Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson returns to NC State for annual Passing Academy camp
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Three hundred and fifty kids get to tell their pals they stood with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson on Saturday.
The Russell Wilson Passing Academy (RWPA) held a football camp Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium practice fields.
This was a big deal for camper Clay Williams who got to meet the Super Bowl quarterback -- remembered by many as a Wolfpack star.
"It feels great to be back at NC State for the Russell Wilson Passing Academy. Obviously coming back to this school is something special," said Wilson.
Before leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win, Wilson starred as a quarterback at NC State, and then left to play for the University of Wisconsin.
"We have eight total camps. Three in Seattle, one here at NC State, one at University of Wisconsin, one in Vancouver, Canada and one in LA. Over 3,200 kids are signed up right now," Wilson said.
Naturally, there were a lot of people at Saturday's event wearing Wilson's number, and they weren't all playing ball. One camper's mom had been a fan of Wilson since he played for State.
The Super Bowl champion says he started thinking about running a camp like RWPA since he was in high school. His mission: changing somebody's life.
"Some kid that believes in himself and is not really sure where his path is going, I just want to encourage them in whatever way possible," Wilson said.
The RWPA exists to promote the mental and physical development of youth, with the goal of encouraging kids to develop high character and moral standards, a sense of competitiveness and fair play, a respect for authority, service to others, and a love of God, family, and country.
From the look of things Saturday, we'd say mission accomplished.
