Super Bowl running back visits with local campers

It is not often that a former National Football League running back, who played in a Super Bowl, makes his way through Reidsville.
Natrone Means, a standout running back at the University of North Carolina and starred in XXIX for the San Diego Chargers, spoke to the near 130 in attendance at the Fifth Annual Next Level Football Camp – held at Jaycee Park.
“Hard work pays off,” he said. “Nobody’s going to give you anything. If you want to succeed you are the age where you are capable of becoming anything you want to be.”
Means added that he tries to tell kids to keep your head up and keep fighting. ‘This is just another forum for me to give back.’
The former Tar Heel is also involved with Collegiate Sports of America – Prep Star, a recruiting service started back in 1981 designed to help high school athletes receive athletic scholarships for college.
He and former University of Florida Gator Mo Collins are regional scouting directors in the state of North Carolina.
Means was a second-round draft pick by San Diego, he played a total of five seasons with the Chargers. He played two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and one season at Carolina before retiring in 2000.
He finished his career with 45 touchdowns and over 5,000 (5,215) yards rushing. Means played in the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl during the 1994 season – his best in the NFL.
The former RB from Central Cabarrus did not spout off stories from his former playing days, yet he gave the young kids useful information and advice. Means spoke to the campers for about 30 minutes prior to the opening on Thursday morning and his message to the kids was simple – work through adversity, respect others and work hard both in and out of class.
“Your class work and your studies will take you far in life,” he said. “The football part always came easy for me, but the classroom stuff did not. You have to work hard at both.”
This week’s Next Level Camp, which was spearheaded by former Reidsville Rams Rashad Slade and Reggie Chestnut, offers both on- and off-the-field skills to kids ages 5 through 15.
“We really did not have camps like this when I was growing up,” said Slade. “This is a great way for me to give back and help the kids. Anytime you can help the young kids, absolutely.”
Despite these trying financial times for so many, Slade said this week’s attendance did not drop off compared to last year.
“We lowered the price to help people out and we’re glad to see the numbers right at where we were last year,” he said. “I have been so pleased with the community support, the sponsors and the repetition of the players who come back every year. Also pleased with the volunteers, who take time out of their schedules to work with the kids.”
Also on hand were several of Slade’s former teammates from Appalachian State University as well as former Ram, Tar Heel and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Na Brown, Ram and Duke Blue Devil Raphael Chestnut, former Ram and Tar Heel Isaiah Robinson as well as a host of other former and current Reidsville Rams.
“We’re at five years strong and growing each year,” added Chestnut.
The camp works with players at all positions – quarterbacks, offensive and defensive linemen, wide receivers, running backs, defensive backs and linebackers.
Campers come from such areas and Reidsville, Greensboro, Eden, Burlington, Charlotte and as far as Virginia.
Also impressive was the fact that both younger and older kids battled through the camp for three days despite some of the hottest temperatures of the summer. Thursday and Friday’s highs topped out near the mid-90s, but working out in the morning offered some relief.
Other NFL players such as San Francisco’s Manny Lawson, Baltimore’s Daniel Wilcox, Atlanta’s Corey Hall and Cincinnati’s Jerome Simpson have also been keynote speakers in recent years.
In addition to Means, this week’s speakers included Rockingham County head coach Lin Stadler and current Reidsville head coach Doug Robertson.