4th Annual Alex Highsmith Football Camp held at Ashley High School

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY) — Dozens of young athletes gathered on Saturday to get a chance to learn from an NFL player.

The 4th Annual Alex Highsmith Football Camp took place at Ashley High School’s football field with many young football players learning from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith. Highsmith, along with several coaches who’s experience ranged from high school to the NFL, put the players through various drills.

Players learned out to tackle properly, shed blocks, run routes and improve their footwork. The first session of the camp was held at 3:30pm for 2nd-5th graders, with the second at 7:00pm for 6th-8th graders. Highsmith, an Ashley alum and Wilmington native, said the joy of coming home and giving back to the community makes it all worth it.

“Just the love for this city and just the love of giving back, I think is just so important. This city’s given so much to me, it’s where I was born and raised and so to just be able to be back here, just be some sort of inspiration to these kids means the world. It’s such an honor, I don’t take that lightly.”

Highsmith added one of his favorite parts of the camp is seeing young athletes compete carefree and enjoy playing the sport they love.