A group of South Florida high school students got a chance of the lifetime Wednesday – a workout session with a NFL star and Super Bowl champion who grew up in their same hometown.
Students from Pahokee High School made their way down to Fort Lauderdale to workout with Anquan Boldin. The South Florida native, who won a national championship at Florida State and a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, is giving back to his hometown and hoping to expand the educational and life opportunities for underprivileged children in his Palm Beach County hometown.
“It’s just giving them an opportunity to see different things,” Boldin said. “To be able to come and workout with guys they see on Sundays, guys they look up to and get advice from them.”
Boldin wasn’t alone, as Pro Bowler Darrelle Revis was among those working out with the young men at Hard Knocks 365, a premier facility that trains top athletes in several sports. Owner Tony Villani says helping young men is in the DNA of Boldin, who was award the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award in 2015 for his work both on and off the field.
“He works out with the kids every day,” Villani said. “A lot of times when we’re out on fields working, every time there are kids and they see us we let them jump in. Anquan stays after every single session and helps kids.”
The players from Pahokee, a small town bordering Lake Okeechobee, were more than grateful for their moment of learning how to excel both on and off the field from someone who was once in their exact spot – and who shared the tips that made Boldin a success in life.
“Always respect the person that you’re talking to, always look a man in the eye and always live up to your promise,” said Jajuan Campbell, a senior at Pahokee High School. “Never give up. Everything you do you’ve got to finish. Keep God first – that’s all you’ve got to do to be successful at life.
