Felix Jones, Robert Meachem helping local football players

Former NFL running back Felix Jones speaks to players in a huddle during a break on the football field at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club for the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday.

Felix Jones stood alongside Robert Meachem as the hot late June summer sun blazed down on them.

The duo conversed as the sounds of whistles mixed with clapping and instructional shouting compiled the ambiance at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club’s football field. Laughter would erupt from them in spurts as they recounted memories of their days as teammates at Booker T Washington in the early 2000s — Jones from 2001-04; Meachem from 1999-2002.

Fast forward, the two instructed campers at the 2023 Felix Jones and Friends Youth Football Camp, hoping to assist young athletes in similar situations they were once in.

Meachem, an elite national recruit who drew interest from the likes of OU, UCLA and LSU, signed with Tennessee out of high school while Jones, a four-star recruit, went to Arkansas two years later. A full circle moment came in 2006 when Meachem’s No. 13-ranked Volunteers traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to face Jones’ 11th-ranked Razorbacks.

Admittedly, euphoria flowed through Jones the moment game week commenced. He said Meachem was someone he strived to emulate in high school.

“Meach was someone I looked up to in high school,” Jones said. “I credit him for molding me into the athlete I (was). Like I said, he made me great. He made us all great at (Booker T. Washington).”

The Razorbacks cruised to a 31-14 thrashing over Tennessee at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The moment the final whistle blew, the two found each other after the game when Jones uttered words that still resonate with Meachem to this day.

Players run past coach Felix Jones during a warm up drill at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

“Just two boys from Tulsa.”

Meachem was a first-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2008, playing seven seasons in the NFL and one in the Arena Football League in 2015. Jones played six seasons in the NFL, five with the Dallas Cowboys.

Now, the two spend their days advocating for young athletes, holding camps to help pinpoint potential under-the-radar talent.

The camp itself began 25 years ago. Jones initiated a personal football clinic in 2009, before agreeing to a partnership with the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club in 2018. Instantly, the event garnered larger turnouts. As a result, more talented athletes have come through.

Former OU cornerback Tre Brown was a former attendee of the camp. Little did Jones know; he was in the presence of a future NFL cornerback.

A fruitful four seasons at Union High School earned him a scholarship from OU. After a productive tenure with the Sooners from 2017-20, he now serves as an active roster member on the Seattle Seahawks. It’s a story that makes Jones realize the merit in events such as the one he conducts annually.

“This is a very essential event, especially for those (kids) who may not necessarily have the financial backing,” Jones said. “Coaches come and scout these kids at this camp. When they do, they see the large amount of talent on display from our youth.”

Vysean Embry, 11, center, runs a drill past coaches Prentiss Elliott, left, and Robert Meachem on the football field on the campus of the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Jeremiah Cunningham, a soon-to-be sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, heard about the camp from his father, whom he’s spending the summer with in Tulsa. Eager to learn from two men with NFL experience, Cunningham pranced on the opportunity to attend the camp when his father presented it.

“It’s a dream come true seeing guys like (Meachem) and (Jones) and learning from them,” Cunningham said. “A lot of other kids are out partying or doing drugs or something. But you’ve got to have the mentality and maturity to be able to set those other things aside.

“Not many people make it (to the NFL). So, spending a day out here in front of these (former NFL) players is so much more productive.”

Could Cunningham be the next great athlete to come out of the Felix Jones Friends and Youth Football Camp? Neither Meachem nor Jones knows what the future holds for their young campers. What they do know is the happiness and joy instilled within them as a result of their sheer presence.

In their minds, that's what keeps such an event going.

“Anytime you can come back and give back to the youth, it’s special,” Meachem said. “The next Tre Brown could be out here somewhere, we just don’t know it. That’s the value in holding (this camp). Then seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces, it’s special.”

Former NFL running back Felix Jones smiles as he walks though the football field on the campus of the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club as players do drills for the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Vysean Embry, 11, center, runs a drill past coaches Prentiss Elliott, left, and Robert Meachem on the football field on the campus of the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Rocky Bright, left, stands with his father Darryl Bright after a huddle on the football field on the campus of the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla. The Bright family has been working with the football camp since 1996.

Former NFL running back Felix Jones directs players in a drill on the football field at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Coach Adrian Bradley speaks to players during a water break at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club for the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla. "This is home for all of us", said Bradley, who is a former linebacker for the University of Nevada Las Vegas, about all of the players who come back to help with the football camp every year.

Coach Scott Patton directs players during drills at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Robert Meachem demonstrates a move to Stephen Hall, 14, between drills on the football field on the campus of the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Coach Eli Kennard shows players how to run a drill over step-over dummies at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Players begin to gather in the football field after a water break at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Jo Bright speaks with players sitting on the bleachers on the football field during a break at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club for the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Rocky Bright speaks with players sitting on the bleachers on the football field at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club before the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp starts on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Angel Clark, a pharmacist with Westview Pharmacy explains to players how to use naloxone if they encounter someone who may be experiencing an overdosed at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Players run past coach Felix Jones during a warm up drill at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Coach Anthony Keys of Broken Arrow demonstrates a drill to players at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Coach Eli Kennard speaks with coach Scott Patton between drills at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Players do high kicks during a warm up drill at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Coach Robert Meachem calls over players on the football field on the campus of the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during drills for the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Coach Andrew Jones speaks to players after they run drills on the football field at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Coach Issac Bennett, former running back for the University of Pittsburgh, directs players during drills at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club for the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Coach Andrew Jones directs players to take a water break after they run drills on the football field at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Former NFL running back Felix Jones speaks to players in a huddle during a break on the football field at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club for the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Players break out into groups for drills on the football field at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Coach Prentiss Elliott speaks to players sitting on the bleachers at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club before they start the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Tulsa area director Brennan Segraves speaks to players at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club before they start the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Coach Scott Patton directs players during warm up drills at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club for the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

Fromer NFL wide receiver Robert Meachem speaks with coach Scott Patton between drills at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

CoachKarl Crowley of Broken Arrow leads players in a drill at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club during the North Tulsa Youth Football Camp on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

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