It wasn’t too many years ago that a young player looked like he was going to show some promise during a kids’ football camp put on by the Liberty County High School football team.
That young player who started to turn heads as an elementary student was junior Panther safety Richard LeCounte, currently one of the biggest recruiting targets in the Southeast.
“We had done kids’ camps in the past and for different reasons, you make plans for those camps but then end up not being able to do them,” LCHS head football coach Kirk Warner said. “But this year, we decided we were going to make this priority, and I am glad we did. Richard was one of those kids that came to our first camp.”
Because the Panthers have summer pride workouts in the mornings, Warner moved the kids’ camp to the evening.
“In the past, we scheduled camps for the morning, but we had a lot of parents that wanted to send kids to the camp,” he said, “but the evening worked out better, so we decided to go in the evening, and it’s worked out.”
Once the campers got checked in, it was time to hit the field. Thirty campers spent the next two hours stretching and going through stations to learn skills needed to be a good player. Players also got a chance to apply what they learned by playing flag-football games during the final 30 minutes of camp.
Camp attendees got a special treat Monday evening when former Panther and current Ohio State University linebacker Raekwon McMillan came to coach them up and do some drills.
“This is where it starts for kids. It’s fun for me to be out here and be a part of this,” McMillan said. “I am proud to be representing coach Warner and the Liberty County High School football program at the next level. Camps like this is where kids start to learn and love the game, so that is a great thing.”
McMillan, who heads back to Columbus, Ohio, in a week as the Buckeyes prepare to defend their national title, not only got a chance to come out and support his former coaches, but also got to see former Liberty County teammates who helped with the camp. LCHS players who helped out were Jacquez Williams, Josh Swinson, Jacari Roberts, Charrel Roberts, Jonathan Brisson, Kameron Warner and Karrington Warner.
As the camp ended, players circled up to hear Warner’s last words of the day.
“We had a pretty good first day today. Some of you older players you get to help the younger players and encourage them to stick with and work hard,” Warner said. “As players learning the game, you have to practice, but you also have to learn listen to your coaches.”
The camp runs through today and will finish with a showcase game.