Football team hopes to make a difference in youth clinic participants' lives

When a college player hits it big and makes it to a professional roster, sometimes they come back to the community where they made their start and give back. That is exactly what former Southeast Missouri State player Edgar Jones is doing.

Southeast will host its second annual Edgar Jones Youth Football Clinic before its spring game on April 18.

Jones was named a first-team All-American following his senior season as a Redhawk in 2006 when he led with 12 Division I-AA sacks.

He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent where he played for six seasons as an outside linebacker, but his biggest contributions came as a member of the special teams.

Before retiring in 2014, Jones played with the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns.

He recorded a total of 38 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks in his career.

"It's a chance for him to come back now that he has played in the NFL and dedicate his time to teaching the youth in the area about hard work and what it takes to succeed in life," Phillip Lady, director of marketing and promotions with Southeast athletics, said. "This allows for the kids to be fit and have the potential to be a collegiate athlete as Edgar was because he was fortunate to play here."

The clinic is open to kids in grades 1-8 and will be held 10 a.m. to noon. Lady said they are expecting a big turnout for the event.

"Last year, we had just over 200 kids and right now we have about 175," Lady said. "Between now and the time the clinic starts, with the walkups we have on the day of the clinic, I expect that number to be around 250."

The clinic will consist of several stations with the players and coaches on the Southeast football team helping out at their position's drills.

Southeast's second-year coach Tom Matukewicz hopes the kids accomplish one thing at the clinic: Have fun.

"Goal No. 1 is to have fun," Matukewicz said. "We want all the kids to leave here with a smile on their face and enjoy themselves. I also want them to think about going and staying in school and getting into college and those types of things."

Not only do the coaches and players teach the kids about football and life in general, but senior quarterback Alex Niznak thinks he will learn some things from the kids as well that he can take with him when the clinic is over.

"Working with the youth in athletics is all about the passion for giving back," Niznak said. "If I can make a difference in a kid's life, then it was all worth it."

Most players won't be able to stay for the full duration of the clinic, but those injured and not participating in the game will.

Matukewicz talked about giving back to the community with his players and said this is one way for players to help out with the community.

"I always tell my players that it's not about you and making a difference in someone's life," Matukewicz said. "I want them to come out of this knowing that they made a kid have a good day."

Participants in the camp will also receive a free T-shirt, but it is limited to only the first 250 kids that register.

Each kid at the clinic will also have a chance to run onto the field with the team before the spring game which starts at 1 p.m.

Matukewicz hopes that special things like this will create fans for the program.

"The deal where the kids run onto the field is called 'The Lock n' Rock,' and I want things like that and this camp to create fans and hopefully it will have them coming back for every game."

Both the clinic and the spring football game are free to the public and will be held at Houck Stadium.