OKEECHOBEE — Former Okeechobee Brahman and current New York Giant offensive lineman Evan Neal was back in his hometown on June 13 to host a football camp for local youth.

Kids from ages 6-14 came out to the camp held at the Okeechobee Sport Complex for a day focused on football skills, drills, mentorship, and competition. Admission to the camp was free and included a free T-shirt. Kids in attendance camp got the chance to be coached through football drills by the NFL-level talent.

Kids run drills at the Evan Neal Football Camp. [Photo courtesy Daniel Kidd]

Okeechobee County Commissioners David Hazellief and Frank DeCarlo and members from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office were also in attendance and gave out popsicles to kids at the camp.

Neal played his freshman year for the Okeechobee Brahman football team before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton in his sophomore year. Although it wasn’t an easy decision for Neal to leave his hometown and high school football team, ultimately IMG offered the best chance of being chosen by a Division I college.

Former Okeechobee Brahman Evan Neal leading drills at his fourth annual youth football camp. [Photo courtesy Daniel Kidd]

Neal announced his decision to attend the University of Alabama at a press conference in the Okeechobee High School gym and was a key component of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team that won a national championship in 2020

Neal was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. On the red carpet on draft night, Neal sported a coat with an image of Lake Okeechobee.

On March 11 Neal re-signed with the New York Giants on a one-year deal. The Giants recently hired former Baltimore Raven’s coach John Harbaugh as their new head coach.