ROCKINGHAM — For the sixth straight year, Richmond County native Dannell Ellerbe is returning to his old stomping grounds.
Next Saturday, July 8, the New Orleans Saints linebacker — with help of many others — will take on a group of campers at Richmond Senior High for his annual USA Football FUNdamentals camp. Ellerbe’s wife, Shervella, says approximately 230 kids have pre-registered online, but they always expect 50-60 campers to show up for the morning-time registration.
Throughout the day, campers are taught the correct ways to pass, catch and carry the ball — while also learning how to run receiver routes. There are no contact drills at the camp, but Ellerbe switched things up a bit last year when he added a drill in which campers took turns bringing down a tackling bag.
“We don’t see too many pro athletes come back down here. I know I didn’t see it when I was coming up,” Dannell Ellerbe said after last year’s event. “(I want to) give hope to the kids, like ‘I can do that because he was from here’ or ’ I can do what he did’ or ‘I want to be better than him’ type deal.
“Instill in them hope and help build a foundation for them to be successful.”
A handful of people are expected to help out and this year’s event includes former NFL linebacker Lee Robinson, current NFL free agents running back Bobby Rainey and cornerback Cary Williams, former Richmond football standouts and a host of Ellerbe’s college teammates.
Rainey and Williams were members of the Baltimore Ravens team with Ellerbe that won Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.
“He has a great lineup. All of these guys are like-minded, want to see the kids do well and want to give back,” Shervella Ellerbe said.
The camp is free and is for children ages 6-18. Breakfast will be served during morning registration, which begins at 8 a.m., and drills start at 9 a.m. All who partcipate will receive lunch and a free T-shirt.
Those interested in early registration can signup online at www.usafootball.com/fun. Type either “NC” or “28379” into the search box and then click “Register” when Ellerbe’s camp information appears.
“I know how much Dannell loves dong the camp each year, so my favorite part is to watch him do what he does,” Shervella said. “We take intake from every station — from concessions to on the field — to make it that much better the next year.
“We love Richmond County,” she continued. “To be able to come back and pour into our county, it’s just something that we love so much. It’s why we do all the different events.”
Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673 and follow the sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.