LSU wide receiver and Fort Myers native Winston Watkins Jr. hosts football camp

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — A local football star returned home this weekend to give back to the community that shaped him.

Wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr., who started his college career at Ole Miss and now plays for LSU, hosted his first free youth football camp at Buckingham Field in Fort Myers. The camp was formatted like an NFL combine, giving young athletes from Southwest Florida the chance to learn from someone who was once in their shoes.

"Not too long ago, I was just like one of these kids out here," Watkins said.

The Fort Myers native said he wanted to provide guidance to kids who are trying to find their way. He emphasized that he came from the same areas and grew from the same roots as the young athletes at the camp.

"A lot of these kids out here don't got no guidance," Watkins said. "A lot of these kids out here just trying to find a way, you know, so me giving them a chance to show them, like, I'm from the same areas, y'all, I grew from the same roots, y'all grew from."

For many of the players, meeting an SEC player from their own community was special. 11-year-old running back Andrew Donahue said he was excited to attend the camp.

"If I make it to a good level like he did, I'm probably gonna do this too," Donahue said.

The lessons at the camp went far beyond football. 15-year-old running back Jacob Jonson said he learned that football is about more than just what happens on the field.

"I feel like football isn't just like you on the field, like you off the field, and who you are as a person and a character," Jonson said.

For Watkins, that message was exactly what he hoped would stick with the young athletes. He told the kids that work ethic will take them far in life.

"Work ethic is gonna take you a long way in life," Watkins said. "Like, if you work hard, no matter what in life, you're gonna complete or get whatever you want to get done."

Watkins said he hopes the camp becomes an annual event to bring the Southwest Florida football community together.