RCX enlists equipment providers for nation’s largest camp and combine series
CHICAGO, March 9, 2020 — Wilson Sporting Goods Co., EvoShield and Xenith have joined the 2020 Rivals Camp and Combine Series as official equipment partners, Reigning Champs Experiences (RCX) announced today.
“In order to provide a first-rate experience for our athletes, RCX aims to work with sports brands who are leading the way in technology and innovation,” said RCX President and GM and Rivals Camp Series GM Izell Reese. “As Rivals’ new equipment partners, Wilson, EvoShield and Xenith will provide state-of-the-art gear and apparel to the country’s best high school football players, enhancing the Rivals experience and allowing athletes to compete at their very best.”
“Our passion for the game of football and arming players and coaches with the most innovative gear possible runs deeps,” said Kevin Murphy, General Manager of Wilson Team Sports. “By partnering with RCX on the Rivals Camp and Combine Series, we have the ability to bring new performance evaluation and feedback capabilities to the country’s elite high school football players and coaches – truly a new dimension that the sport has never seen. Additionally, our new technologies in our footballs and EvoShield protective gear are designed to take player performance to that next level and make the game more rewarding and enjoyable to play.”
Under the partnership, Wilson will serve as the Official Football Partner of the 2020 Rivals Series, supplying footballs for use exclusively at all Rivals events.
Additionally, quarterbacks attending Rivals Camp Series will have the opportunity to test their skills through the Wilson Connected Football System. The technology utilizes an undetectable sensor embedded in the football to capture specific data like velocity, spin rate, spiral efficiency, and release time to analyze QB performance. This data can provide deeper insight into a QB’s performance to enhance evaluations, skill development, arm health monitoring and play analysis.
Wilson-owned EvoShield will serve as Rivals’ Exclusive Protective Equipment Partner. EvoShield, which makes custom-molded protective and performance gear using a proprietary technology called Gel-To-Shell™, will supply all gloves to athletes participating in the Rivals Camp Series.
EvoShield’s Gel-To-Shell™ technology transforms from a soft gel-like material to a hard, protective shield in minutes, creating a custom mold that mirrors the shape of an athlete’s body. The result is professional-grade protection without getting in the way of performance.
Wilson and EvoShield will sponsor the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge in New Orleans June 18-20. The Five-Star Challenge is the premier showcase for top high school football players, bringing together the best 104 players in the country.
Xenith, an industry leader in football helmet technology and performance products, has also partnered with Rivals as the Official Protective Headgear Partner.
Athletes competing in Rivals Camps will be equipped with Xenith LOOP, the first ever purpose-built protective headgear designed specifically for the non-tackle athlete. Top-rated Xenith LOOP provides the most breathable, comfortable, and precise fit available, accommodating all head shapes and hairstyles without the need for a cap or chinstrap.
Fourteen Rivals Combines and 12 Rivals Camps will take place across the country in 2020. The series began in Miami on February 8 and will continue through May 2020 with stops in Orlando, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington (DC), Indianapolis, Nashville, Columbus, New Jersey and Chicago. Nashville and Indianapolis will be combine-only events.
The Rivals Camp Series attracts elite high school football players from across the U.S. and aims to improve athletes’ skills, give them verified stats needed for college recruiting and increase their exposure to college football coaches. In 2019, the series of regional camps and NFL-style combines drew more than 18,000 athletes from across the U.S.
Combines are free and are open to all current high school football players; however, spots are limited. Student-athletes can register for the combine nearest them at rivalscampseries.com.
In addition to Official Operating Partner RCX, the Rivals Camp Series is made possible with support from college athletic recruiting network, Next College Student Athlete (NCSA).
Other 2020 Rivals Camp Series partners include Exclusive Hotel Reservations Provider, HotelPlanner.com, Official Sponsor of Testing Results, VKTRY Performance Insoles, Apparel Sponsor, Augusta Sportswear Brands, Official Merchandiser, Team IP and Official Hydration Provider, Gatorade.