Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell hosts youth football camp in Williston

WILLISTON, Fla. (WCJB) - Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell returned to his hometown Saturday to host his annual youth football camp, giving local children the opportunity to learn the game from a player who grew up in their community.

Mitchell spent the day leading drills, sharing advice and encouraging young athletes to work hard both on and off the field.

Mitchell said the camp is about more than football.

“It’s all about the youth,” Mitchell said. “Just giving us a day to come together with great fellowship, come out, compete, have fun and, most importantly, get better.”

Mitchell said camps like this were not available to him when he was growing up in Williston, which he said makes the effort more meaningful.

“I didn’t have this opportunity to go to camps, especially in my hometown,” Mitchell said. “So that’s why I try to come back and give back to the youth as much as possible as I can.”

For at least one parent, the experience extended beyond the game itself. Karissa Paulk said her son had been eagerly anticipating the camp all week.

“He was so excited,” Paulk said. “He has been talking about it, waking up every morning asking if he was gonna go play football. I had to tell him, ‘No, Bubba, you gotta wait until Saturday.’”

Paulk said the camp may have changed her plans for her son’s athletic future.

“I wasn’t planning on putting him in football, but this kind of changed my mind,” Paulk said. “He might be going into football this year because of this.”

Mitchell said he hopes the camp demonstrates to young athletes that hard work and dedication can help them reach their goals.

“It’s not about the money, the notoriety, not about any of that,” Mitchell said. “It’s just about how you can impact people, how you can bring people along, and impact people positively.”

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