Primera, TexPreps bring former NFL players to small city with big dreams

PRIMERA — Nestled within the confines of Cameron County just 4 miles from Harlingen is Primera, a town with a population just north of 5,000.

The town isn’t home to much, with a handful of businesses, churches and one elementary school within its confines. There are no middle schools or high schools in the city, making it an afterthought when it comes to sport camps.

On Saturday, however, athletes from across the Rio Grande Valley flocked to Primera’s lone elementary school, as Wilson Elementary played host to the Primera Pro Football Camp featuring former NFL players Leo Araguz, Michael Lewis and Mike “Scoot” McGruder.

“I was able to go out and chase my dream and play in the NFL,” said Araguz, a Harlingen native who spent seven seasons in the NFL. “I want to be able to bring that back to the Valley. We don’t have stuff like this down here. If we have the connections to bring it down here, then why not? For me, the Valley has always been number one. Coming to Primera and being from Harlingen, this is something close to my heart and special for me.”

The one-day event came to fruition through the city’s partnership with TexPreps, a local nonprofit organization aiming to educate local parents and student athletes on the college recruiting process.

One of the biggest points of emphasis of the organization about the college recruiting process is exposure through camps and seminars, leading to the creation of the first of possibly many future camps in small cities across the RGV.

The organization’s first camp drew the attention of more than a handful of student athletes from across the RGV, with over 200 registered for the free event.

“Our focus is to try to reach everyone we can and not turn anyone away,” TexPreps executive director Mark Lopez said. “That is what we do in a nutshell. Not everyone can travel to camps in Dallas or out of the state, so we’re trying to bring them here to our own backyard.”

The day opened with a session for second to sixth grade students in the morning, followed by an afternoon session for seventh to 12th graders.

Each session consisted of a series of football drills led by Araguz, Lewis and McGruder among other volunteer coaches from local football leagues.

“There are some athletes here, seriously,” said McGruder, a 12-year NFL veteran. “Now they have to be nurtured and (build) that right foundation. I was just trying to come out here and build that foundation with them so they can understand that you can be somebody. The more you say it to yourself, the better chance you have for that reality to happen.”

Following the camp’s drills, participants gathered inside the school’s gym where they listened to Lewis and McGruder speak about their journeys to the NFL while offering advice to the local athletes.

The participants’ experience wasn’t over after the motivational talk from the athletes, with Araguz, Lewis and McGruder all sticking around to take pictures and sign autographs for the group of eager fans.

“I always tell people that it isn’t about the big market or things like that. It is about the small towns that don’t get those opportunities,” said Lewis, who holds the NFL record for most return yards in a season. “It is about those smalls towns that don’t get those professional athletes to come in and talk to the kids. It just makes it that much more special because they get a chance to see professional athletes come to their own hometown and not just show them what we do as far as athletes go, but our stories and what they can give back and take on within their lives to make themselves much, much better.”