LEWISBERRY, Pa. — When it comes to post-game interviews, linemen are often times the most thanked group on a football field.
But camps specifically for linemen are rare, and one of the biggest in this part of the country is the Coach Jaimie Big Man Classic.
"I've coached guys at every single level. I've been at every single level so I get to share that experience, share that knowledge, and then I get to see these guys grow and develop over the years," said Jaimie Thomas. "They've seen the things that we worked on come into play on the football field and then they go, 'Ok, let me go back, retool, and get some more and keep it going.'"
Thomas is a Harrisburg native who has played in the ACC at Maryland and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2009. Since picking up the whistle, he's helped many student-athletes grow.
"I was at this camp my freshman year and it was smaller," recalled Susquehanna Township junior Mason Lubold. "It was more so people that I knew from around the state, but now it's grown out of state."
"There are guys from Maryland and Virginia," said Cumberland Valley sophomore Tyler Merrill. "It's great competition everywhere you go. I'm sure there are some guys a grade below or above me that'll give me a run for my money. Failing, succeeding, whatever you can do to get better. You don't get better without failing."
Like the athletes, the camp itself continues to grow. For the first time, college coaches were invited to see some of the talent.
"Not only is it good to get out in front of college coaches, but it's just great practice, making sure we're working on the technique, getting those drill sets in, competing, doing one-on-ones," added Lubold. "That's the stuff that not only will get you in front of colleges but will make you a better player on Fridays."
These young men work to improve with each rep. And even former NFL players are always trying to learn. Thomas was at this year's Senior Bowl to help some NFL prospects turn the heads of coaches and scouts, which in turn, makes him better by learning some of the latest techniques being used in today's game.
"It's, it's one of those things I say if you ever get to the point where you feel like you've learned it all, you've actually failed because no one knows it all. The greats, you know, LeBron's consistently learning," said Thomas.
And he knows that his lessons go hand-in-hand, away from the game.
"These are the next generation of fathers and leaders in society, you know what I mean? So if we can imprint those good hard characteristics that you learn in football, hard work, discipline, time management, adversity, determination, all of it, those things that you can learn in football, translate in real life," claimed Thomas. "So if we can get that and get those guys to learn then it's only going to be good things for them in life."