FOOTBALL: Jarran Reed returns home to host camp

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on June 24, 2018 3:18 AM

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By AVIEL SMOLKA

asmolka@newsargus.com

Saturday morning a hometown hero returned home.

Seattle Seahawks player Jarran Reed conducted his second annual youth football camp at his old hangout -- Cougar Stadium on the Goldsboro High School campus.

"Growing up here [Goldsboro] I know firsthand how it can be, it can be very hard to stay goal driven, and stay on the right path," said Reed. "Football saved my life I love and respect the game so much it definitely helped me and brought me to a better place, and I want to share that with the kids."

The heat and humidity didn't stop the 170 kids, who wore gray Jarran Reed football camp T-shirts, from having fun. Everyone, including Reed, used their T-shirts to wipe the sweat off their faces.

"My goal is to bring the knowledge of football to the younger kids, to let them get on the field and have the perfect football experience for free," said Reed. "They come out here for the enjoyment and knowledge of the game."

As parents watched from the shade Reed walked the kids -- ages 7- to-14-years old -- through stretching exercises before they broke up in groups to practice some defensive and offensive drills. Despite the heat the kids practiced their hearts out on every drill set up across the entire field.

Reed ran the three-hour camp with, friends, family and local coaches.

The kids listened intensely as Reed explained each drill.

"Being a role model means everything because I'm from the heart of Goldsboro," said Reed. "I feel like the kids can use me as an example to see there's a way out, to see there's a better way of life. I want to be that example for them."

"I want to start building that platform where the kids can grow from."

Throughout the football camp Reed -- who has two daughters and a son -- took time to work with as many kids as he could. Reed showed the kids how to wrap up when hitting a tackling dummy, how to stay low when in a defensive or offensive stance and how to run routes when catching a football.

"The main thing I want the kids to know is that there's always a way," said Reed. "Get your education, go to school, listen, be smart and go make something of yourself out in the world."

Reed's mother, Anjanette, talked to kids' parents encouraging them to keep their kids in sports.

"My mom has been my backbone for my entire life, she's always helped me," Reed said. "Everybody out here helping today is family. I've been around most of these guys since I was a kid. This is camp is a whole family thing."

Mother and son have a lot of pride in their community.

They want to spread the love to future generations by making the football camp better every summer.

"We're going to keep growing this camp," said Reed. "It's going to get better and better every year, and hopefully it can be something that's nationally known."