GIVING BACK: Jarran Reed returns home, hosts football camp

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 25, 2017 1:48 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

A community that continues to heal from recent tragedies received the perfect remedy Saturday morning.

A native son provided the medicine.

Seattle Seahawks star Jarran Reed conducted a free half-day football camp for youngsters at his old stomping ground -- Cougar Stadium on the Goldsboro High School campus.

A warm, bright sun that darted between clouds didn't seem to deter 100-plus kids decked out in white -- and soon-to-be sweat-stained -- Jarran Reed Football Camp T-shirts. Reed, on occasion, used his T-shirt to wipe beads of sweat from his head and face.

"Oh man, it's great to just to be able to come back and have the opportunity to spread the knowledge, spread the love around to these kids," Reed said. "(I want to) give the community something to look forward to, something positive. I know Goldsboro is a good city. People have got to come together...unity.

"We have to teach our kids the right things, keep them in the books and get them ready for a bright future."

A slim-downed version of Reed still dwarfed a majority of the campers -- ages 7- to-14-years old -- who went through stretching exercises before they broke up to learn a few offensive and defensive fundamentals. They constantly smiled and put every ounce of energy into each drill station set up on the dew-covered manicured grass field.

Friends, coaches, former teammates and fraternity brothers helped Reed run the four-hour gathering. Each time the hometown hero blew his shrill whistle in short bursts, the campers stopped and focused their attention on Reed.

Throughout the morning the once soft-spoken Reed -- a father of two -- walked around to each drill station. He took time to work with individual campers on proper techniques, whether it was running routes to catch a football, wrapping up and knocking down a tackling dummy or staying low in either an offensive or defensive stance.

While Reed did his work on the field, his mother, Anjanette, approached the numerous parents in the stands.

Their goal?

Mom and son are working hand-in-hand to re-establish pride in the football program for future generations.

"The whole day is to make sure that we're giving back to the community, and talking to the kids and the parents," Anjanette said. "To me, that's important when you're trying to make sure that your kids are going the right way and telling them about the opportunities...the routes they can take.

"(Jarran) has a responsibility and duty to make sure that he's doing well as he lives a life among them because a lot of people look up to him. By him coming and being hands-on with the kids, this will last and they'll see a positive role model."

And maybe the healing can begin.