The third annual Lorenzo Williams and Friends Football Camp will be Saturday, July 9, at the Lake Country Soccer Complex in Springfield.
Williams was an all Big 12 defensive tackle at the University of Missouri before playing in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers. The camp will feature at least a dozen current or former NFL players, including five recent first-round draft choices. Scheduled to appear are:
–Lorenzo Williams, former Baltimore Raven and Carolina Panther
–Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
–Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars
–Sean Weatherspoon, Atlanta Falcons
–Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers
–Brad Smith, N.Y. Jets
–Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals
–William Moore, Atlanta Falcons
–Danario Alexander, St. Louis Rams
–Martin Rucker, Dallas Cowboys
–CJ Mosley, Jacksonville Jaguars
–Atiyyah Ellison, New England Patriots
–Chase Coffman, Cincinnati Bengals
–Reggie Smith, San Francisco 49ers
–Brad Ekwerekwu, former Kansas City Chief
Camp organizers also expect some late additions, including potentially Sam Bradford of the Rams and Chase Daniel of the Saints. There will also be a host of current Mizzou football players at the camp.
Although he hails from Midwest City, Okla., Williams married a Springfield native and thus began his ties to Springfield. He and his wife had twin daughters who were born prematurely at Cox South Hospital. The twins had to spend two weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Cox South. Lorenzo was touched by what he saw there and by the support he received from the staff in the NICU and from there he wanted to do his part to give back.
Proceeds from the camp will benefit the Springfield office of Children’s Miracle Network, which serves 32 counties in southwest and central Missouri.
The camp, which costs $50, is limited to 125 campers per session. Organizers said the camp is about half full. Checks should be made out to the Children’s Miracle Network.
The morning session from 8:30 a.m. until noon is for players entering kindergarten through sixth grade in the fall. The afternoon session from 1-4:30 p.m. is for those entering the seventh through 12th grades.
All campers will receive 3 1/2 hours of personal football instruction, dri-fit style camp T-shirt, camp photo with the NFL players, autographs, of snacks and beverages from Hiland Dairy, Coke, Nabisco, Frito Lay and more and an ice cream float after the camp is over courtesy of Hiland and Coke.
Although the camp emphasizes football, the NFL players also talk about life beyond football. They emphasize family, grades, staying in school, staying away from drugs and alcohol, being good citizens, standing up for kids that are less fortunate, honesty and integrity and more.
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