02:24 From Camps to Commitments: Inside the Modern QB Recruiting Journey

🎧 Guests:

• Andy Hafner – Stepfather of Missouri State QB commit Brett Ottensmeyer, experienced in multi-sport recruiting

• Hosts: JP Rock & Matt Biermann

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🔑 Key Topics:

🏈 Featured Conversation: The Real Recruiting Journey

• Andy Heifner shares the full, honest journey of Brett Ottensmeyer’s rise from a multi-sport freshman to a Missouri State commit

• Insight into the mental and physical demands on families navigating modern recruiting

• The myth of early exposure: Why some athletes get pushed into camps too early

• Importance of timing, training, and realistic self-assessment

📍 Manning Passing Academy Recap

• Elite Football Academy was well-represented with 12 QBs out of 1,400 total campers

• Braden Biermann’s personal experience: working alongside top college QBs like Miller Moss (USC/Louisville), Conner Weigman (A&M/Houston), and Barron Morton (Texas Tech)

• Interaction highlights:

  • John Gruden pulled up on a golf cart, coached Braden mid-drill, and made a lasting impression

  • Eli Manning led play-action mechanics and gave personal instruction

  • Arch, Peyton, Cooper Manning and others were active all week

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🔍 The Recruiting Landscape in 2025

• Missouri officially has 2 FBS schools as of July 1st: Missouri and Missouri State

• Missouri State opens vs. USC in a $1.1M payday game

• FCS-to-FBS transition fee: Jumped from $5K → $5M between 2023 and 2025

• Transfer portal has shifted the high school recruiting model: schools now wait for players to develop at smaller programs before grabbing them

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🧠 Advice to Parents & Athletes

• The recruiting process is now a 3–4 year evolution, not a single event

• Don't force camp exposure too early — early impressions stick and can be hard to undo

• Build slow, develop size/speed/maturity first, then show out

• Adopt the “Anywhere, Anytime” mindset — go wherever the work leads

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🎥 Must-Watch Moments

• John Gruden coaching Braden live during rollout drill

• Eli Manning teaching under-center play-action technique

• Brayden and Brett adjusting lines to get coached by top QBs and coaches

• NFL and D1 athletes roaming the fields, creating a relaxed but competitive learning environment

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📺 Closing Notes

• Peyton Manning’s new Netflix QB series drops July 8th featuring Jared Goff

• Brett Ottensmeyer likely to return to Manning Camp as a counselor next year

• The camp wasn’t just a football event — it was a chance for players to have fun and fall in love with the process