Maryland football QB Malik Washington on year four of his camp, impact on the community

Jul 25

3 min read

Maryland quarterback Malik Washington hosted his fourth annual youth football camp at the Under Armour Stadium in Baltimore, Md. on Friday night with several teammates in attendance serving as volunteers. Washington dives into year four of his camp, impact on the community and more.

Note: quotes courtesy of Mike Howes, Baltimore Sun

On year four of hosting a camp

“Probably just the fun that the kids are having. To be honest, we have it a lot more organized this year, which gives them more opportunities to have fun and do what they want to do. Just come out here for a couple hours and run around, burn some energy and have some fun, meet some new friends.”

What makes the camp fun for Malik Washington

“Really, just the looks on their faces. To be honest, like this is something that I wish I could have went to as a kid, right? A lot of camps cost some money and stuff like that. But just for them to be able to come out here, enjoy the community and meet some new people is really cool.”

On camp changes from year one to four

“One, location, right? Like huge shout out to Under Armor for allowing us to use the facilities. It's been amazing. This is such a beautiful day… the weather held up. Two, just the amount of people helping out. When we first started, it was me and my mom on a Google Doc and a couple of my teammates from high school coming out to help us out, and that was really it. But now it's a whole big thing. It's production behind it. It's teammates from all over. We got kids from high school, kids from the colleges, some people I just met throughout the years that are coming to help out. So just the people helping out really is the biggest change.”

On being a model in the community

“It's huge. This is the community that raised me. They’re the reason I am who I am. To be able to give back to them is amazing.”

On the community being involved with Malik’s camp

“We talk a lot about the talent that we have here and being able to keep it home when it comes to high school and college, and then getting out here and seeing guys that are from here able to be out here and help out with the kids and see the shoes that they once filled and the kids have people to look up to to understand like I can stay home and do amazing things. It's just really big.”

On the impact of the camp on Malik Washington

“A whole bunch. This gives me something to remember my why almost. When it gets tough on the field sometimes before game, after game, things like that. Like just remember, these kids are here looking up to me, and there's a reason I have to put on, a reason I have to do what I do, is because of kids like this.”

On the number of first-year Maryland football players serving as camp volunteers

“Huge. Camp's coming up real soon. This is another opportunity for us to build our team and build our connection.”

On hosting the camp at the Under Armour facilities

“It's great as a kid from here who's repped Under Armor his whole life. UA coming up is the biggest thing and they're trying to get back to that point, and it's just amazing for them to allow us to use the facility and use these amazing things that they have out here. A lot of kids to see what Under Armor is all about and give them a chance, an insight behind the company, not just the logo, but you know the reason why they do what they do and how it affects the community.”

On being a role model

“Just bright and energy. Really, that's my biggest thing to carry energy with me everywhere I go, carry God's presence with me everywhere I go, be able to radiate that into other people.”

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