SHADYSIDE — Regardless of what football training camp you’re thinking or talking about someone is there with something extra to prove.

Whether it’s an undrafted free agent in an NFL camp, a walk-on at a college program or a newcomer to a high school program, each level has certain individuals who have additional motivation each day when they step foot on the practice field.

In talking to a former area prep standout this week, even college players, who are on scholarship, continue to have additional chips on their shoulder because, quite simply, they’re from the Ohio Valley.

Obviously, the Ohio Valley’s blue-collar mentality that everything is worked for and nothing is given serves as the basis for their thought process. But it goes deeper than that in listening to Shadyside graduate Austin Dorris tell it.

“I have to prove to everyone (at Indiana) that I can do it,” Dorris said. “I know and believe I can do it, but you have to prove it daily that you can.”

Up until the last few years, the Ohio Valley wasn’t a highly visited place for major college football recruiting. There were certainly a lot of good players, but getting the exposure was tough. Quite simply, it boils down to population. With nary an Ohio Division I, II or III school in the area, it can sometimes be tough to catch the eye of college coaches. Let’s be honest, Division I coaches can go to a game in the Columbus, Cleveland or any major metropolitan area and see a handful of prospects on one field, which is much more appealing than driving to the O.V. for one player.

That doesn’t mean kids in this area can’t play. Clearly, the last few National Signing Days have told us otherwise. Upwards of 15 players from OVAC member schools have signed for Division I scholarships.

Dorris, who is entering his red-shirt freshman season at Indiana, is the only one of the area signees to play at a Division VII school. He indicated some of his Hoosier teammates can’t fathom what a small town really is.

“I had a guy tell me he played at a small school. It was a Division IV school from the Dayton area,” Dorris laughed. “I told him I played at a slightly smaller school in a slightly smaller town.”

Though that player’s idea of a small town is certainly different than what we know here locally, he still uses the same motivations as Dorris. Actually, the former Tiger said a lot of the Hoosiers’ roster is comprised of “small-school” players and they all have the same mentality.

“I love that about our guys,” Dorris said. “A bunch of guys with the same mindset trying prove they can make it on the big stage.”

On top of having to prove themselves to their coaches and teammates, there are sometimes other hurdles for area products to clear, which are unfortunate. Dorris has heard the whispers from the naysayers in the local area who believe he can’t play in the Big Ten or he won’t last at Indiana. Again, Dorris points out he doesn’t get mad about it. He just works harder.

“Coming from the Ohio Valley, people say you can’t do this or you can’t do that and I really just want to shut those people up,” Dorris explained. “People said I wouldn’t get a Division I offer. I did that. So, you get to college and now they say I’ll never play. It’s just an additional motivator for me.”

While those naysayers may seem to have a loud voice, there are far more people rooting for Dorris and all of the area products to represent the area well each weekend. Dorris realizes that, too.

“I know when I was kid growing up I looked up to the high school players (at Shadyside), so I know there are people looking up to (area athletes) and I want to do all I can to make those people proud and keep from letting them down,” Dorris offered.

Other area products preparing for Division I football seasons include: Michael Ferns (West Virginia), Brendan Ferns (West Virginia), Elijah Bell (North Carolina A&T), Savion Johnson (North Carolina A&T), Thomas Cole (Wake Forest), Mandela Lawrence-Burke (Kent), Haydn Lewis (Air Force), Colton McKivitz (West Virginia), Najee Murray (Kent), Josh Sills (West Virginia), Emilio Appolloni (Martins Ferry), Jerrid Marhefka (Ohio) and Ross Comis (UMass).

Rather than people rooting against these kids, let’s get everyone unified and pull for them to do well. I realize if you’re an Ohio State fan, you’re going to root for the Buckeyes against Indiana, but it would still be cool to see Dorris play well in the Horseshoe. Wouldn’t it?

While the above list has eight different high schools represented, it still boils down to everyone is from the Ohio Valley. And with that comes a sense of pride … an O.V. pride.