BOYNTON BEACH – Pat O’Donnell has been instrumental in building a rock-solid special teams foundation for the past several years.
Now in its fifth year of operation, the Green Bay Packers punter, Miami Hurricanes alum, Palm Beach Central alum, and Palm Beach County Hall of Famer has a viable pipeline that stands out on the field in more ways than one.
O’Donnell had at least two kickers on hand to help him run the fifth annual youth football camp yesterday (July 8) at Somerset Academy Canyons. The two most notable ones hail from American Heritage (Delray Beach) – one as an alum and one as a current student.
Minnesota Vikings kicker and FAU alum Greg Joseph has been a positive presence down through the years. His level of influence, along with O’Donnell, has rubbed off in a great way on this event’s shining star.
Pat O’Donnell, Greg Joseph and Jake Weinberg
Photo Credits: Christian Proscia
Enter Jake Weinberg, who is the nation’s No. 1-ranked kicker by Kohl’s and a bona-fide Florida State verbal commit. The Class of 2024 kicker has had several standout moments in his high school football career.
Weinberg won the Lou Groza Award as Palm Beach County’s best high school placekicker this past December. He is the odds-on favorite to be the first repeat winner later this year.
The Florida State commit’s best kicking moment on the field was a 57-yard field goal last season in Week 6 against St. Andrew’s. But his best moment to date happened yesterday, when he connected on a 60-yard field goal with relative ease.
There existed a collective sigh of amazement from all of the young camp participants, who would go on to have their own individual drills, 40-yard dash races, and kicking competition moments later on in the event.
That collective round of applause extended to the parents, fellow event coaches, sponsors, and even the media outlets who attended.
Weinberg’s 60-yarder impressed O’Donnell as well.
You can listen to Weinberg’s reaction to his 60-yard field goal and much more for yourself.
After the event concluded, Weinberg was showered with praise by O’Donnell and Joseph for everything he has accomplished to date.
You can listen to the group interview for yourself right below.
In addition to that, we had a set of brothers on hand to witness the action and watch their younger ones excel at the event.
Former NFL players and Royal Palm Beach alums Jared and Jordan Dangerfield provided their commentary on this event and much more.
You can listen to the Dangerfield duo right below.
There were several 40-yard dash and kicking competition winners, who were individually recognized by O’Donnell toward the end of the three-hour long event.
To sum it up, the fifth annual Pat O’Donnell Youth Camp turned out to be one that will not be soon forgotten.
