By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

Like the weather, football will only heat up this summer.

The football teams of Troup County have wrapped up their spring practices, but perhaps the most important time period awaits the squads of LaGrange, Troup and Callaway.

While spring mostly serves to give coaches a better idea of what their players are able to bring to the table, summer workouts allow players to get in better playing shape and learn the ropes of their team’s offenses or defenses.

It’s an important time slot that will be the ultimate preparation for this fall.

“In the spring, we work hard on fundamentals,” said Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins. “In the summer, we actually see some competition. Everything is important as far as getting better for the season.”

All of the teams will participate in various camps that focus on certain positions over the next few months, and the schools will host on-campus workout programs, which usually run four days a week.

Whether on the field or in the weight room, the teams will be working hard.

Callaway, which concluded spring practice Friday, will be attending a passing camp at Auburn beginning June 5, and it will help refine the mechanics of quarterback Quan Bray and give the receivers, which include senior Quantavius Leslie, plenty of reps.

The Cavaliers will also attend 7-on-7 passing camps at Clemson and Jacksonville State this summer, and 10 offensive linemen will also go to a camp.

“(The passing camps) help our skill kids out a lot,” Wiggins said. “The receivers will run a lot of routes and the quarterbacks will throw endless amounts of balls. It’s great for repetition and experience, and it’s important for confidence.”

LaGrange wrapped up its spring practices Monday, and head coach Steve Pardue will help lead workouts, which begin May 26.

Pardue said the Grangers’ summer schedule begins in June, which will focus on getting stronger and faster in the weight room.

Come July, the workouts will become more specific and focus on the players’ individual positions.

“We’ll take some of the seniors on camps in July,” Pardue said. “We’ll go to a camp at Northside-Warner Robins for sure.”

Upcoming senior quarterback Jamius Gunsby, who has a scholarship offer from Florida, among other schools, will attend a quarterback camp.

Kicker Joe Mansour will also attend several camps that specialize in the kicking game.

Troup head coach Bubba Jeter said he’s “not big” on camps for his players, but the Tigers won’t be lacking in summer workouts.

“I’m not as big of a camp guy as some coaches,” Jeter said. “I’d rather have them here working out with us.”

Troup, which ended its spring practices Friday, will take a few weeks off before diving into workouts, which will be Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Tigers will attend a preseason camp in West Point near the end of the summer, and several upcoming seniors will visit college campuses as they attend camps throughout the next few months.

“That gives the seniors an opportunity to get evaluated and see the college campuses,” Jeter said. “That’s something I’m for, not against.”