BOLT CHARGES INTO AMITE—Former Amite Warrior and current San Diego Charger Cletis Gordon returns to his home town today to host a youth football camp at Russell Memorial Stadium. Gordon, shown participating in last year’s COPE football camp, will be joined by NFL stars LaBrandon Toefield, Antonio Cromartie and Alan Ricard. Staff File Photo

AMITE - The sight of hundreds of area children participating in a football camp one year ago motivated him to conduct his own camp, San Diego Chargers cornerback Cletis Gordon said.

And so the former Amite High standout will host his first Flash24 football camp at his old stomping grounds of Russell Memorial Stadium Saturday, where 250 participants are expected to come and pick up tips from Gordon, current and former NFL players and area football coaches.

"I saw the excitement on the kids' faces and how much they enjoyed it, having somebody helping them and showing them how to do stuff they already love to do," Gordon said. "I always wanted to do my own camp; I just wanted the timing to be right. I feel like the time is now and I'm ready to start it.

"Hopefully, I can do this thing annually."

Current players giving instruction include Gordon's teammate, All-Pro cornerback Antonio Cromartie, Carolina Panthers running back LaBrandon Toefield of Independence, and Detroit Lions fullback Alan Ricard of Amite.

Gordon said former Amite and Tulane standout P.J. Franklin and former Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens receiver Michael Jackson of Kentwood are also slated to help the campers. The instructors will teach football fundamentals and give position-specific drills wile discussing nutrition and leadership.

Camp activities begin at 8 a.m. and will run through 3 p.m. at the Warriors' football stadium.

Gordon worked alongside other local pros at a football camp last year at Independence's Fontana Road Park. Like last year's camp, campers are attending at no cost, and the response has been strong for Gordon's first foray into conducting a camp.

"I know this area loves football," he said. "People here love football and the opportunity for the kids to come out, have a good time and get some tips from a lot of people that know what they're talking about and have football expertise."

Some campers learned of the camp late, and Gordon said those late-comers have been taken care of. Next year he hopes to get more children to register early to help streamline the camp, along with maximizing the campers' time with the instructors.

"We're just going to try to get out there, motivate them, let the kids get out there and have a good time," Gordon said. "Give them a chance to have an opportunity to learn the fundamentals and basics about football."

Gordon said he will be hands-on with the campers, but admitted he might be prone to having flashbacks to his days as an All-District player for the Warriors.

"I might get out there, working hard on them kids," Gordon joked.