Several NFL players recently took a break from their usual routines to organize a tournament aimed at supporting high school athletes in their community. Held in Madison, Mississippi, the event brought together current players who set aside their playbooks to help young athletes hone their skills.
With the assistance of local coach Mike Espy, football players Jonathan Mingo of the Carolina Panthers (Brandon), D.J. Montgomery of the Indianapolis Colts (Madison Central), Malik Heath of the Green Bay Packers (Callaway), and Fred Brown of the Denver Broncos (Jim Hill) brought their shared dream of organizing a football camp to fruition in their home state of Mississippi.
Several high school football teams from all over the state were invited to join a 7 v. 7 tournament held at Liberty Park in Madison, which took place last Friday. This event served as a perfect opportunity for the teams to enhance their skills as a whole and to establish a strong bond amongst their teammates.
Witnessing the camp being assembled brought back memories for some of the NFL players, as they could relate to the experiences of those high school players.
Mingo explained that the program he is involved in is akin to a camp he participated in during his high school days. He aims to serve as a positive influence and a role model for the children, inspiring them to look up to him and follow in his footsteps.
Brandon Minshew, the gardener for the Las Vegas Raiders, was present at the tournament to watch his former high school team play.
Mingo reflected on his childhood and the NFL players who inspired him when he spoke about the players in attendance. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the community.
The NFL players had a sincere message for the high schoolers – they wanted them to know that it was possible to make it to the next level, and that they themselves were living proof of that.
Heath expressed his gratitude towards having their own camp, reminiscing about how guys like Fletcher Cox used to hold similar camps when he was growing up. He believes that anything is achievable with the right mindset and focus, despite the challenges that may come along the way.
