Easton Melancon likes to keep his promises. The Louisiana College quarterbacking standout and Hahnville alumus recently participated at the annual Manning Passing Academy, where he and several other collegiate and prep quarterbacks from across the nation were able to learn about the finer points of the game — and engage in a little friendly competition with one another.
More on that in a bit.
It was a year ago when Melancon, an Ama native, was at the camp not as a quarterback invitee, but as one of the camp’s counselors. Melancon was tabbed by coach Aaron Brady to assist, as the passer played under Brady with the 19-Under National Team in 2013.
The camp’s Air-It-Out competition that year caught the attention of Melancon and his father. Air-It-Out pits the camp’s collegiate arms against one another as each quarterback attempts to hit a series of moving targets—golf carts, in this case—as they move on varying routes down the field. One cart moves sideline to sideline 15 yards away, the second cart 25 yards downfield. The third cart speeds down the sideline to simulate a virtual go-route.
Hitting all three targets in succession is quite difficult, and the final throw proves the most difficult to make — it’s little surprise a Mannings-led camp would aim for realism.
Even so, Melancon told his father he would have little trouble with the challenge, if given the opportunity.
“I told him, ‘man, if I was in this, I’d hit all three easy,’” Melancon said. “My dad says, ‘really, you think so?’ And I said, ‘no doubt about it.’”
A year later, Melancon had a chance to turn that boast into something more, as a 2016 quarterbacking invite.
When Air-It-Out began to ramp up Saturday night, Melancon reminded his dad of his prediction.
“’It’s about to happen,’ I told him,” Melancon said.
Each passer before Melancon came up short of hitting all three. Did Melancon perhaps underestimate his task?
Perhaps not. Sure enough, he stepped up and hit all three targets on his first attempt.
When he hit the third cart, the other players around him erupted.
“Everyone was in my face, high-fiving me,” Melancon said. “I mean, it’s definitely a competition, but I think, more so, we were all out there having fun and enjoying the camaraderie.”
Afterwards, Melancon saw his father, who could only laugh.
“I said, ‘I told you,’” Melancon said. “He just said, ‘You were right.’”
While Melancon did not go on to win the competition, he was the first and only player to hit all three targets in the first round, and one of just three to do it at all (along with Southern Mississippi’s Nick Mullens and Michigan’s John O’Korn).
He said he learned plenty at the camp and noted he’d advise any other players to take part in the camp if the opportunity arises.
During a question and answer session with Peyton and Eli Manning, he said Eli in particular offered advise that Melancon took to heart.
“He said that as the quarterback, your team has to trust you,” Melancon said. “When the team is going through adversity, you need to be the guy they can look to that lets them know we’re gonna be alright. (Part of earning that trust) is making it a point to be the smartest, most prepared guy on the field, and that starts in the film room.”
He also said comparing notes and preparation habits with the other quarterbacks at the camp was a very valuable experience, and not just for his playing aspirations—once his on-field career wraps up, Melancon plans to become a coach.
“You talk to guys and see how they respond to different (coaching methods),” Melancon said. “Everyone is a little different and you might need a different technique for each and every guy.”
After a strong prep career at Hahnville, Melancon has found a great deal of success at the collegiate level. He guided Team USA to an undefeated run at the 2014 International Federation of American Football Under-19 World Championship.
At Louisiana College, he has passed for 6,904 yards, 66 touchdowns and 33 interceptions over three seasons, and he aims to add plenty to those totals in his upcoming senior season.
“We were young last season, but we have a team full of juniors and seniors coming back this year,” Melancon said. “A lot of guys are really stepping up this offseason. I’m definitely ready to get rolling.”
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