MADISON, Fla. (WTXL) - There's something to be said for an athlete to come back to his hometown and give back. For Madison County product Geno Hayes, it's a no brainer. The Florida State alum and seven year NFL veteran came back to his alma mater to throw his 2nd Annual camp on Saturday, and he brought a strong bond of Seminole brothers with him.
"It's kind of crazy when you ask kids what they want to be when you grow up, and the kid comes up and says I want to be like you," smiled Hayes.
As a former Florida State Seminole and professional football player it's not that crazy for kids to want to be like him, or like any of the area stand-outs that showed up.
"I'm here to help," said Jacobbi McDaniel, who also graduated from Madison County and played at Florida State. "I'm here to turn this town around and get everything bigger and better."
"A lot of athletes say they're trying to help but don't really do much so this right here is definitely getting with the kids and showing them that we care," said Telvin Smith, who graduated from Lowndes High in Valdosta before playing at Florida State. Smith just finished his second year in the NFL playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. "We're just trying to help them get to where we're at."
"Geno is like a brother to me," said De'Cody Fagg, who played with Hayes at Florida State after wrapping up a stellar high school career at Shanks in Quincy. "I remember playing in high school. We attended Florida State together, actually came out the same year, '07."
That brotherhood, draped in garnet and gold, is a lifetime bond these guys embrace, and that's why anytime or anywhere, they're ready to give back.
"That's what we aspire to do these days is to definitely help them, and give them that extra step that we didn't have," said Smith. "At the same time, give them that mindset that it's not going to be easy and you have to work to go get it."
"That is a lifetime bond that'll never ever get broken!" explained Hayes. "It's something that is always going to be there. It's something that's ingrained in us."
"You can make it no matter what. No matter what nobody tells you, you can make it,"said Fagg. "It's about how much you have in your heart and how much faith and hard work you put in. You can make it from anywhere, no matter if it's a small town, big town, or anything."
Hayes and his former teammates are taking their bond out on the road this summer to teach kids across the area. Next week, they're headed to Lowndes High for Smith's camp which will run from 10-2. He added McDaniel also has a camp in the works, and Fagg will host his camp in August in Quincy.
