We are rapidly approaching Detroit Lions training camp. The rookies are due to report in just 19 days. Then we will begin one of the more fun annual traditions. Finding out who this years camp darling is going to be.
The camp darling, for those who don’t know, is the guy that fans just fall in love with during training camp and the preseason. The thing about that guy is that he usually has a small chance to make the team and fans really zero in on what that guy does against a bunch of players that also have a small chance to make the team.
Tom Kennedy might be the biggest camp darling of them all. He’d have to go head to head with Zach Zenner on that one, but Kennedy gets the slight edge because he keeps sticking around. Other guys that come to mind are Carmen Messina, Matt Willis, Dylan Drummond, George Winn and Kellen Moore. There’s a ton more, but those are the big ones.
With that in mind, who’s going to be the guy for the Lions this year? Who will fans fall in love with? We’ve got five candidates, here they are:
Jake Funk
Why its Zach Zenner 2.0 right here in front of us. Seriously, he runs just like him. Funk is a hard running guy that has minimal shiftiness, but can lower that shoulder and run through a guy. We haven’t got to see a ton of him since he’s mostly been a practice squad guy for the Rams, Saints, Colts, Dolphins and Ravens. He should get some run during the preseason this year. Maybe we’ll get to see more of this.