Kansas University’s flurry of football camps came to an end Wednesday, after two weeks of varying lessons, lengths and locations.

This week’s finale was a four-day overnight camp, which brought more than 200 skill-position players from all over the country, including Florida, Georgia, California and Arizona.

The turnout was a significant increase from last year’s total of 160 players, ranging in age from sixth-graders to high school seniors-to-be.

“The numbers are gaining every year,” KU coach Mark Mangino said, “and this is staying right in tune with that.”

Kansas coaches also saw a big boost in attendance at the Coffeyville satellite camp Friday that brought in 102 players compared to 63 in 2004. Other camps included a satellite camp in Wichita, a one-day lineman camp at KU and a two-day kicking camp last weekend in Lawrence.

The Great Plains Shootout, a popular seven-on-seven camp expected to bring in nearly 600 players, was rained out June 4 and isn’t expected to be rescheduled.

Kansas University assistant coach Dave Doeren works with a group of young players during a KU football camp. The instruction took place Tuesday at the KU football practice fields.

The purpose of the camps are twofold, of course.

Players are given the opportunity to sharpen skills, leave the house and stay close to football under the tutelage of the KU coaching staff and guest coaches from small colleges and local high schools. At the same time, the Jayhawk coaches are keeping their eyes open for talent they might be interested in recruiting.

Several current players boosted their value significantly at camps, including quarterback Adam Barmann, who turned heads at the Wichita satellite camp in 2003. Incoming freshmen Adam Welty, Caleb Blakesley, Justin Thornton and Darrell Stuckey also gave Kansas more reason to want them at various camps last summer.

Football campers of all sizes, ranging in age from sixth-graders to high school seniors-to-be, attended the four-day overnight camp this week.

“It’s a good way for them to get some exposure,” said Lawrence High coach Dirk Wedd, who has four of his former players at KU, “and anytime they’re around football, it makes them better.”

Three of Wedd’s current players – Nathan Hickey, Brandon Lassiter and Richard Demby – were at this week’s skills camps. Hickey went to a Kansas State camp last week, too, and is starting to earn notice for his size and athleticism. Recruiting Web site rivals.com recently ranked Hickey as the 10th-best high school prospect in Kansas.

Many players, like Hickey, visit various camps with hopes of improving their stock. Former LHS linebacker Ian Handshy attended camps at Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska last summer. He’ll be a preferred walk-on at KU this fall.

Kelsey Sockoloski, 17, left, of Greenwood Village, Colo., and Tyler Robinson, 17, of Elkhorn, Neb., work out during a quarterback drill. They participated in the Kansas University football camp Tuesday at the KU practice fields.

“It’s pretty much up to what mom and dad can afford,” Wedd said. “Most of these schools give them a pretty good deal as far as, if they want to come and showcase themselves for a day, they don’t charge them the whole $200 or whatever it costs.”

With testimonies from players like Barmann, KU’s starting quarterback, camps put on by universities don’t have much of a downside for players wanting to play past high school.

“It doesn’t hurt them,” Mangino said. “Our main purpose is for the kids to have fun and learn. If somebody happens to jump out at us, that’s a plus.”