaps one of the most skilled lines in South Florida, Douglas' group came out and looked great. Leading the way up front is Corey Gaynor (6-foot-5, 290 pounds), who every line coach we talked to felt was one of the best in Florida. Gaynor, along with Nick Weber (6-foot-3, 265 pounds), 2018 rising prospect Jack Fris (6-foot-5, 300 pounds), Lucas Taylor (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), Courtney Douglas and others will be the difference makers this coming season.

Douglas took home the team title in the Lineman Challenge; while Piper's Joshua Pierre-Louise was awarded MVP of defense, and teammate Wilberman Louima was the offensive MVP.

"We have worked so hard the past two years building the place on our football team that would win us games and it showed today how far our linemen have come," Piper head coach David Coleman said. "This was a great event for our kids to be a part of and we are all proud of what the entire team did on Saturday."

Other programs that also boasted line prospects included:

Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks: Coach Bryon Walker is coming off an unbeaten season and a conference title. To repeat what this program did in 2015, big time prospects such as 2018 standouts Eric Scott (DE/OL) and Brandon Cummins (DL/OL); and 2017 leader Matthew Farenhem (OL/DL) will need to step up like never before.

Cooper City Cowboys: Here is the one position every year that head coach Brandon Walker and his football team will always have someone to showcase up front. This year, there are players with size such as 2017 prospects Bryan Brefil, Kaylor Boyett and Maxwell Robinson, and tackle Troy Vives, a 2018 athlete.

Coral Glades Jaguars: One of the programs that we hear very little about, but that is all changing with head coach Christian Baldwin doing things the right way, teaching the old school approach. As much as they are improving their skill position prospects, the line is also going through some positive changes – with 2017 defensive end Juan Rivera and several others starting to emerge. This is a program to keep an eye on.

Taravella Trojans: Charles Hafley takes over a program that always has some size up front – and despite losing some key big men who successfully moved on to the next level, prospects such as seniors Dylan Young (OC/OT) and Devin Rodriguez (OC); juniors Adam Scoggins (OT), Zion Samms (OG/DE), Joe Mariano (DE) and Brock Parry (OG).

Stranahan Dragons: Nobody can ever say that third-year head coach Tally Adams is not a person who doesn't expose his football players to every type of competition. This program came last Saturday and did their thing in the 7-on-7 tournament as well as with Uchenna Ezewike and Anthony Johnson who joined some young, but talented young men on the way up.

West Broward Bobcats: No matter where Alabama native Monte Dillworth has gone in his coaching profession, it's all about getting bigger, faster and stronger, and at the lineman challenge event, he brought out a number of quality athletes who will help this program improve and get better. On Saturday, line prospects Ryan Plugge, Jaquri Washington, and Austin Plugge all learned and got better.

Western Wildcats: It's not a surprise what has been happening the past two years in Davie with head coach Adam Ratkevich and his football program. Not only have the skilled players done extremely well, but the linemen are also receiving plenty of attention. Class of 2017 defensive end Kevin Oliver turned heads out west in California at USC. Teammate Matthew Hanson is doing much of the same at the other end. Class of 2018 offensive guard Jacob Kaplan and 2017 tackle Evan Rojas are impressive as well.

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