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Pettway bringing NFL experience home

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Kenneth Pettway, a 2000 Gilmer High School graduate, will offer a free NFL Experience Camp to all kids entering 6-12th grade on Friday, July 13 at Buckeye Stadium in Gilmer. The camp will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at approximately 1:30 p.m.

“It's something that Kenny has wanted to do,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor, who will provide his coaching staff to help Pettway at the camp. “He's a super young man. He's come back to my camps every year that he could since I've been here. He always speaks to the kids.”

Pettway was a multi-sport talent at Gilmer, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track, before playing football at Southern Arkansas for two seasons. Pettway transferred to Grambling State where he earned All-SWAC honors his senior year. The Houston Texans drafted Pettway in the 5th round of the 2005 NFL draft.

Pettway spent the 2005 season on the Texans' practice squad before being cut before the 2006 season. The Jaguars signed Pettway a few weeks later, where he played in 7 games, finishing with 5 tackles and 2 sacks. Pettway's performance impressed the Jaguars enough that they offered him a 1-year contract for the 2007 season.

Pettway said that his rise to the NFL was possible because of his chance to attend college. “Go to college and learn something. Get out and explore the world. The world is bigger than Gilmer. That's the message I want to deliver.” “I also want to bring the NFL to them because a lot of kids in this area don't get a chance to get out and see an NFL football game or meet NFL players. I want to bring NFL players to Gilmer so the kids can meet these guys and see that they can be just like them, and I can grow up and be an NFL player.”

In addition to Pettway, current NFL players Alfred Malone of the Texans and Randy Hymes of the Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to attend.

“It's going to be a fun camp. We're going to feed them a pizza lunch; autographs and pictures with NFL players, and NFL give-aways,” said Traylor, who added, “The NFL is paying for all of it, it's free. Free lunch, free t-shirt, free camp.”

“I hope for the event to grow,” stated Pettway. “This is my first year doing it, and if the turn-out is good this year, and we have good participation from the kids, then hopefully I can expand it in the future. I hope to make it an annual event that the kids can look forward to.”

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