HAUGHTON, La. — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott held his third annual youth football camp in his hometown and stressed to the campers to never give up on their dreams.
At his third annual Dak Prescott Procamp, held on the very high school field he played for with the Haughton Buccaneers, Prescott brought a message of endurance and maintaining belief in one's goals, even if they aren't sports related.
"Here it's deeper than that for me," Prescott said. "It's about making sure that these kids believe in their dreams, whether it's going to the next level in football or whether it's being an author or whether it's being a teacher or an architect, whatever it may be.
"Whatever they dream — it doesn't have to be football — but they accomplish it. When you have a player with the ability it sticks out, so, you have to make sure that you help him and encourage him the same way."
The camp was open to boys and girls grades first through eighth, which was roughly the same age Prescott was when he dreamed of playing college football, going to the NFL, and being the quarterback for the Cowboys.
"I want these kids to make sure that if they are that kid with that dream or if they're that kid thinking big that they realize that there is no such thing as dreaming too big," Prescott said. "There's no such thing that there's something you can't do. Just for them to believe that and have faith in that and believe in themselves. They can accomplish anything they want."
Part of the reason Prescott is spending the last of his offseason coaching at his second ProCamp in three days is he comprehends the platform he has as the franchise quarterback of the Cowboys, America's Team, the No. 1 most profitable and recognizable NFL franchise. For the former 2016 fourth-round pick from Mississippi State, he is compelled to use the visibility of being the Cowboys' quarterback to inspire the next generation.
Said Prescott: "I feel like if I don't do it the right way and if I don't manage the right way and if I don't give back and inspire others and tell my story, make some other kid better, then I'm not utilizing my platform the right way. So, for me, it's just about doing everything I can to better myself and better the people around me.
"And I know this amazing platform I have to do exactly what I said: Inspire, to give back, and to help others. As long as I reach one kid and if I kid a day or whatever it is, I'm doing my deed. So, I'm thankful for that."
The venue has immense significance for Prescott. Not only was Haughton where he played high school football, where many games were won "in the last seconds," but it was also where Prescott's late mother, Peggy, watched all three of her sons' football careers.
"My mom sat right up there on the 50-yard line every game for 10-plus years watching all three boys play," said Prescott. "So, to think about her being right there in the stands on the 50-yard lines watching something different on this field, I know she would be proud."
Prescott even joked that she would be coaching him up and giving him constructive criticism.
"She would probably be coaching me up and getting on me about how to coach better or how to do better with the kids or maybe I didn't give enough kids high fives," Prescott said. "So, she would just be on me more than anybody else."
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