George Redding just flipped his calendar over to July, but that doesn’t mean he’s not thinking about football.

It’s definitely on the Fairview High coach’s mind.

Fall practice isn’t scheduled to begin until next month. According to the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Web site, teams can strap on helmets and shoulder pads on Aug. 3.

But fall practice doesn’t mark the beginning of prep football season. Not anymore, at least.

Those days are long gone. High school football is now a year-round event in Alabama.

And July is when the successful teams really pick up the pace. It’s also a big recruiting month.

The AHSAA implemented the seven-days-of-competition rule a few years ago, which allows coaches to work with their teams during the offseason.

Redding, like several other local football coaches, plans to use his seven dates this month. He already has Fairview scheduled for three passing camps, starting with a 7-on-7 event next week at Oneonta.

That’s one of the closest, and smallest, passing camps Fairview is going to attend. Most of the others are out of state.

Later this month, Redding is going to take some of his players to a passing camp at Middle Tennessee State. After that, the Aggies are headed to LaFayette, Ga. for a three-day 7-on-7 event.

Why all the extra traveling? The answer is simple: More publicity for Fairview’s players.

In the world of college football, recruiting is the latest craze. Obsessed fans talk about it year-round — especially during the offseason months.

And one of the major aspects of recruiting is camps, including high-profile 7-on-7 passing events.

The two out-of-state passing camps Redding has scheduled for his players fall into the high-profile category.

Obviously, college coaches will be paying attention to what’s going on at MTSU. It’s hosted by a Division I program, after all.

The passing camp at LaFayette High School is no different. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise since the prep coach who’s hosting it knows a thing or two about recruiting.

That coach is Perry Swindall, a former Russellville High coach who has sent numerous players to Division I programs this decade.

“This is the same type of camp Spain Park had when Coach Swindall was there,” said Redding, who was referring to Swindall’s stint as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator — a position he held before taking over as LaFayette’s head coach.

“It’s a big camp … a really, really good camp. So is the camp we’re going to at Middle Tennessee. Both of them should be really good for our players.”

Since taking over as Fairview’s head football coach two seasons ago, Redding has made an effort to help his players with recruiting.

It’s made a difference.

Redding hasn’t had a player sign with a Division I program yet, but that should change this year. And the Aggies could have more than one.

Rising senior Trett Hardman — a 6-foot-4, 214-pound three-star quarterback according to most recruiting services — has already received an offer from South Alabama. He’s also receiving heavy attention from several other Division I programs.

Redding expects Hardman to land on a Division I program. He has similar expectations for rising senior offensive lineman Dex Sullivan.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Sullivan hasn’t received any hard offers yet, but Redding believes that will change later this year.

“We’ve got some other guys that have a chance to play somewhere too,” Redding said. “And if that’s something they’re interested in, I’ll help them with it any way that I can.”

Cullman County isn’t known as a recruiting hot bed. One of the last county players to sign with a Division I program was Hanceville’s Ivan Fields — he starred at Cincinnati.

Does that mean Cullman County football players aren’t capable of playing at the next level? Absolutely not.

It just means they haven’t tried.

Talented players slip through the cracks every year. The reason: College coaches don’t know about them.

The recruiting process is a two-way street. College coaches have to be informed about talented players, especially those that don’t play for high-profile programs like Hoover and Prattville.

That’s why game films have to be sent to colleges … why prep stars need to attend camps.

Redding has bought into this concept. The Aggies coach has been proactive in the recruiting process, and his players are reaping the rewards.

“There may not be a bunch of guys around here that can play at Alabama and Auburn, and that’s all right,” Redding said. “But there are some guys that could play at smaller schools. It just takes a little effort to get them there.

“If that’s something my players are interested in, I’ll do what I can to give them that opportunity. It’s the least I can do.”

‰ Justin Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257 or by e-mail at jgraves@cullmantimes.com.