Football guru’s hope to inspire at NFL youth camp

BY FREDERICK HARRELL

The Dallas Examiner

Former professional football running back Rodrick Walker will team up with fellow Texas Longhorn buddies Derrick Scott and Kwame Cavil to bring their annual NFL Football Camp to local youth on July 23 at the Mercy Street Sports Complex, located at 3500 Goldman St.

The Camp Guys, which make up the trio, will host youth players from ages 7 to 17 and guide them through extensive football workouts and drills broken down by positions. Each participant will be able to get one-on-one interactions with the coaches based on their position. They will also participate in exercises that involve the other players.

As football season for both college and the NFL nears, camps like these may be vital for young players with hopes and dreams to someday take their talents to the next level. Coach Walker has offered training camps alongside Coach Scott for nearly 15 years. But this year’s camp is a little more special to Walker as he gears up to bring the camp to his hometown of Dallas for the first time.

“I haven’t done a camp in the city of Dallas ever,” Walker said. “To be back home in my neighborhood, to have the people that I grew up with and they see their kids out there wanting to get better, it just brings a lot of joy and excitement to me.”

Filled with praise, determination and joy, Walker and Scott encourage all types of athletes in each position to join them, not just top recruits.

“We want the offensive line. We want the defensive line. We want the big guys,” he exclaimed. “We want the guy who can only kick the ball.”

The coaches want to prepare the youth for more than just football, reminding everyone that life is more than just the game. They hope these camps translate to leadership on and off the field. Walker expressed the need for more leaders in a time where the younger generation needs them the most. Scott hopes the six core values he and Walker developed over the years will resonate well with the young prospects.

“Our six core values are academics, discipline, leadership, accountability, great teammate and self-esteem,” Scott said. “That’s kind of what we built this whole deal on.”

The coaches aspire to reach the youth through service while teaching them the game that they love. The former college teammates, who have become as close as brothers, have built a foundation in which they can collectively give back to the community.

While Walker said he felt “overwhelmed and overjoyed” to bring this camp home with his buddies, Scott said “it means the world” to him to be able to present the camp with his partner, which was always a part of their plans.

“I’m just happy to come back and pour into these kids and it means a lot to me,” Walker said.

The football camp will require a registration fee per person. Registration will start at 9 a.m. Each player is required to bring his and her own water bottle, black or blue shorts, t-shirt or jersey, turf shoes and mouth guard. For more information and tickets, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/nfl-youth-football-camp-dallas-tx-tickets-313918527767.

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