Marble Falls’ Bales showcases talent at college football camps

The desire to play college football is why Marble Falls High School junior lineman Jeremiah Bales has been traveling to different camps.

During the last several weeks, Bales has camped at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas State University, Angelo State University, Texas A&M at Commerce and Texas Christian University.

At 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 323 pounds, Bales has the intangibles that college coaches love in linemen. But it’s his strength at the point of attack that gets people talking. Case in point was during the 2021 bi-district championship when Bales lined up at nose guard and bull-rushed the center and a guard. Bales was strong enough to take them both on and pushed them backward in his pursuit of the ball.

The only camp Bales entered as a defensive lineman was at Hardin-Simmons University. Everywhere else he is listed as an offensive lineman.

“I volunteered to go there (to that position),” he said. “It’s what I’m better at.”

With the anticipated move to the offensive side for the Mustangs, these camps are showing him how and where to improve.

“We’re learning how to pass block and the fundamentals,” he said. “You’re coached on how to get into the three-point stance and hold it until the quarterback snaps the ball, pass blocking, zone blocking, run blocking, everything in a spread offense linemen need to know. I’m better at holding the person away from the quarterback than pushing.”

Bales said while competing in the camps is beneficial, he noted observing other campers and going against them is an added bonus.

“You really get to know other linemen and how they and their teams play and how good they are and how you compete against them,” he said. “I like to know how to play against others competing in Texas.”

As for which parts of the camps he has focused on, pass protection ranks at the top.

“They’re teaching me the fundamentals and timing so when we do pass the ball, you have to keep the quarterback from being hit,” he said.

Though he hasn’t received an offer yet, the one feeling the Mustang doesn’t have is discouragement.

“I think I’m pretty good at what I do,” he said. “I think there are others better than me. I like everything I’ve seen at these camps and these coaching staffs.”

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