Indiana University Athletics
Sudfeld Enjoys Time Spent at Manning Passing Academy
7/17/2015 10:38:00 AM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
Indiana senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld was back in the classroom last weekend.
Only he wasn't studying in Bloomington. He was at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., where he and 36 other college quarterbacks were invited to learn from Archie, Peyton, Eli and Cooper Manning at the 20th anniversary edition of the Manning Passing Academy.
By the time Sudfeld left for home, he had taken down pages of notes filled with tips and advice from one of football's most celebrated families.
"It was an awesome experience that was everything I hoped it would be," Sudfeld said. "It was a lot of work, but at the same time it was very rewarding to be able to learn from the best and work out with a bunch of talented quarterbacks."
Sudfeld's time at the camp was split between learning hands on from Super Bowl MVPs Peyton and Eli and coaching the roughly 1,200 high school quarterbacks in attendance.
When he was working with the campers, Sudfeld was one of the superstars turning heads. He helped teach the younger players the basics of mastering things like the three-step drop and analyzing which types of throws to make in different scenarios.
Sudfeld said his time as an instructor turned out to be one of the more worthwhile parts of the four-day camp.
"I got to council some of the younger quarterbacks, which was very rewarding to see them so interested and working hard at the position I love," he said. "When I was with the kids, it was always fun."
Sudfeld said the time working with the campers was "a lot of work," but he was rewarded with the chance to participate in a workout and closed-door Q&A session with Peyton and Eli, who have combined to win three Super Bowls in the last nine years.
Sudfeld found comfort in learning that many of the same things he's been working on with Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson and offensive coordinator Kevin Johns are the very same things Peyton and Eli emphasized.
"I'd do everything I could to soak up what they were talking about," Sudfeld said. "Going into his 18th year, (Peyton) still watches his mechanics and small things. Even when I wasn't asking questions, just watching him workout, every single rep was like it's his last. It was really impressive to see the best do what they do."
Sudfeld himself was able to impress the Mannings and everyone else in attendance during the Papa John's Quarterback Challenge, where he finished second to Baylor's Seth Russell.
The competition tested both arm strength and accuracy by having the college quarterbacks throw at moving targets placed on golf carts moving 10 yards, and then 20 yards, down the field. Then they each had to hit a final golf cart driving about 50 yards down the field along the sidelines.
Sudfeld admitted the first throw was a bit nerve racking, but once he found his stride he was able to advance to the final round.
"(The competition) was something I was really looking forward to, stacking myself up against guys who are thought of to be the best or premier quarterbacks in college football," Sudfeld said.
"It was really cool to see myself stack up. I thought I did very well with those guys, but at the same time it was awesome to learn from what they do at their colleges."
Up next for Sudfeld will be another chance to pick the brain of one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks.
He'll be at Memorial Stadium on Sunday with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who will be in Bloomington along with the Change The Play tour, which aims to inspire kids to live healthier lifestyles.
IUHoosiers.com
Indiana senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld was back in the classroom last weekend.
Only he wasn't studying in Bloomington. He was at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., where he and 36 other college quarterbacks were invited to learn from Archie, Peyton, Eli and Cooper Manning at the 20th anniversary edition of the Manning Passing Academy.
By the time Sudfeld left for home, he had taken down pages of notes filled with tips and advice from one of football's most celebrated families.
"It was an awesome experience that was everything I hoped it would be," Sudfeld said. "It was a lot of work, but at the same time it was very rewarding to be able to learn from the best and work out with a bunch of talented quarterbacks."
Sudfeld's time at the camp was split between learning hands on from Super Bowl MVPs Peyton and Eli and coaching the roughly 1,200 high school quarterbacks in attendance.
When he was working with the campers, Sudfeld was one of the superstars turning heads. He helped teach the younger players the basics of mastering things like the three-step drop and analyzing which types of throws to make in different scenarios.
Sudfeld said his time as an instructor turned out to be one of the more worthwhile parts of the four-day camp.
"I got to council some of the younger quarterbacks, which was very rewarding to see them so interested and working hard at the position I love," he said. "When I was with the kids, it was always fun."
Sudfeld said the time working with the campers was "a lot of work," but he was rewarded with the chance to participate in a workout and closed-door Q&A session with Peyton and Eli, who have combined to win three Super Bowls in the last nine years.
Sudfeld found comfort in learning that many of the same things he's been working on with Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson and offensive coordinator Kevin Johns are the very same things Peyton and Eli emphasized.
"I'd do everything I could to soak up what they were talking about," Sudfeld said. "Going into his 18th year, (Peyton) still watches his mechanics and small things. Even when I wasn't asking questions, just watching him workout, every single rep was like it's his last. It was really impressive to see the best do what they do."
Sudfeld himself was able to impress the Mannings and everyone else in attendance during the Papa John's Quarterback Challenge, where he finished second to Baylor's Seth Russell.
The competition tested both arm strength and accuracy by having the college quarterbacks throw at moving targets placed on golf carts moving 10 yards, and then 20 yards, down the field. Then they each had to hit a final golf cart driving about 50 yards down the field along the sidelines.
Sudfeld admitted the first throw was a bit nerve racking, but once he found his stride he was able to advance to the final round.
"(The competition) was something I was really looking forward to, stacking myself up against guys who are thought of to be the best or premier quarterbacks in college football," Sudfeld said.
"It was really cool to see myself stack up. I thought I did very well with those guys, but at the same time it was awesome to learn from what they do at their colleges."
Up next for Sudfeld will be another chance to pick the brain of one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks.
He'll be at Memorial Stadium on Sunday with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who will be in Bloomington along with the Change The Play tour, which aims to inspire kids to live healthier lifestyles.
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