Seahawks Britt and Rawls to hold football camps in the Mid-Columbia

It’s not quite football season, but Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Justin Britt is bringing two football camps to the Mid-Columbia.

Britt and Seattle teammate Thomas Rawls will be at Sunnyside High School on Sunday for two sessions — 9 a.m.-noon for players 7-12 years old, and from 1-4 p.m. for players 13-18.

Monday’s camps will be after school at Hanford High School. The 7-12 year olds will go from 5-7 p.m., while the 13-18 year-old players’ session will run from 7-9 p.m.

The camps will give young players a chance to train and play with NFL players. The cost for each session is $80 and includes a T-shirt. Registion forms can be found at: justinbritt68.com/camps/.

Britt, who recently held a football and wrestling camp in his hometown of Lebanon, Mo., said he wanted to reach out to the smaller communities in Washington.

“My team and I though about it and considered different places, but I wanted to give back to communities who would appreciate it,” Britt said. “The turnout so far has been incredible. I’m thrilled to bring my team there and make an impact. Sunnyside has been the biggest hit so far; we have over 600 kids signed up.”

Britt also is holding a camp in Bellingham, but said he wanted to avoid the Seattle area as much as possible.

“I know Russell Wilson holds camps in Seattle, Renton and Bellevue, and I didn’t want to step on his toes,” the 6-foot-6, 325 pound Britt said.

And dragging Rawls along?

“He is a special guest,” Britt said of the rookie running back. “He’s coming for the kids, not to sign a ton of autographs. He loves kids and loves giving back. I’m honored to have him there. We are going to go out there and have fun, be good role models and get some work done. If they don’t learn anything on the field, hopefully they will learn something to carry with them in life.”

Part of the proceeds of the camp will be given to the Prosser branch of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties. A check presentation will be at 3:15 p.m. Monday.

“We were very excited to speak with Justin and his agent,” Prosser branch manager Dena Lodahl said. “It was unexpected. You have a budget and you try and work within that, but this will help with our teen program. It’s just amazing.”

Britt, 24, and Rawls, 22, also will stick around after the presentation to talk to middle school students about making good life choices.

“It’s an honor to have them here,” Lodahl said. “Not just stopping by to present a check, but to talk to the kids. It means a lot.”

Once the Seahawks’ season ended, Britt and his family took a vacation, and then it was back to work.

“We went to Hawaii to get away, spend some time as a family and hit the reboot button,” Britt said. “Then I did an offensive lineman camp and a wrestling camp. It was nice to put the wrestling shoes back on.”

Britt won the Class 4 Missouri state heavyweight wrestling title his senior year in 2009. He finished with a 45-0 record.

Britt went on to play football at Missouri (2010-13), lining up at left and right tackle. The Seahawks drafted him in the second round of the 2014 draft.

Seattle moved Britt from tackle to guard after his first season, a move he was willing to make.

“I just want to play,” said Britt, who will be entering the third year of his rookie contract this fall. “I’m willing to do it. I am a team player. I can’t win any games by myself.”

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Seahawks Britt and Rawls to hold football camps in the Mid-Columbia."