'Not forgetting about us little guys': Local NFL talent returns to Springfield for camp
KeShon Singleton volunteered and even learned a few pointers himself from NFL receiver Malik Turner at the second annual Compete with Leek & Friends Football Camp at Sacred Heart-Griffin on Saturday.
“It's a blessing that I'm just out here helping the kids and giving back to the community,” said Singleton, who will be a senior receiver at SHG this fall. “It's always something I wanted to do. I just appreciate Malik for coming back and giving back to his community and not forgetting about us little guys in Illinois.
“It's just amazing working with those guys, just great talent, and I'm still learning from them even teaching these kids today.”
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'Great turnout'
Turner, now with the San Francisco 49ers, returned to Springfield alongside fellow NFL tight ends Albert Okwuegbunam and Daniel Helm. They started in the morning with 3rd-5th graders then the afternoon with the junior high level free of charge.
“It's been a great turnout,” Turner said. “The kids have fun, really good energy. I'm just really excited to have Albert and Daniel here, and for the kids to be able to see that coming from central Illinois that you can definitely do what we're doing.
“It's just fun seeing the looks on their faces, and just them learning and growing throughout a short amount of time is awesome.”
Turner spent the past two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys at receiver and special teams. He finished the past season with 12 receptions for 149 yards and three touchdowns.
He hauled in five catches for 33 yards and two TDs against Okwuegbunam’s Broncos in a 30-16 loss in Week 9 before the two SHG grads exchanged jerseys after the game.
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“It was a surreal moment because we've both practiced on this field and grew up in this city,” said Turner, a 2014 SHG grad. “I'm really, really proud of him. He's been doing a great job, college and now NFL. I'm just excited for what he's going to do.”
They are set to meet again in Week 3 on Sept. 25.
“I'm really proud of Malik for stepping up and coming up with this idea and starting all of this,” said Okwuegbunam, a 2016 SHG grad. “We did it last year and it's great to just come back and do it again.”
'Full steam ahead'
Okwuegbunam tore his ACL his rookie year in 2020 but came back this past season and totaled 33 receptions for 330 yards and two TDs. He now is playing this fall alongside NFL star quarterback Russell Wilson.
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Helm, a 2014 Chatham Glenwood graduate, appeared in nine games with the Las Vegas Raiders last year. He was last reported with the Atlanta Falcons and was waived in May.
“Amazing, full steam ahead going into the season fully healthy,” Okwuegbunam said. “New coaching staff, new quarterback, it could be a great opportunity for everybody on the team. I'm really excited for it.”
How does Turner feel about his new team going into his fifth pro season?
“The Bay Area is really nice, I love it,” Turner said. “The organization is great. The teammates that I'm meeting, they've been there for a while and I'm learning the system. It's just been great. Everybody's really cool and having a good time. I can't wait for camp to start later this month.”
Contact Bill Welt: (217) 788-1545, bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: NFL football: 49ers receiver Malik Turner hosts camp in Springfield
