Merrillville’s Adam Camphor is prepared to unleash his total game.
The junior defensive tackle was hampered for most of last season after breaking his right hand on the first play of the Pirates’ scrimmage against Lowell. It was a process for him to get back to 100%.
But the 6-foot-1 Camphor, up to 300 pounds after weighing 280 last season, is healthy.
“I got experience last year, but breaking my hand, it was a little bumpy,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being able to use my full potential.
“I’ve gotten a lot stronger, a lot more physical. I’ve started using my hands a lot more. I’m just improving on the little things I need to do, using the technique I need to get better.”
Camphor finished last season with 40 tackles after suffering the injury and missing the first two games. When he returned for the Duneland Athletic Conference opener against Crown Point, he was wearing a club on his hand, a cast covered by padding.
Camphor shed that protection for a smaller cast against Lake Central in Week 8 and finally was cast-less for a Class 5A sectional final against Hammond Central.
“Having the cast, it helped me use my left hand,” he said. “But after I got everything off, I felt so much better. It was easier to tackle.”
Merrillville coach Brad Seiss noticed the difference.
“He wasn’t greatly effective until he finally got the cast off,” Seiss said. “But being a guy who got a lot of experience, he’s really stepped up, and we’re looking for him to have a big-time year.
“He’s our strongest guy in the weight room. We’ve had to stop him on bench and squat just because you don’t want to get him hurt or anything like that.”
Camphor, also a thrower in track and field, is part of a defensive line expected to be a major strength for the Pirates (9-3). The unit includes seniors Terrelle Elmore, an Eastern Michigan commit, and Roshaun McGee.
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“Our D-line is special,” Camphor said. “Even after the starters, we have depth. Everybody’s a good player on the D-line. There’s really no weaknesses.”
Elmore and McGee both were Class 5A junior all-state selections last season, and Elmore envisions a similar path for Camphor.
“He’s a really tough run stopper for our team,” Elmore said of Camphor. “His hands have been getting better over the summer. He’s a really dangerous overall D-lineman. He’s been just great for us.
“I see him going all-state this year. I see him making a huge impact this year and even more of a huge impact his senior year.”
Elmore, McGee, senior defensive back/running back Trey Stephens and senior quarterback Dontae Pope were named Merrillville’s captains. But Camphor is one of the Pirates’ more vocal players, according to Seiss.
“He’s been a great leader for us,” Seiss said. “It’s great he’s doing it even though he’s a junior. But he’s one of 10, 11 guys who got a lot of experience last year, and those 10, 11 guys have to be leaders. It’s cool to see him step up along with the seniors and do that.”
Merrillville opens the season against Andrean on Friday. The Pirates’ streak of three straight semistate appearances ended last season when they lost in a regional to Duneland Athletic Conference rival Valparaiso, which eventually won the state title.
“We’re organized, together, united,” Camphor said. “We have a very high ceiling.”