REDLANDS – Hundreds of boys and girls toiled under a bright, windless, nearly cloud-less sky on Saturday.
The Jaelan Phillips Football Camp returned to Redlands East Valley High, and it was not disappointing. The pied piper of course was Phillips, a linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and a former REV star.
The 6-foot-5, 263-pound defender was difficult to miss in his white camp T-shirt and ballcap turned backwards.
“This has always been a goal of mine, especially since I got to the league,” Phillips said. “I have a platform to be able to do this, and I always wanted to come back to Redlands and make an impact in my city.”
A camper takes on the tackling wheel, learning proper form. (Photo by: John Murphy)
About 450 children were split between two sessions, one from 9 to 11 a.m. and the other from noon to 2 p.m. The kids ranged in age from 6 to 14.
The players negotiated their way around barriers, played tug-of-war, took aim at a tackle wheel, and sharpened their passing skills, among other drills.
Up on the scoreboard at REV’s refurbished field it said, “JAELAN PHILLIPS FOOTBALL CAMP” and had the emblems of the Miami Dolphins and REV.
Phillips led REV to a 15-1 record and the CIF State Division II title in 2014 as the Wildcats defeated Clayton Valley Charter of Concord 34-33. Phillips excelled all game long, including blocking an extra point near the end.
Girls also participated in the third annual camp. (Photo: John Murphy)
Saturday there was no such pressure, just joy as Phillips gave back to the community and helped hundreds of kids who participated for free.
The Dolphin star is rebounding from a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament that he suffered in Game 4 last season. But he was in good spirits on Saturday as he chatted with his old REV coach Kurt Bruich (who is now at cross-town Citrus Valley High) and new REV coach Kristian King.
“Things are going good – real good,” said King, also a former REV player. “It’s like a reunion for me with all these guys and it’s great for the kids. It really brings the community together.”
The scoreboard at REV's refurbished stadium needs little explanation. (Photo: John Murphy)
Up in the stands, parents languished under EZ-Up canopies on a 90-degree day with the sun beating down.
On the field, whistles blew, kids sprinted, and not a discouraging word was heard during the pair of two-hour sessions.
REV offensive line coach Mark Ramer keeps the kids hydrated. (Photo: John Murphy)
“Are you guys ready for camp?” Phillips said to the kids before the second session. “Are you ready to get competitive out here? When I was a kid, I never had any camps like this, So I hope you’re all ready to bring your A-game.”
The children appreciated the extra attention.
“It’s pretty fun,” said Redlands’ Elias Trujillo who attends Rodriguez Prep in San Bernardino. “I’m having a good time. Jaelan is a guy you can look up to because most people want to go to the next level and he’s in the NFL.”
A third-generation San Francisco native. His first job was in Watsonville, where he wrote stories on a typewriter and people smoked in the office. He's covered Redlands, San Bernardino and Riverside.
