A local Super Bowl champion returned to his hometown to offer some tips and wisdom to the next generation of football players.
Maryville native Jalen Sundell hosted his first youth football camp at the Hound Pound Wednesday night for kids from pre-K through sixth grade.
More than 170 campers from every community in Nodaway County, St. Joseph, the Platte City area, Atchison, KS and throughout southwestern Iowa signed up for the chance to learn from the former Spoofhound.
The night provided a learning experience for the young athletes, and a chance for Sundell to get back to the roots of the game.
"It's exciting to be around kiddos that are really experiencing it for the first time or just early in their football journey — really where nothing is more important than just having fun."
Sundell won the Super Bowl in February as the starting center for the Seattle Seahawks in a 29-13 triumph over the New England Patriots.
But his winning ways began long before earning a spot as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks.
During Sundell's high school career, Maryville amassed a 51-5 overall record. As a senior in 2017, he paved the way to the program's fifth state title and was the Class 3 Offensive Player of the Year.
Sundell credits Maryville head coach Matt Webb for helping lay the foundation for his career. Now he's hoping to pay it forward to the kids from his hometown that look up to him.
"Coach Webb really started a culture of success and all the things that come with that — hard work, discipline, and doing the little things right. That's something that I hope that I can help continue and teach."
"It's really a special program and a special place to play football."
Sundell will return to Seattle later this month. Veterans report for Seahawks training camp on July 24th.
