The following local youngsters participated in the 2015 Marvin Lewis Football Camp held from June 1-3 at Paul Brown Stadium. Front row, from left, Landon Campbell, Carson Best, Colby Harover, Jackson Cooper, Chaz Walker, Dominic Webb, Michael Patrick, Tristan King, Gavin Jarvis, And Daniel Fernandez; Middle row, from left, Matthew Griffis, Bobby Gallowitz, Jordan Hicks, Zach Sandlin, Tyler Sandlin, Dakota Jarvis, Carson Brinker, Brady Egnor, Chase Taylor, Eyan Trotter, and Tucker Crase; Back row, Coach Scott McFarland.

It was an opportunity for some local youngsters to experience a little of the “big time” in early June as a large group of local athletes under the guidance of West Union football director Scott McFarland participated in the seventh annual 2015 Marvin Lewis Football Camp, run by the Bengals’ head coach, staff, and players. The three-night gridiron camp was hosted by the Marvin Lewis Community Fund and ran from 6-8:30 p.m., June 1-3.

The clinic on the turf at Paul Brown Stadium gave over 300 area youth the chance to learn the fundamentals of the game of football, the values of sportsmanship, and the importance of an education. All of the campers receive group instruction from members of the Bengals coaching staff plus a number of players, as most of the team’s 2015 draft picks were on hand.

Throughout the three-night camp, the young athletes experience various stations, each of which specialize in a certain fundamental football skill, and get to participate in touch football games. Campers were placed in small groups according to age to guarantee that each child could get the maximum amount of instruction.

For McFarland, it was obvious that his kids were thrilled to have the opportunity to display their talents in a professional stadium.

“We are so grateful to Coach Lewis and Pro Camps for inviting our kids to participate in the Bengals Fundamental Camp,” said McFarland. “It is such a thrill for these kids to get to play on the turf at Paul Brown Stadium and learn some great skills they can use later this fall in our season. Each day the kids got a message about education from Coach Lewis and got to meet some Bengals players, who even participated in the drills and were absolutely great with the kids. We appreciate P & G and Kroger sponsoring the camp to allow the kids to come for free.”

“This will be a lasting memory for a lifetime.”

The following local young men took part in this year’s Lewis Camp: Landon Campbell, Tucker Crase, Carson Best, Eyan Trotter, Colby Harover, Chase Taylor, Jackson Cooper, Brady Egnor, Chaz Walker, Carson Brinker, Dominic Webb, Dakota Jarvis, Michael Patrick, Tyler Sandlin, Tristan King, Zach Sandlin, Gavin Jarvis, Jordan Hicks, Daniel Fernandez, Bobby Gallowitz, and Matthew Griffis.