Kenny Dillingham explains Tempe’s training resources

The Valley is a haven for professional athletes training in the offseason, Kenny Dillingham was quick to explain after a spring practice. From its weather to its various facilities, it has everything an athlete needs, and that’s why so many professional athletes make stops in the area during the summer.

“The one thing that’s unique, is we’re in a city where professional athletes come to train,” Dillingham said. The young head coach is already integrating that unique fact into his recruiting pitches.

Kenny Dillingham pitches training resources in the Valley

“I have two of my former guys out here, Alex Forsyth and TJ Bass, who are training out here in the offseason,” Dillingham said following a morning spring practice on Tuesday. Both Forsyth and Bass played under Dillingham at Oregon when he was the offensive coordinator. Now they’ve found their way onto NFL rosters, Forsyth with the Broncos and Bass with the Cowboys.

“They’re out here watching practice,” Dillingham continued. “Because they love ball, and where do they train? They train here.”

It’s always a positive sign for both current players and recruits, to see professional players at practice.

“I think that’s one thing people overlook a little bit in the recruiting process is all of the resources that his city has,” the head coach explained. “When you are in the NFL, even when you’re in the offseason here and coaches can’t coach you, we have guys that NFL players come to train in the offseason that you can utilize now through NIL. And actually continue to shape your game and improve your game during times that you can’t see your coach. These guys (Forsyth and Bass) are living testament of it.”

The Valley offers unlimited resources for player development, that some schools simply can’t match.