Keelan Cole is returning to Owensboro next week, and he’ll host his first ever youth football camp in an effort to give back and help develop skills in young players.
Cole, a current wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars and former All-American at Kentucky Wesleyan College, is joining with Dynasty Sports Performance to host the event.
The 1st Annual Keelan Cole Youth Football Camp will be held 8 a.m.-12 p.m. June 15 at Kentucky Wesleyan, and campers will get a chance to learn hands-on from Cole. The event is open to children in first through seventh grades, and tickets are $50.
DaMarcus Ganaway, co-owner of DSP and current head coach of the Ohio County High School football team, said the idea first came about last year and really began to take shape three months ago.
“Keelan wanted to get something established and do something for the youth by putting on a good event where kids can come to a great environment and get some instructional skills,” Ganaway said. “They’ll be able to interact with him and he can give back a little bit.”
Cole and Ganaway have known each other for years. While still with the Panthers, Cole trained with DSP, and Ganaway — also a Wesleyan football grad who spent a brief period with the New York Jets — said the two have stayed in touch.
Ganaway said while the camp does not have a limited number of participants, Cole was hoping the number was not overwhelmingly high for the first year. After finding some time away from the NFL to come back to Owensboro, Cole wants to impart what he’s learned to young players in the area.
“He thought by putting it on a little later, it would be a smaller camp – pretty much more local – and would really be an opportunity to establish something going forward.” Ganaway said. “He can work up to more kids later on. He wanted to put something together in a really instructional environment rather than just go all out and be overwhelmed by how many kids showed up.”
The one-day camp will include lectures, fundamental football skills stations, contests and non-contact games in what Ganaway said should be a high-energy, fun and positive environment.
According to the event site, “This comprehensive camp experience is great for athletes of all skill levels, whether they are new to the game or have been playing for years. Individual awards and random prizes will be given out.”
Each attendee with receive a T-shirt and a signed individual photo with Cole. Lunch will be provided.
While much of the day will be spent teaching skills, Ganaway said Cole does plan to talk with the campers about the dedication it takes to succeed.
“At the end he had something special he wanted to say to them as far as the mindset about working as hard as you can to reach your dreams — sort of a motivational speech,” Ganaway said. “It’s about him being as involved and interacting with kids as much as possible and just putting on a great event for this summer.”
Full details about the event and and a link to register can be found here.
