Torrey Smith has never been your typical NFL wide receiver. A month after winning Super Bowl XLVII, he went to intern with Rep. Elijah Cummings for the month of March 2013 when most of his teammates were enjoying a well deserved offseason.
He also became a free agent for the first time in his career and continued to not take the path of most convenience. Despite going to high school in Virginia, playing college football at University of Maryland and professionally with the Baltimore Ravens he decided to move across the country and sign with the team he beat in the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers.
So when most NFL players conduct football camps this time of year, Torrey Smith continues to take a different path even in the offseason.
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This past Saturday he returned to his high school alma mater where the foundation in his name hosted a multi-sport camp for youth ages 6–12. Smith continues to encourage kids to not do what is convenient and push themselves in all facets of life, academically and athletically.
“I think it will get them out of their comfort zone,” Smith told the Free Lance Star of the idea behind the multifaceted camp.
In line with this train of thought, his camp will not only feature football teachings but also instruction on basketball and soccer as well.
“Everyone wants to go to football camp because they’re good at doing football things and it’s something they’re used to,” Smith said. “But you might be very good at football and not know a thing about soccer. You might not be the best at basketball. So you’ll get a little bit of everything in one setting.”
But it goes one step further.
There was also be a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) station to get the campers thinking in a completely different way than they were used to at a summer sports camp. Current Stafford athletes served as instructors for the athletics and Stafford teachers helped with the STEM station.
Smith oversaw the entire camp and was assisted by former Stafford and Maryland teammate Dexter McDougle, who is entering his second season as a cornerback with the New York Jets. Former University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball player Marquel Davis, also a Stafford graduate, taught basketball to the children in attendance.
Smith’s wife, Chanel, who is the vice president of his foundation is also heavily involved in the couple giving back to their hometown community.
“We’re working on promoting leadership, so we wanted the athletes from Stafford to help run the stations,” she said. “We want to get them in the mode of giving back and being leaders.”