‘Change up the vibe,’ how former Rice, Texans linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee emphasizes education, creativity at camp

HOUSTON – For Emmanuel Ellerbee, his vision for life and his fourth annual youth football camp runs a lot deeper than the basics of the sport.

The former Rice University standout linebacker and retired NFL player looks at these interactions as an opportunity for enrichment that goes beyond a love for the game.

He emphasizes plenty of football drills, but also brings in guest speakers to counsel the athletes about education, cognitive health, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and much more.

Through his foundation, Bee’s Believers, Ellerbee, previously with the Texans, Atlanta Falcons and the Houston Roughnecks, put on another fun and knowledge-filled camp Saturday morning at the Rice practice facility.

The camp included former NFL safety and Rice player Andrew Sendejo, former Texans and Rice player ND Kalu, who is a real estate investor, former Texans wide receiver and kick returner J.J. Moses, Antwon Blake and Alex Weber, a trainer and the brother of former Texans Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

“Being able to change up the vibe, I think this is a cool camp because we have so many people from the city of Houston, guys that were born and bred,” said Ellerbee, a Strake Jesuit graduate. “We can show kids that Houston is really kind of the epicenter. Not only the energy capital world, but we’re also the football capital of the world too, as well.

“The kids have been running around learning how to compete, how to do things at a high level. Talking about finishing, like no matter where you’re at in the rep, it’s not over until the whistle blows. So really been emphasizing that. And we haven’t even gotten into the part of just really wrapping it all up and having the kids come out and talk about the scheme.”

Sendejo focused on cognitive health and sports science. Kendall Calhoun was there to discuss his work at Amazon as a systems engineer.

“Just a real cool opportunity for kids to be able to show how all these football guys are also doing STEM things as well,” Ellerbee said. “And just being able to make that camp really be about that. We want y’all to be great on the field right now. And then when ya’ll leave the camp as well, be a great off the field as well, too.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com