At the Bryce Young free kids football camp on Saturday morning, more than 200 campers showed up to take part. ProCamps, along with the Young 9 Foundation, hosted the event on the Johnson C. Smith University campus.
Young said to the group of campers, who ranged in age from six to thirteen, “I’m grateful to do a lot of cool things, but nothing comes close to this.”
Brad Idzik, the offensive coordinator, and about fifteen Panthers players were present to help with teaching. Nicole Tepper, the owner of the Panthers, was also present and offered assistance to Young and the campers.
Young expressed his gratitude towards his teammates for their support, emphasizing their commitment to the community by working with kids and giving back. He mentioned how exciting it was for all of them as Panthers team members to play with the children and contribute as much as possible. Young also mentioned how he enjoyed participating in drills with some of his teammates’ kids, joking with Adam Thielen’s son about his skills, saying he resembled his father when running routes. He shared that it was exciting to see the natural talent of the kids and how they were improving, with Adam confirming that his son was getting faster and showing promise.
The Young 9 Foundation, established by Young and his parents, aims to raise awareness about mental health among youth. This mission influences Young’s interactions with the community, particularly with young people. He made sure to spend extra time at the camp, taking photos and chatting with each and every camper present. Young believes in the importance of being involved in the community and giving back. He expressed gratitude for the support from Mrs. Tepper, his teammates, and the community. The event was the foundation’s second camp, the first in Charlotte, with campers receiving goodie bags with sponsored items. However, the most significant moment for Young was when his parents emphasized to the campers the importance of focusing on mental health alongside sports.
