NFL players stop by Nation Ford High School

The aspiring stars of tomorrow got a chance to meet and work with the stars of today Saturday morning at Nation Ford High.

About 200 area football players turned out Saturday morning for coaching and guidance from several NFL players players with York County roots.

Ko Simpson’s Stars of Tomorrow football clinic was held at Nation Ford High School and featured several former and currently NFL players.

Held for kids ages 5 to 17, the camp emphasized basic football skills – from passing to defense. Simpson, a Rock Hill native, played four seasons in the NFL and now lives in the Indian Land area. He said hosting a camp like this is just a way to keep the game alive and give back.

“This is like five minutes from my house,” Simpson said. “But we got kids coming from up in North Carolina coming to this event. This field is good for the event. I feel it’s a great turnout. We got a lot of people signed up.”

Simpson said he will be hosting flag football and soccer leagues through the N Zone Sports franchise, which he bought into, for children age 3 to 14, this fall.

One of the main attractions was former South Pointe High player and current Houston Texan Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney didn’t reveal too much about himself, his health and what the 2016 season held for him.

“OTAs (organized team activities) have been great,” he said.

“It’s going good. I am just trying to learn and get better than I was last year. I am just trying to do my part and work hard. I am just trying to be a good teammate and be the best I can be.”

However, as one of the camp counselors, he was willing to talk football and kids.

“I see a lot of great athletes out here with a great future,” Clowney said. “It is great to be out here with the kids.”

Clowney said when Simpson asked him to help with the camp, he couldn’t say no.

“We are all good buddies out here,” Clowney said, of his Rock Hill NFL peers. “We try to look out for each other and take care of each other. If he needs me, I will come.”

Clowney’s Houston teammate and former Northwestern High player Johnathan Joseph said he was happy to be able to give back as well. He played with Simpson at the University of South Carolina and they were in each others’ weddings.

“Anytime you can come out and give back it’s a great feeling,” Joseph said. “These kids are making memories they will never forget.”

Rising Nation Ford sophomore quarterback Carson Carruthers, who was attending the camp, said he got a lot out of it.

“It really helped me to get more velocity on the ball,” he said. “And I got a lot of advice about not giving up and getting out and working hard every day.”

The camp also had its share of current and former high school football coaches in Nation Ford head coach Michael Allen, who helped to coach Simpson, when he played at Rock Hill High, and former Northwestern head coach Jimmy “Moose” Wallace.

With football training camps starting next month, Wallace said it is good to get kids outside and moving.

“I am proud of the kids for getting out here and trying to get better,” he said. “Football season is right around the corner.”

This story was originally published June 12, 2016 at 8:56 AM with the headline "NFL players stop by Nation Ford High School."