It’s not unusual for successful athletes to return home to host youth summer camps.
What Florida State senior Marquez White is doing this summer, however, is highly unusual.
White, who is entering his senior year of college, isn’t waiting until he makes it as a professional athlete to start giving back to his community. The Seminoles’ starting cornerback already has put together a non-profit organization and is teaming with leaders in his hometown of Dothan, Ala., to host a free youth football camp later this month.
The “A Different Way Out Football Camp” will be held May 28 at a youth sports complex in Dothan. White promoted the event through his Twitter account on Wednesday.
“This doesn’t surprise me. Marquez has always been giving back,” said LaBrian Stewart, who was White’s coach at Northview High and will serve as the camp director. “Any time he can come back to the school and talk to kids, he does it. And the kids have always followed him.”
It was during one of White’s trips back to Northview that the camp idea was born.
Stewart, who has coached scores of players who have gone on to play big-time college football, mentioned to White that he’d like to organize a summer youth camp. And White, who had just decided he would return to college for his senior season instead of leaving early for the NFL Draft, jumped at the opportunity to make it happen.
With his name recognition -- White is the only player in Northview history to play in Alabama state all-star games in both football and basketball -- and relationships with other college and NFL stars, the Florida State senior figured he could use his connections to make the camp an instant success.
“He said he wanted to make a difference,” Stewart said. “He wants to make sure kids understand that they have better opportunities. That they don’t have to deal drugs or things like that to make it out.”
According to White’s posts on Twitter, several of his former FSU teammates are lending a hand. He thanked current NFL players Jameis Winston, Cameron Erving, P.J. Williams, Ronald Darby and Jalen Ramsey with making contributions to the event.
Because White is still in college, there was some NCAA-related “red tape” that had to be sorted out before the camp could move forward. NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from using their name or picture to promote any business or event that involves sales of tickets or merchandise.
Stewart credited FSU’s compliance department with making sure everything was organized correctly so that the eligibility of White -- and other college athletes who participate -- would not be jeopardized.
“Not a single dollar is being paid by the kids,” Stewart said. “No one is making any money off of this.”
Thanks to the help of sponsors, the camp will be completely free for the youths who attend. They will receive free breakfast and lunch, a dri-fit shirt, football and camp photo.
Instead of holding the camp at Northview, they decided to host it at a local sports complex so that the entire community would feel welcome. Earlier this week, Stewart said he was thrilled to see coaches from rival Dothan High passing out flyers for the event.
“That kid has found a way to bring two rival schools -- two inner-city schools -- together,” Stewart said of White. “It’s a whole community effort. And it’s great to see these college kids come home and give back, whether it’s time or advice. It doesn’t have to be money to make a difference.”
Because there will be no revenue from the event, Stewart said they have capped the attendance at 100 campers. That doesn’t mean it won’t grow in the future.
“We could probably have 300 or 400 [this year],” Stewart said. “But it becomes tougher from a cost standpoint, and it was important to keep it free for everyone.”
White told Stewart he expects to have some Seminole stars at the event, and several college players from Dothan have committed to serve as counselors as well.
According to promotional materials, which state the purpose of the camp is to “encourage and empower the youth,” each camper will get one-on-one time with a college or professional athlete. The players will provide mentorship in athletics and academics.
“I’m so proud of that kid,” Stewart said. “He comes from a great family, and he’s had a lot of support. And a lot of people are looking up to him -- kids and adults. But it’s never been about him. It’s not about Marquez White. He’s not looking for any credit or attention. He doesn’t want his name all over the place.
“It’s about giving back to a community that has given him so much. It’s about what he can do to make a difference. He is adamant about showing these kids there’s a different way out. I’m really proud of him. And I’m sure Coach [Jimbo] Fisher is too.”
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