A free camp conducted by professional and college level football players was held in Camden over the weekend.
The South Arkansas All Star Football Camp hosted over 100 student athletes from more than 10 different schools at Cardinal Stadium on Saturday. The event was organized by business owner and former Arkansas State Wolf and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Vincent Thrower.
The All Star Camp has been an annual event for several years and is held in memory of Jasiah Thrower.
"I've been where a lot of these kids are," Vincent Thrower said. "I didn't get to go to a lot of camps and people think that camps have to be held in big cities. We do it to show that we can hold a high level camp here in Camden and we do it for free. All of these kids get to learn from professionals and we have just as much fun as them."
Camden Fairview varsity football players acted as assistant coaches as NFL and collegiate football players served as the coaches.
Several were familiar faces to Camden such as Dominique Reed (CF, Arkansas Razorbacks), Stacy Wilkins (ULM), and Super Bowl champion Stacy Andrews (Ole Miss, NY Giants and Cincinnati Bengals).
Also in attendance were Kevin Payne (Junction City, ULM Chicago Bears), Vickiel Vaughn (Arkansas Razorbacks, 49ers and Denver Broncos), Mario Bell (Junction City, Arkansas Razorbacks), Darren Toney (Arkansas State, Carolina Panthers), Carlton Medder (Florida Gators, Arizona Cardinals Byran Jones, Pete Suell (Arkansas Baptist) and Dominique Williams (Arkansas State, New Orleans Saints).
Mike Young and Antonio Davis of YungLife Studios & Media Inc. were on hand to mic up coaches and interview players during the event. YungLife interviewed CF Head Football Coach Nick Vaughan who spoke highly of the camp and how it can boosted student athletes' confidence.
Cornerstone Church of Camden and Generations Bank (Mike Shelton) sponsored lunch for the attendees and Camden Mayor Charlotte Young was on hand to help prepare plates for the student athletes.
Photo By: Patric Flannigan Dominique Reed breaks down the huddle after a drill in the South Arkansas All-Star Football Camp.
Photo By: Patric Flannigan Stacy Andrews demonstrates a drill in the South Arkansas All-Star Football Camp.
Photo By: Patric Flannigan Stacy Andrews and a couple of players from Camden Fairview evaluate a camper a drill in the South Arkansas All-Star Football Camp.
Photo By: Patric Flannigan Coaches of the South Arkansas All-Star Football Camp pose for a photo with Antonio Davis.