Mitchell Trubisky youth football camp near capacity
Jun. 9—Mentor's hometown football hero is returning to the area, and Cardinals football coach Matt Gray is excited.
Beginning June 13, Trubisky, Gray and others within the football program will host a large number of campers for the 2022 Mitchell Trubisky Youth Camp.
The camp runs three straight days to June 15. Each session is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Because of construction at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium, the camp will be held at Mentor's soccer field — located next to the JTO.
Gray said Trubisky's annual appearance at the camp has been a boon for the event. The event was cancelled in 2020 because of COVID-19, but when it returned in 2021 there were 150 campers.
That's the number Gray likes to cap the camp at each summer. Currently, there are 145 signed up so there's room for a few more.
"It's been really positive the last two years," said Gray. "Mitch always loves coming back. Even the year we had to cancel, we were holding out until May and June until the last moment. The camp's in high demand, and it's a great experience for the kids."
Since Trubisky's first year in the NFL — 2017 — playing for the Bears, a familiar sight was many of the first- through sixth-graders in attendance at the camp wearing Bears jerseys with Trubisky's No. 10.
This season will be a bit different, as Trubisky will be wearing Steelers colors this fall after signing a two-year, $20 million contract with Pittsburgh in the offseason.
"The way Mitch represents his community is second to none," said Gray. "If he's wearing a Steelers jersey, people in this community are still going to be rooting for him."
Last season, Trubisky, 27, was the backup to Josh Allen in Buffalo. Prior to that, he spent four seasons with the Bears. His best season in Chicago was 2018, when he threw for 3,223 yards and 24 touchdowns, led the Bears to a 12-4 record and the playoffs. He also made the Pro Bowl for the NFC.
Price for the camp is $125. To register, go to mentor redline.com and click on "2022 Youth Camp."
