DAPHNE — Former Trojan football players reunited to give back to their community by hosting the Daphne Alumni Camp for boys and girls aged 5-14 at the Al Trione Sports Complex.

Powered by the Trent Battle Foundation, former Trojan teammates once again worked side-by-side as they taught skills and techniques to 98 young student-athletes Saturday morning.

“That was really cool, it was a really fun experience,” said Battle, the current TCU running back. “I got to see all those guys and interact with them all again, we don't get to do it that often now because all of our schedules are so busy, but getting to see those guys was huge for me and getting to be back out on the field with them in a sense.”

Full-circle moment for former campers

Among the Daphne alumni on hand included Navy slotback Tyler Bradley, who felt the same full-circle moment Battle did as a former attendee of similar camps hosted by former Trojans who made the NFL like TJ Yeldon, Ryan Anderson and Michael Pierce.

“It was good because I was in these kids' shoes once before. It seemed like yesterday, but it's crazy seeing all these young cats, they come out here excited they come out here ready and they're hungry,” Bradley said. “And it's good to see that fire in their eyes because that’s just like I was, very passionate about football when I was younger. So it was good to give back to the kids and teach them a little something and have fun with them.”

Recent graduate Nick Clark is one of the latest versions of success going from Daphne to the college ranks where Clark will help in the running backs room for the Delta State Statesman.

“I feel like it was great. I grew up here and all the kids growing up are seeing that it's possible to keep on going and putting on for your community, yourself and your family,” Clark said. “That's the biggest thing about it, giving back to the kids and letting them see that it's possible and everything can happen.”

Autograph session closes the day

After the campers learned from the former Trojans on the field, they interacted with the alumni off the field and received autographs. Each current college athlete also had autograph sheets with their school logo.

“It feels really awesome to see all the little kids out here that were happy to see them and me, to get the autographs at the end,” Battle said. “To see all the guys having a school with their logo on it where they're at, signing it and giving those to the kids was really a wholesome moment for me. To be able to see those guys and see all of us being able to pour back in these kids and give back was awesome.”

Thoughts on upcoming season

Of course, the Daphne alumni couldn’t escape the camp without some football talk previewing their upcoming seasons. Clark is set for his freshman season and knows there’s plenty of room for improvement.

“I feel great. It's going to take some time but I feel great, just have to improve and get more knowledge and just be active all the time and I'll be good,” Clark said. “It's always Trojans, but now it's the Fighting Okra, go Delta State.”

Only a season removed from a national championship berth, Battle and the TCU Horned Frogs have been working toward replicating that trip.

“I feel really good. We're working right now, we didn't have the year we wanted to last year but right now our leadership's a lot better than it was last year, we're putting in work day in day out,” Battle said. “Guys are there and when they come in, they're showing up to work. We know that we didn't meet the standard that we had last year and we're really disappointed in ourselves after that and you can tell by the way that we're working.”

Last year with local connection to special game

Now entering his sophomore season in Annapolis, Maryland, Bradley looked forward to adapting to some changes on the offensive coaching staff.

“I feel great, last year it wasn't the year that we wanted but definitely an improvement. We've got a new OC, a new position coach at my position in the slots room and a new O-Line coach,” Bradley said. “The offense is changing up a lot of things and a couple of guys have been stepping up as first-year starters coming in but I feel like we can get the job done.”

Trojan fans will get one more season of winning the Army-Navy game with Daphne alum Hamilton Baker gearing up for his senior season at linebacker for the Black Knights.

“It's definitely great. Not something I ever thought would happen to me honestly. I would have never imagined me playing for Navy or playing in that big of a game like that. There's things like the Iron Bowl or Oklahoma-versus-Texas but nothing close to Army-versus-Navy,” Bradley said. “That game is monumental, so it's good to go out there and see Hamilton and compete against him and his team and represent Daphne High School, how we do.”

Final thoughts

Battle walked away from the weekend with positive thoughts and hoped to return next year.

“I'm just really thankful. That's the biggest thing every time I think about this, I'm thankful,” Battle said. “The kids made it a success and I'm thankful for all my teammates that came out to help me and they really made it a success because they brought energy, they had everything that I could have asked for with the drills and teaching the kids and having a good moment.”