Tarpon Goes Hog Wild


Tarpon RB Joe “Paco” Vega Visits Texas A&M Kingsville

June 24, 2009

By: EJ Holland, tarponfever.net

It’s not often a Tarpon football player gets to attend a college football camp outside of the Rio Grande Valley. Port Isabel senior running back Joe “Paco” Vega got to experience an opportunity of a lifetime when he attended the Texas A&M Kingsville Javelina Football Camp this past weekend (June 20).

The camp was held at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville and featured 130 participants from across the state as well as from Oklahoma and Minnesota. Vega enjoyed his experience with athletes outside of the valley stating “There is definitely competition outside of the valley, with those kids there is no joking around, there was just great competition all around.” Javelina coaches as well as players were out helping the participants throughout the camp. Starting Javelina quarterback and Valley alumni Billy Garza, was just one of many players assisting athletes at the camp. When asked about what it was like learning from college coaches Vega said “The intensity level of college coaches is much more demanding.”

The camp focused mainly on speed and agility drills which included the 40 yard dash, shuttles, sprints, and cone drills. Each athlete at the camp got an official 40 and shuttle time. In the 40 yard dash Vega posted an impressive 4.58. Vega posted an even more impressive shuttle time, 4.26, which was the 3rd fastest shuttle time out of the 130 participants at the camp. “I was extremely happy with my times, ever since the end of football season I have been focusing on speed and quickness, thorough hard work I was able to reach my goal of running a 4.5 at the camp,” Vega exclaimed. Vega also noted that he “will continue to work on explosiveness” because at the Division II level that is extremely important to any athlete.

Vega did not only go to the Javelina camp to enhance his skills for the 2009 football season, he also wanted to impress Texas A&M Kingsville coaches. “I have been looking at Kingsville ever since 8th grade, I would love to be a part of their rich tradition, they are right at the top of where I want to play college football” said Vega. Vega also had the opportunity to talk to former Rio Hondo quarterback and recent Javelina recruit, Joseph Vela. When asked about Vela; Vega answered “He was extremely helpful and said after playing against me that I have a chance to play with Kingsville in the future.”

Texas A&M Kingsville Head Football Coach Bo Atterberry released a statement saying, “(Our camp) gives you the opportunity to get high quality football instruction, be seen by college coaches, while providing an opportunity to get a head start on the 2009 football season.” Vega unquestionably made the most of his opportunity at the camp and added “It was a great opportunity to go out there and show what I could do; it was an honor to learn from the coaches and compete with great athletes.” Fun was an added bonus for Vega who proclaimed, “It was definitely fun but intense.”


To see the entire Joe “Paco” Vega interview see video below: