FSU players Malik Benson, Ja'Khi Douglas, Roydell Williams host youth football camp
While most of their fellow students were probably sleeping in or getting ready to watch the early college football games, a handful of Florida State football players were at Tallahassee’s Chiles High School early Saturday morning hosting a youth football camp.
Wide receivers Ja’Khi Douglas and Malik Benson and running back Roydell Williams hosted more than 100 youths for the camp, including a contingent from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend.
The Florida State stars gave the campers tips on catching passes and running through a variety of drills, encouraged them as they ran the 40-yard dash, and helped them play informal 7-on-7 games.
They also posed for photos with the campers and signed autographs when the camp was complete.
“We were all in their shoes once in our lifetimes,” Williams said of the youths. “Just to give back and see these smiles on the faces of these guys and girls coming out here.”
Benson, who is tied with Douglas for the Florida State team high with 18 receptions this season, said leading the event brought back memories from his own childhood.
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“I always told myself once I get older and get that influence, I want to be able to have my own camp,” Benson said. “I remember the guys at camps I went to and what they poured into me. Just having their energy around me made me want to strive to be the best that I can be.”
While Benson, Douglas and Williams were the main attractions, two of their Florida State teammates — Kentron Poitier and Jalen Brown — came by to make an appearance as well.
“That just shows the culture that we have,” Benson said. “That their names aren’t on the flyer, [but] they still come out and show their face.”
Former Florida State star safety Bill Ragans, who is the head coach at Chiles High, also brought out several of his players to help set up and run the various drills.
Here is a video feature from the camp:
And here is a bonus video featuring Douglas, who agreed to be “mic’d up” by Warchant for the event:
Talk about this story with other die-hard Florida State football fans on the Tribal Council.
