Austin Bryant imparts his life lessons to the campers at his first youth football camp Saturday morning.

THOMASVILLE — Austin Bryant last stepped on to the Jackets’ Nest field as a competitor in 2014. He was running around the field Saturday morning, but this time, surrounded by 250 young players and a bevy of coaches for his first youth football camp. 

Now a member of the NFL’s Detroit Lions, the towering Bryant — 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds — was thrilled with hosting his first camp.

“God is great, God is great,” he said. “It’s almost surreal. I can envision myself being a kid and coming to games at this stadium and to be able to host my first camp in the same stadium where I had my first everything in high school football has been amazing.

“To see the looks on these kids’ faces, see the smiles, see the parents enjoying their kids having a good time, it means the world to me.”

Bryant and his coaching staff ran the kids, divided by age groups, in a series of drills. They even had a throwback punt, pass and kick competition among the kids.

Holding a camp and giving the kids a chance to work on their football skills, along with meeting current NFL players, is an accomplishment to Bryant.

“This game has been so gracious to me,” he said. “It’s taken places I never thought I would have gone and allowed me to have a platform to impact people I never thought I could impact. This game has taken me all over the place. It’s taught me some of my most valuable lessons. It’s made me the man I am today. I’m so appreciative of this game and what it’s brought to me and my family.” 

Bryant was drafted in 2019, a fourth-round selection by the Detroit Lions. In three seasons with the Lions as an outside linebacker, he has amassed 56 tackles, 4.5 for a loss. He played in a career-high 14 games in 2021. 

At Clemson, Bryant compiled 153 tackles, with 35 for a loss and 20 sacks as a defensive end.

Besides being a two-time national champion at Clemson, Bryant also earned another valuable possession — a degree in management. 

“This community raised me,” he said. “They made me who I am. All the morals and values and how I see life come from this place and I’ll never forget where I come from, because if you do, you’ll never know where you’re going.” 

Bryant also hosted a question-and-answer session joined by three of his former Clemson teammates and current NFL players Dexter Lawrence II, Christian Wilkins and Clelin Ferrell. 

“I pay homage to my hometown for making me who I am and allowing me to come back and give back,” Bryant said, “just as I was inspired by those who came before me.”