DeMeco Ryans & Friends a BIG hit at NEMCC All-Pro Camp

BOONEVILLE, Miss.-- Demeco Ryans knows what it takes to be successful playing the game of football, and on Friday and Saturday, July 13-14, the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie-Of-The-Year and Houston Texans linebacker gave first-hand instruction to over seventy-five local youngsters at Northeast Mississippi Community College on day one of the NEMCC/Vortex Sports All-Pro Camp.

Joining Ryans as instructors were former University of Alabama stars Charlie Peprah (Green Bay Packers), Shaud Williams (Buffalo Bills), Anthony Bryant (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Juwan Simpson (Green Bay Packers), and Terrance Jones.

“This is a great experience for these kids in Mississippi,” said Ryans, “who don’t have an NFL team in their home state, just like us in Alabama. All the guys here today are NFL players, with NFL experience, and these kids can learn so much from us, on and off the field. It’s also a lot of fun for guys like me, and Charlie, and Shaud to be able to work with kids on the field. It helps us remember where we started, how far we’ve come, and how much we have to be thankful for.”

Campers hit the field at Keenum Stadium and the adjacent practice field on the NEMCC campus at 2 p.m. on Friday. With the aid of the Northeast coaching staff, Ryans and his fellow professionals taught the campers a variety of fundamental football drills, from footwork, to blocking, to ball-handling, etc. The final portion of practice was made up of team competition, as campers were divided according to age groups and played flag football games against each other as the University of Alabama fightsong “Yea Alabama” among others played loudly on the p.a. system at Keenum Stadium.

“When that fight song started playing,” explained NEMCC head coach Andy Greening, “all those former Alabama guys stopped what they were doing and started singing the song. They were like kids again for just a little bit. I think Anthony Bryant knew every word to every verse.”

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