KW product and NFL player Mike Karney to host camp at French Field on Saturday

Mike Karney is back in town.

And the former Kentwood High football star and current member of the St. Louis Rams would love nothing more than to inspire kids. Karney will be hosting “Karney’s 44 Kids Camp” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 20 at French Field. The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is being offered to kids between the ages of 8 and 16 years of age.

Karney, however, didn’t come alone. The 5-foot-11, 255-pound fullback brought 16 of his closest NFL friends to join him, including Kentwood product and former New Orleans teammate Ernie Conwell. Other NFL players on the coaching staff include: Deuce McCallister (New Orleans Saints), Lorenzo Neal (Baltimore Ravens), Leonard Weaver (Philadelphia Eagles), Alge Crumpler (Tennessee Titans), Scott Fujita (New Orleans Saints), Andrew Walter (Oakland Raiders), Brian Young (New Orleans Saints), Skyler Fulton (Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings), Mason Unck (Cleveland Browns), Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints), and Usama Young (New Orleans Saints).

The camp, which is entering its second year, isn’t all about football.

“There’s more to it than football,” said Karney, who makes his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., but returns to Kent once a year to host the camp. “We try and get a message across to these kids to start thinking about their lives and having a plan.”

For more information on the camp or to download a form, log on to: www.karney44foundation.org/