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Armwood alum Matt Jones returns to Tampa, hosts youth camp

 
Washington Redskins running back and former Armwood High star Matt Jones (31) will host a football camp at Skyway Park.
Washington Redskins running back and former Armwood High star Matt Jones (31) will host a football camp at Skyway Park.
Published June 22, 2016

TAMPA — He's come a long way from Lyle Flagg Field.

Washington Redskins running back and former Armwood High star Matt Jones will hold his inaugural football camp Saturday at Skyway Park for 210 local kids aged 6-14.

"I want to be a guy who's looked up to in my city," Jones said.

Jones, who ran for more than 3,000 yards in his high school career, chose to host his first professional football camp in Tampa rather than in Virginia, where he currently resides.

"(Jones) came up with the idea to do a camp but he's still not really out there like he is in Tampa, so he thought it would be better to do it down there," said Tyler Jackson, who handles marketing and promotions for Jones. "It sold out in like a week and a half."

Jones said as a child growing up in Tampa, he never attended a camp hosted by NFL players and wanted kids from his hometown to get a shot at something he never experienced.

"There's a lot I didn't get a chance to do when I was a kid," Jones said. "I wanted to do something for the kids because I never got to go to an NFL camp or meet anybody from the NFL. So this is a big thing I wanted to do for the kids back home."

All campers will rotate through three hours of position drills featuring Jones and Redskins teammates Mack Brown and Preston Smith before receiving lunch and a T-shirt.

"Where I came from, it's kind of hard to make it out," Jones said. "I want to show these other kids who are in the same position I was in that it's possible, and there are ways to have success in your life."

After leaving Armwood, Jones played three seasons at the University of Florida, where he rushed for 1,431 yards and 12 TDs in his three seasons in Gainesville. Jones' best year was in 2014 when he ran for 817 yards.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder then saw significant time last season as a rookie with the Redskins. Jones was second on the team in rushing attempts (144), yards (490) and TDs (three). Jones also caught 19 passes for 304 yards and a TD.

"It feels great to teach some kids from home that know where you come from and know how you feel," Jones said. "I just can't wait to be out there with the kids."

The surprise Redskins won the NFC East before bowing out of the playoffs with a 35-18 loss to Green Bay in the wild card round. "We have big expectations heading into this year," Jones said. "We want to seal the (NFC) East up fast and get it done early. And we want to take that next step in the playoffs."