A football camp recruiting from Brookhaven is seeking to put children in the same space with their role models and mentors. 

“All kids have role models and mentors,” Jimmy Johns, former Brookhaven High School standout, said describing how some young people look up to famous athletes like LeBron James. “But to be able to touch them. I think that affects a child more than seeing someone they can’t touch.”

Football-star-turned-involved-community-member Johns will host a football camp June 12 and 13 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the McComb High School football field. The camp, titled Showdown of the South, will give young athletes a chance to fine tune their skills and learn what coaches are looking for. The camp will also feature special guest Jerrell Powe, nose tackle for the Houston Texans.

Powe and Johns first met on opposing teams while playing football in high school — Johns for Brookhaven High School and Powe for Wayne County. They later played in the Mississippi/Alabama All-stars game together on the same team and have kept in touch since.

“Jerrell is a brother of mine,” Johns said. “We’ve known each other over 10 years, and I invited him to be a speaker.”

Registration for the camp is open and Johns encourages all to register by June 5 at Toyota of Brookhaven, at 890 Brookway Blvd., or Keith White Ford in McComb. Open to both girls and boys, the camp costs $25 for ages 6 through 12 and $40 for children age 13 and older. The cost covers T-shirts and food for the camp.

Johns said at Showdown of the South children will perform activities such as punt, passes and kicks, broad jumps, longest toss and other football drills. There will also be jumpers there for younger children.

“I’ve been dealing with the youth for a while,” Johns said. “Giving back to the kids mentally.”

He said this football camp is a chance to give back not just mentally but physically.

Johns said there are several talented athletes from this area and he wants to let the kids know they can be the next big thing.

During his talks with young people around the area, Johns describes how a very successful high school football career — during his senior year at BHS he led his team to win the state championships and was also named Mr. Football in Mississippi — transformed into his playing as a true freshman at the University of Alabama. Then in his junior year of college, he went through something in his life that landed him in jail.

“I want kids to understand there is a chance; there is a life outside of football, and we need to position ourselves to be a success in life and sports,” Johns said.

Two nights a week, Johns trains high school athletes and said it’s great to see athletes at such a young age knowing that they are possibly four years away from being a millionaire.

“I didn’t accept that,” Johns said about his own chance, “I was just living life.”

Through his training and this camp — he plans for it to become an annual event — he seeks to teach kids to be great students, great athletes and great fathers.

“Sports teaches you, no you don’t give up, you keep fighting, and you keep pushing,” Johns said. “That’s something I learned through sports, and that’s how I want to inspire our youth.”