One of the fastest rising local football recruits this summer has been Sandy Creek senior quarterback Rio Johnson.

Johnson, who recently committed to East Carolina University, continues to receive attention, having been invited to the first-ever Dual-Threat Quarterback Camp, held in Atlanta.

This exclusive, invitation-only camp, founded by Tee Martin, is the first of its kind and is custom designed to train top high school dual-threat quarterbacks for successful collegiate careers and beyond. The camp will take place July 12-13, 2008, at North Atlanta High School.

College systems are changing and evolving and the Dual-Threat Quarterback Camp introduces a style of coaching that is changing with the game. As National Championship-winning teams continue to run dual-threat quarterback systems, the demand for talented athletes like Vince Young and Tim Tebow grows. Martin's camp aims to meet this demand by recruiting, training, nurturing and developing the most exciting dual-threat quarterbacks in the U.S. This year the camp will welcome rising high school juniors and seniors who have been selected by coaches' recommendations and evaluation by Tee Martin and his staff.

This summer, Johnson, Tyler Russell of Meridian (Miss.), Raymond Cotton of Meade (Md.), Will Gilchrist of Hardin County (Tenn.) and Garett Williams of Chamblee (Ga.) will all make history as the camp's first invitees. Russell and Cotton have given verbal commitments to Mississippi State and Auburn, respectively. Gilchrist has received offers but remain undeclared.

"When I was in high school, there weren't many coaches who were training dual-threat quarterbacks like me for our skillset," says Martin. "But now that the systems are changing, and dual-threat quarterbacks are in demand, there's no better time than the present to start coaching dual-threat quarterbacks based on their unique strengths in order to help them reach their maximum potential."

Recognized as one of the game's most impressive dual-threat quarterbacks, Martin led the University of Tennessee to an undefeated, 13-0 National Championship season in 1998. He was later drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and retired as an Oakland Raider. Currently, Martin is founder of the Dual Threat Quarterback Academy and owner of Playmakers Sports, a performance training company in Atlanta. He is also a quarterback coach for the Nike Elite 11 Quarterback Camps and Nike Football Training Camps.

"I think he truly cares about helping kids from all backgrounds and all skill levels," says Barry Every, Rivals.com recruiting analyst. "It is a fact that California quarterbacks are further along in their mechanics and knowledge of the game. This is because there is a multitude of quarterback gurus in that state. I believe Tee Martin wants to bring that same philosophy to the East Coast."

The Dual-Threat Quarterback Camp is poised to become one of the premier quarterback camps in the nation. The camp will include two days of intensive performance training, film review, guest speakers, and Q&A opportunities with current and former collegiate and professional players.

"Players will leave our camp with knowledge on how to be quicker, stronger, more agile, and more instinctive quarterbacks," says Martin. "They will rise to the occasion inside and outside of the pocket; and on and off the field. They will have a better understanding of the game."

This camp is a prelude to a series of regional dual-threat quarterback camps created by Martin that will be held throughout the United States in 2009. The camps will offer training to players who have been identified as dual-threat quarterbacks as well as pro-style quarterbacks who want to become more versatile quarterbacks. Next year's Dual-Threat Quarterback Camp invitees will be selected based on stats, film, coaches' recommendations, and their performance in the regional camps.

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