Giving Back to the Community: NFL Stars Return to Their Roots

Campers enjoying a fun-filled day of football and learning from NFL players

In Converse, Texas, at D. W. Rutledge Stadium, a unique event took place recently. Las Vegas Raiders running back Sincere McCormick, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end DeMarvin Leal, Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Rashad Wisdom, and childhood friend and former UTSA quarterback Frank Harris came together to host a youth football camp. The camp was more than just a fun day out for the kids - it was an opportunity for these NFL players to give back to their community and share their expertise with the next generation.

‘Oh, we going to put in some work now,’ said McCormick. ‘We’ll have them, you know, running around doing what they got to do, and it’s going to be exciting just to coach the kids, and sometimes a lot of kids don’t get this opportunity to be around, you know, NFL football players. But we want to give back and have them go through the drills and be sweaty and tired like we do.’

The community aspect of holding camps like this one is what drew McCormick to the idea. By bringing together his high school and UTSA communities, McCormick aimed to pass down wisdom and a love for the game of football to the youngsters.

McCormick and friends putting the campers through their paces

‘I just love giving back, and they’re doing a great job giving back to the community where we grew up at, so there’s nothing better than that,’ said Harris. For McCormick, it was a full-circle moment, returning to his alma mater and giving back to the kids who look up to him as a role model.

McCormick inspiring the next generation of football players

‘It’s really cool because I get the chance to have both communities from one side of the town to the other side of San Antonio be together, merge together, have the kids come out and have fun, enjoy themselves, and ultimately have a great time, have the NFL experience,’ said McCormick.

The camp was a resounding success, with the kids leaving with huge smiles on their faces and a newfound appreciation for the hard work and dedication required to make it to the top of the NFL. As Wisdom so aptly put it, ‘It’s kind of like, full-circle moment to be able to come back here to the high school that we all played and graduated from in the city that we’re all from and give back to the kids, you know, the same way that people gave back to us when we were coming up.’