By Brian Freiberger
Former NFL players Tim Hiller, Joe Reitz, Noah Herron and EJ Biggers are headliners for two Next Level Performance high school football camps in June and July located at Schoolcraft’s Dome Sports Center.
“I think for me it’s about paying it forward,” said Hiller, a former Western Michigan University (WMU) quarterback and co-owner at Next Level, a sports training center.
The one-day camps will be June 24 and July 15 from 9 a.m.-noon. To register for the event, visit nlathlete.com/playmaker or call 269-303-4086. Cost of both camps is $75 per athlete. The camp also offers a $200 team rate for high schools sending five or more student athletes.
The primary focus of the camp is to build leadership and character, according to Hiller, “helping them learn from your mistakes and experiences.”
The first camp in June is for skill positions: quarterback, running back, defensive back and linebacker. This camp will feature previous WMU and NFL defensive back Biggers and former Mattawan native and NFL running back Herron.
Biggers, a seventh-round draft pick in 2009 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will be showing off his favorite football drill called the “EDD drill.” Biggers referred to this drill because it helps with change of direction and balance all in one. Any player can do the drill anytime without equipment.
The July 15 event will be the Joe Reitz offensive line camp, hosted by Reitz, a nine-year pro. The camp is for offensive line positions: center, right-left guard, right-left tackles and tight-ends.
“I am extremely excited to put on this camp,” said Reitz in a statement released by Next Level Performance.
The former offensive lineman, who started in 40 games for the Indianapolis Colts, will be teaching these student-athletes fundamental training and leadership development, “I believe in Next Level’s mission to invest in student-athletes beyond the game. I’m looking forward to a great day for all involved.”
Josh Baird and his wife Amber, of Vicksburg, have been owners of the Dome Sports Center, on US-131 north of Schoolcraft, since January 2015. Baird is a co-owner of Next Level.