Hundreds of high school football players gathered at Bulkeley High School in Hartford for Eric Mangini’s annual fundamentals football camp. The former NFL head coach is an alumnus of Bulkeley High School.
“A lot of people don't come back and support where they came up from so it's inspiring when somebody who made it comes back and it gives you hope,” said James Carroll IV who traveled from Springfield, MA to participate.
Fourty-eight towns and five different states were represented at this year’s camp. Attendees competed in drills and 7 on 7's, received advice from high profile guest speakers and got coached by NFL coaches like Ben Bloom and Rob Ryan.
“To see the coaches teach all the other parts of being a good person, of studying and the intangibles, that to me is very rewarding,” said Mangini.
The high school football players left the camp feeling inspired and motivated.
“Just being able not to give up on my dreams just like he did, just to know I can still go back with the decisions that I make,” said Hartford Public High School senior Jermaine Jones.
