‘Kids are having a blast, makes me feel like a kid again,’ Texans’ Jalen Pitre hosts youth football camp at Stafford

HOUSTON – Lined across from a serious opponent, Texans nickel Jalen Pitre was wearing a game face etched with intensity.

Instead of an NFL game, though, Pitre was matched up with a series of talented youth football players. Although perhaps he let them win a few of their one-on-one battles, Pitre knocked out some pushups afterward.

It was a fun and rewarding day for Pitre and his family, including his wife, parents and grandmother. It all came full circle for Pitre on Saturday morning as he hosted his first youth football camp through his Pitre Boyz Foundation.

The former Stafford standout held the camp at his alma mater where he emerged as a coveted recruit for Baylor where he was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

“Oh man, I’m very grateful to be out here,” Pitre said. “It’s been really fun to be out here with all my friends and family and it’s just a great event so far. The kids are having a blast. We’re out here competing and it has been a lot of fun.

“It does definitely take me back and it makes me like feel like a kid again. You know, just getting out here competing, all the trash talking and all the fun celebrations, all of that stuff. It’s always fun to get out here and see what the new kids are doing and just how they’re having fun out here."

It was particularly meaningful for Pitre, who got married this offseason to his high school sweetheart, to hold this camp where it all started for him.

Stafford is a special place for Pitre.

“That’s the essence of community,” Pitre said. “I feel like Stafford has done a great job and molded me into the man that I am. I’m thankful that they came out here to bring their kids out and trust me to help them develop into whatever they become on the field, but also off the field. So, a special shoutout to the parents for allowing me to, help out in that way and I’m forever grateful for that.”

Joined by his family and his agent, Trey Robinson, Pitre was thrilled to have the support.

“I couldn’t do it without them,” Pitre said. “It’s not possible. Like when you see Jalen, you see them. There’s no Jalen without them, like they’ve definitely motivated me into the person I am. And they’re a huge reason I’m out here having this camp today with family.

“That’s why it’s a Jalen Petre camp. I don’t want to get that misconstrued. It’s a Pitre Boyz Foundation camp. And that’s everybody that has poured into us in the community that we’re just trying to give back and help out as much as we can."

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