The 15th annual Legends Pro Football Camp will once again be free.
That’s because a grant has been accepted, as the National Football League Youth Foundation gives grants to retired NFL players who are vested in the NFL’s retirement system and who are holding a clinic in their hometowns. Current players are also eligible.
“I got the email the other day. I’m always thankful the NFL does this for ex-players to hold camps in their hometown,” camp director Bruce Plummer said. “We’ve been able to get the grant through the NFL over the last 10 years and that makes the camp free.”
Plummer is a 1983 Bogalusa High School graduate and 1987 Mississippi State University graduate. He is a former NFL player and former NFL scout. Currently, Plummer is an assistant football and assistant baseball coach for the Lumberjacks.
The clinic takes place Thursday, June 15.
The camp will feature Chris McLaurin, who is the commissioner of the American Football League of China.
Canadian Football League Hall of Famer Elfrid Payton, who played with Winnipeg, Baltimore, Shreveport, Montreal, Toronto and Edmonton over 15 seasons, will also be at the camp. Payton’s son Elfrid, who played for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, has spent the last three seasons playing in the NBA for the Orlando Magic.
The camp is also attempting to get San Francisco 49ers running back Tim Hightower, who spent the last two seasons with the New Orleans Saints.
The camp will also have former NFL players Robert Smith and Sean Smith, Nichols State University coach Greg Greeley, former Southeastern Louisiana University player Kenneth McSwain and Bogalusa head football coach David Roberts.
The camp director is Plummer, a Bogalusa assistant football and baseball coach.
The camp puts the participants through drills that help teach them different skills used in football. They also have a session where the coaches speak to the participants about life skills.
Participants are asked to wear football shoes or sneakers, light-colored shirts to help with the heat and gym shorts.
Lunch and hydration will be provided.
Last year’s camp had 120 participants.
For more information or to donate, call Janola Walker Jr. at 985-516-3433, Ken Martin at 985-750-2343, Robert Smith at 713-594-0702, Debra Plummer at 985-735-1303 or Bruce Plummer at 404-606-2359.