The path to the NFL is never easy, but it was especially difficult for Douglas McNeil III (New Town). After attending four different colleges and playing in the Arena Football League, McNeil played on the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad before signing a reserve-futures deal with the team this winter.
Now, he is ready to help out the community in which he grew up. McNeil is holding his IDream Youth Football Camp on Saturday at New Town High School from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
"It's always been something I've wanted to do once I was in a position to give back," McNeil said.
The wide receiver considered postponing the camp to July 11 because of the expected rain, but he opted to keep it Saturday as scheduled and will move the event inside the gym if it rains.
The camp, available for 7- to 17-year-olds, will be teaching the kids football techniques, especially focusing on footwork for every position. McNeil said about 250 kids from the Baltimore area are expected to attend.
McNeil will be joined by various athletes and coaches that he met along his journey to the NFL. The idea came in part from having few camps available to him when he was growing up.
"The fact that I had a lack thereof kind of inspired me," McNeil said. "I always said I was going to do something here at New Town."
The former three-sport athlete at New Town recently finished up minicamps for the Seahawks. He is now on a six-week break before he heads back to Seattle when the team reconvenes at the end of July.
"I utilized this time to really get into the playbook and familiarize myself with it as much as I can," McNeil said.
But before he continues his journey to playing a game in the NFL, he will give back to the community Saturday at New Town.
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