Valdosta, GA -- Former FSU Linebacker Telvin Smith held his first football camp back at his alma mater Lowndes High School Saturday morning. The former Viking always wanted to go to a camp growing up, but never had a chance. Now that he had a chance to do his own, Smith wanted to do it right and make it free for everyone so anyone could attend.
"I have always wanted to do one," Smith said. " I just wanted to make sure I was established and had that backing to make sure that it was going to be a good event. I just didn't want to have the kids out here just to have them run around. I wanted to make sure it was a solid event."
Smith demonstrated drills throughout the camp. Fiery and intense as always, he inspired the campers, ages 6 to 16, to push for their best.
"Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!" Smith yelled after a drill. "I am going to go first. I am going to set the tempo and yall go off me. And you don't like it? There's a gate right there. Let's go!"
Several of his former FSU teammates were there to help with the camp such as Falcons running back Devonta Freeman and Jaguars wide receiver Rashad Greene. They said Smith was always a leader while playing at Florida State.
"Telvin is one of my good friends," Freeman said. "We always talk on a daily basis. We always lift each other up. Like come on bro, keep going. He has that mindset. He was like our leader on the team. If he sees you slacking he is going to speak on it. That hunger that he had. At practice, I remember a couple times, he'll go out there and lay it all on the line."
His high school coach is proud Smith is being an example to his community.
"It's been a really good day so far," Lowdes football coach Randy McPherson said. "We appreciate the things Telvin Smith has done and what he stands for our community. It is just a good day."
248 campers attended the inaugural event. Lowndes high school players and current FSU football players like Dalvin Cook and Travis Rudolph were counselors.
