Texas-Ex Andrew Beck gives back to military kids
Growing up in a military family, former Texas Longhorns tight end and current member of the Denver Broncos Andrew Beck knows what it takes to succeed.
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Last weekend, Beck and other professionals converged on the Andrew Beck Football camp at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. Beck was a three-star recruit for the Longhorns in the Class of 2014 out of Tampa (Fla.) Plant who played fullback, tight end, and linebacker in high school, and participated the 2013 Army All American Bowl.
All campers ranging in age from first grade through eighth grade had the chance to win special prizes from Beck, including signed Denver Broncos jerseys and signed Broncos mini-helmets.
“(The coaches) set up a bunch of stations, run through drills,” Beck told the Killeen Daily Herald. “They told me we’ve got everything from offense, defense, both sides of the ball. We’re going to run around, try and cover everything and have some fun doing it.”
All campers were the dependents of active-duty military members, retirees, veterans, and Department of Defense civilians. The camp lasted two days.
In addition to the football drills, Beck focused on life lessons and ways to succeed in the future. A military background often provides kids with a stricter and more disciplined upbringing.
“It doesn’t matter if you play college football, if you never play a down or you play four years and go on to make it in the Hall of Fame in the NFL or if you never play a snap there either,” Beck said. “You can take the lessons you’ve learned growing up playing sports growing up in the military — things like that — apply them to your life and be successful in any aspect of your life.”
They arrived to 100-degree temperatures in central Texas, somewhat different than Denver, where Beck currently resides.
“Coming all the way down here from Colorado to be able to run the camp is a huge honor for me to be able to share (with) these kids my message and story,” Beck said. “Like I said, if I can do it, you guys can, too. It’s something that’s really important to me and something I’ve really enjoyed.”
