Trinity Catholic football star Jaydon Hodge to hold inaugural football camp
In one 29-minute conversation this week, Jaydon Hodge shared his thoughts on politics, NIL, the Ivy League, college football’s transfer portal and WWE women’s tag champs Sasha Banks and Naomi walking out on Monday Night Raw two weeks ago.
He also discussed his inaugural football camp, which will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jervey Gantt in Ocala and has been appropriately named “More Than An Athlete.”
With that comes an obvious question for the former Trinity Catholic safety.
Jaydon, how does an 18-year-old recent high school graduate come up with this idea and then actually make it happen?
“In April, I was sitting in theology class...during B-block,” said Hodge, who will join his new classmates and football teammates at Penn in mid-July. “I started thinking about it. Maybe that is something I could do.
“Then, we got to work.”
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That work began with a call to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he presented his idea. Those listening wanted to participate.
Through FCA came connections with college and NFL players. Hodge said about 30 college athletes — including Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson —and few NFL players (including free agent receiver John Brown and retired safety Clint Hart) will be instructors.
Hodge said he has four goals for the camp, which has seen 128 football players between the ages 8-15 sign up.
“First, in FCA we know Christ comes first,” said Hodge, who added he would like to hold the camp every year around this time. “Second, I want everyone to realize they are more than an athlete, so I want them to find their purpose. Three, have fun. And four, 60-percent of all of the funds from the event are going to the Pediatric Foundation of Lehigh (Pa.) Valley.”
He's always thinking about the future; Hodge already has a good idea what his major will be — communications or philosophy, politics & economics. He also recently signed NIL deals with GoMVB recruiting and SWEY natural sports drinks with a third scheduled to be announced soon.
Hodge said he has spent seven or eight hours each week preparing for the camp.
Hodge’s dedication isn’t surprising, as many who have met him understand he’s a little different — in a good way — than most other kids.
Marshall-bound defensive end Elijah Russell, a camp instructor who played with Hodge at Forest when they were juniors and then at TC, once tweeted that Hodge is the best leader he’s ever known. Celtics coach John Brantley refers to Hodge as “the mayor” and said he does believe Hodge will be elected into that role one day in Ocala.
A reporter once half-jokingly said after speaking to Hodge two years ago “no way he’s only 16.”
But get him to talk about his camp, and you hear a little bit of the same verbiage you might get from any of tens of thousands of athletes who love Friday nights in the fall.
“I’m pumped,” Hodge said. “Really pumped. I can’t wait.”
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: High school football: Trinity Catholic's Jaydon Hodge to hold Ocala camp
