Why these former Highlander football players are bringing a youth camp to Howell

Three former Howell High School football players currently on college teams will return to their alma mater to help conduct a youth camp Tuesday.

The Little Champs Football Camp is for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It will run from 5-7 p.m. at the high school field.

Among the coaches will be defensive linemen Mason Nelson and August Johanningsmeier, Howell graduates who play for Western Michigan University. Northwood offensive guard Nolan Nelson, Mason’s younger brother, is also among the players working the camp.

“Me and August Johanningsmeier were thinking about how we grew up in Howell and the great influences we had back in Howell,” said Mason Nelson, a two-time Academic All-MAC selection who started 11 games for the Broncos last season.

“We just decided to come back to Howell and bring something cool to the county, which this camp will be for the younger generation.”

There will be a strong Western Michigan component on the staff, with starting quarterback Hayden Wolff, linebacker Boone Bonnema and tight end Will Gerig all scheduled to take part.

Other college players expected to attend are Adrian College quarterback Jake Kelbert and Michigan State punter Carson Voss. Current and former Howell players will also be on the camp staff.

“Everyone we’re bringing are really good dudes who we know are good with kids,” Nelson said. “They just want to come and help. Hayden Wolff, the quarterback we’re bringing, runs a football camp in his hometown, so he was helpful with getting this camp together just by showing us how great it can be to bring back to our own cities.”

The cost is $40 to pre-register or $50 the day of the camp.

Camp participants will go through six different stations for about 10 minutes each, with a competition at the end. They will receive a shirt, a poster and will have the opportunity to get autographs afterward.

Registration and camp information is available at littlechampsfootballcamp.com .

“It’s really going to be a fun time,” Nelson said. “Anyone can come, even if you don’t play football. It’s going to be a great thing for anyone to come out. You’re going to learn, but it will also be a lot of fun.”

Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Why these former Highlander football players are bringing a youth camp to Howell