Wilkin Formby hosts first youth football camp alongside Alabama teammates
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Wilkin Formby remembers attending former Alabama defensive lineman John Copeland’s football camps when he was younger. The now-Crimson Tide offensive tackle was captivated by the college and NFL players who helped out and led drills.
On Saturday at Northridge High School, his alma mater, Formby hosted his first youth football camp, and he hopes the 70-plus attendees felt the same about him and his teammates.
“When you’re that young, you look up to people, and I just remember being so happy to be there and compete and stuff like that,” Formby said. “Now that I’ve grown up to have a little more influence, I would love to be able to give back to my community.”
Formby’s inaugural camp welcomed kids from ages 6-14 and lasted three hours on the field he used to call home before beginning his college journey at Alabama. The 6-foot-7 lineman joked that all he wanted to do when he attended camps like this in his youth was either throw, run or catch the ball – “I did not want to do anything in a 3-point stance,” he said.
Some of Saturday’s drills focused on blocking rather than offensive line-specific work. The point of the camp was less intensive instruction and more about letting the kids enjoy themselves.
“The biggest thing is just to have fun with the kids, tell them a little bit about Jesus and just let them be able to spend time with a bunch of great guys,” Formby said.
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Formby was joined by his Crimson Tide teammates Kadyn Proctor, Parker Brailsford, Richard Young and Baker Hickman, a walk-on who also attended Northridge. Tim Keenan and Germie Bernard also stopped by for part of the camp. Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and chaplain Scotty Hollins were also present for the start of the Tuscaloosa-based camp.
“I just see it as a blessing, man, to come out with my best friend at his camp,” Proctor said. “This is one of the first things that I’ve done giving back to the youth. I feel like it’s just a really special moment. God has blessed us and put us in a position to come out here and have an influence on these kids. I’m just blessed to be here.”
Brailsford added, “We’re obviously a close group of guys. We’ve Richard Young here, too, who’s a running back. We just like to get out and do stuff together, and being able to give back and hang out with my guys is something that’s perfect for us.”
Formby was happy to be surrounded by those closest to him for his first-ever youth camp.
“It’s special to be at Northridge High School, where I’ve gotten to do all my years of high school, and then also right down the street from my home with my family, where they live,” Formby said. “It means a lot to see my teammates, my brothers, a lot of my family and close friends out here to help, to give back.”
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