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Giving back to his hometown a passion for Kony Ealy
NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Kony Ealy spoke repeatedly about why coming back to his hometown was so important to him.
He then went on to show it.
The former New Madrid County Central star, University of Missouri standout and Super Bowl runner-up with the Carolina Panthers held his first Youth Football Camp at New Madrid County Central High School which hosted an estimated 200 kids from ages 6-18 on Saturday.
Ealy was joined by fellow Carolina Panther Mario Addison, Pittsburgh Steeler Stephon Tuitt and Ronnie Wingo, who last played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League after stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills as special guest coaches.
New Cape Central football coach Arlen Pixley, new NMCC football coach Tyler Fullhart and NMCC basketball coach Travis Day were on hand. As were former NMCC standouts Dontre Jenkins, G'Darius Stevenson and Lennies McFerren III as volunteer coaches.
All of them helped lead campers through drills during two separate sessions. The 6-12 year olds went from 9 a.m. to noon. The afternoon session from 2-5 p.m., was reserved for the 13-18 year olds.
"It means a lot to me and it means a lot to these kids just for them to interact with us," Ealy said. "Not just to learn about football, but to learn a motive that can take them far in life, the I'm not going to let anyone get in my way, step on my dreams type of lessons. You're the only factor that determines whether you'll make it or not. For them to believe they can make it just like I did, no matter how big or small, is huge."
As Ealy walked the same field he dominated in high school, he made sure to join each of the eight drill stations to interact. Any and everyone that wanted to shake Ealy's hand, take a picture or make small talk got the time. Even kids who had no idea who he was.
"You play football?" One of the 6-year old campers asked Ealy.
"Yeah. Who do you think is on your shirt?" said Ealy, pointing to the free, custom-made t-shirts each camper received.
Ealy co-hosted a similar event last year with Hayti graduate, Mizzou alum and current NFL free agent William Moore at Hayti High School. Saturday was the first time Ealy put on an event at his high school.
It was a treat for the 6-5, 276-pounder, who recalled that events like his weren't around when he was growing up. He, like the other volunteer coaches wanted to help support and encourage kids from southeast Missouri.
"This is the root. This is where I started," Ealy said. "It means a lot to the people here for me to come back and interact with those same people. It's all about giving back to the community and giving back to the kids. It all starts with the kids because they're our future. You never know what those kids might grow up to be."
Ealy, who became a father in November of last year, paraded his daughter, Royal, around the field towards the end of the morning session. The same warmth of being a first-time dad was easily detected throughout the day while interacting with his campers.
The fun-loving Ealy joked and showed off his dance moves. He used the school's sound system to introduce some of the campers to the parents sitting in the stands. He spent nearly 45 minutes with those same parents explaining his life story, fielding questions and explaining how much giving back to his community meant to him.
The morning session campers were treated to pizza for lunch, received autographs from each of the special guest coaches and gift bags filled with school supplies, a Panther sticker and other goodies. Some of the camp MVP's were given backpacks with additional school supplies. Two of them were given brand new bikes.
"Kony is good people," Addison said. "We all just love to have fun and he likes making people laugh. He's a good guy to be around...To throw a camp in the community where you're from means a lot to us. It's called giving back. I think it's a blessing he's having a camp in his hometown to show the kids that guys like us think about you and that you're not alone. We were out here at one time in their position looking up to guys. Now we're in a position to give back to the community."
As a defensive end for the Panthers, Ealy had one of the best defensive performances in Super Bowl history during Super Bowl 50 against the eventual champion Denver Broncos. He had three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in what would have almost certainly been an MVP performance had the Panthers won.
"I knew Kony could go off like that," Addison said. "That performance he put on in the Super Bowl was outstanding. That's the big stage."
Ealy, who was drafted by the Panthers in the second round during the 2014 draft, hasn't changed much in the eyes of his former high school teammates. Though issues of maturity followed him out of Missouri and into his rookie season, which have subsided since, his compassion and simply wanting to put a smile on the faces of others hasn't left him.
"He's the same, goofy Kony Ealy," former NMCC teammate Dontre Jenkins said. "Stuff like this is a big thing for him. To come back, give his time and help these kids, he wants to show them that just because he's in the NFL doesn't mean he's a big shot. He still cares about where he came from and still cares about the community."
After a rookie season that became more productive towards the end, to the birth of his daughter coinciding with a flourishing starting role and an MVP-like performance during the NFL's biggest game, the 24-year old is focusing on what's next.
"I'm really just taking it all in," Ealy said. "I'm trying to take what I've done so far and just rise from that. Trying to meet my next peak...It's been great."