The football fields at Ed White High School won't see a real football game until sometime in September. But, one early Friday morning during summer break, Commander Stadium was home to more than 100 young players looking to gain the edge on the gridiron. They all participated in a free NFL Youth Football camp hosted by Ed White High School, and a handful of NFL players.
"What we're doing here is offering an opportunity for young kids to come out free of charge and learn a little bit about football, learn a little bit about life in general, and just basically have a positive experience for the kids in the community," said Ed White head football coach Terry Gilliam.
While the children drilled, stretched and learned new skills, they were watched by several men who used to be in their shoes. Three NFL players who grew up in Jacksonville all came out to share what they know, and make an impact on the children.
"It feels good just to give back. To help kids out, and steer them in the right direction. You know, get an education first because without an education, there is no sports," said former Jacksonville Jaguar Jamaal Fudge.
Fudge is a graduate of Ed White High School. By his side was current Atlanta Falcon Stephen Nicholas. Nicholas graduated from Robert E. Lee.
"Coming back to this community is huge because I came from this community, and back then we didn't have a lot of people to come back to the community and give back to the kids. So the biggest thing I want to do is come back and give back to the kids," said Nicholas.
Also coming out to practice with the children was Pro Bowler and current Jacksonville Jaguar Rashean Mathis. Mathis attended Englewood High School and says he takes any chance he has to give back to the community.
"It's letting them know that a dream can be reached. It's letting them know that if they stay positive and keep doing the right things, and stay out of trouble, any goal they set with the right mindset and the right work ethic can be achieved,' said Mathis.
The children ranged in age from eight to 18 years old. Several schools were represented during the camp including Raines, Ribault, Ed White and several middle schools. Coaches set up several different drills throughout the football field, and children had about eight minutes at each station.
Before practice was over, Rashean Mathis had a chance to survey all the children, and he says it took him back to the time when he was just learning the game of football.
"It's funny looking at them and thinking this is where I was one day. I didn't realize I was that small! And I see some small guys, because I wasn't a big guy growing up, and think that probably was me! So today there are probably a couple of future Jaguars, and a couple of Atlanta Falcons and every other team in the league," joked Mathis.
The players all agreed their reasons for being at Ed White were the same. They said they all wanted to show the children on the field that if you believe it, you can achieve it.
"As long as you excel in class, your college options are limitless, but if you just excel on the field, not in class, you're very limited in your options," said Fudge.
"It's all about the kids. Jamaal Fudge and I work together to support something positive in the neighborhood, and that's our duty. That's my duty as a man, as an uncle, as a football player. The old cliché the kids are our future, we have to realize it's true, and it's all about how we raise them and bring them up," said Mathis.
The event was partially created by Jamaal Fudge and Stephen Nicholas to help launch each of their respective organizations. Fudge recently established the Jamaal Fudge Foundation with a mission to provide programs and services to underserved children and families in his hometown of Jacksonville. Nicholas created the Stephen Nicholas Foundation to serve and empower families living in socio-economically challenged communities by way of educational, athletic and spiritual resources.