Blackmon to hold annual camp in July

NFL veteran and Rhode Island native Will Blackmon will return home to the Ocean State July 6-7 to host a weekend of football in the Ocean State. Blackmon will hold his fifth annual USA Football FUNdamentals clinic for youth on Saturday, July 6. The free, one-day clinic, will be held at Warwick’s Bishop Hendricken High - Blackmon’s alma mater.

The fifth annual Will Blackmon Football camp, open to youth 7 to 14 years old, is designed to introduce youth to football by teaching basic skills in a fun and energetic environment. Free for participants, the camp is supported through a grant from the NFL Foundation.

“I love coming back home to RI. It’s important to me to give back to the community and offer this camp for kids who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate,” Blackmon said.

The Will Blackmon FUNdamentals Football Camp will have two sessions. The morning session will be held open to youth 7-10 years old and will be held 9 a.m.-noon. Check-in will be held at 8:15 a.m. The afternoon session will be open to youth 11-14-years-old and is slated 1-4 p.m.. Check-in is at 12:15.Space is limited. To register, visit rowleyqbs.com/blackmon-youth-camp.html.

Blackmon has also teamed up former Hendricken All-State quarterback Kyle Rowley to host the second annual Blackmon/Rowley Combine Camp on Sunday, July 7, 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. at Hendricken. This combine is for high school players looking to get recruited. College coaches and pros will be on hand. More than 100 of the top high school players in Southern New England participated in the inaugural combine last July.

To register for the 2019 Blackmon/Rowley Combine, visit http://www.rowleyqbs.com/combine.html.

“When I was in high school (at Hendricken) I never had the opportunity to go to a local combine. My dad had to drive me up and down the East Coast to be seen,” said Blackmon “Kyle and I want to provide the opportunity here in RI for local high school players to be seen and get recruited. Kyle and I believe our kids in RI can compete with anyone, regardless where they are from. We are really excited to host this combine at Hendricken and bring something great to help our own football players in RI get noticed.”

Blackmon, the former All-Stater and All-American at Hendricken and stand out at Boston College, spent 11 years in the NFL. He has played for the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and earned a Super Bowl ring with the NY Giants. He is currently working with the NFL Network.

Rowley, the former two-time All-Stater at Hendricken and quarterback at Brown University, spent 14 years playing professionally in the Arena Football League. Rowley won two national championships with the Spokane Shock. A two-time MVP, Rowley broke the All-Time Single Game Touchdown Record (12 TDs) and the All-Time Arena Bowl Touchdown Record (10 TDs).

The fifth Annual Will Blackmon Football Camp and Inaugural Rowley/Blackmon Combine have partnered with USA Football, NFLPA, University Orthopedics, Nuts ‘N More, BankRI, Adidas, Northeast Sports Training, Beacon Shipping,  Bishop Hendricken High School.