Bahamas native Deveard Darling continues the dream of him and his brother to bring football to the Bahamas, through the
Devard and Devaughn Darling Football Camps, presented by his non-profit organization the As One Foundation. Fellow NFL Players Derrick Martin and Tre Stallings of the Baltimore Ravens, Larry Johnson, Bob Engram and Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Darrius Hayward Bey of the Oakland Raiders,
will assist young athletes with skill development, technique, and the fundamentals of American Football.
Camps will be held in Freeport, Bahamas July 6 -7, at the Freeport Rugby Football Club on Settlers Way, and Nassau, Bahamas July 10 – 12, at Tom “The Bird” Grant Sports and Recreation Complex.
The purpose of the camp is to encourage young Bahamian athletes to pursue their education and dreams of playing American Football. Campers will have the opportunity to interact with p
rominent sports figures who will act as coaches, leaders and mentors throughout the duration of the camps. Their presence will offer campers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet and train under the tutelage of professional athletes.
The As One Foundation was created in 2007 by Devard Darling, in loving memory of his identical brother Devaughn Darling who passed in 2001 during spring training. Its goal is to provide underprivileged youth both nationally and internationally with educational and developmental opportunities through athletic endeavors, educational programming and spiritual enrichment. Specifically, the “Devard & Deveaughn Darling Football Camps” strive to encourage young Bahamians ages 11 to 16 to further their athletic skills and education at a private school in the United States. The cap of available camper slots is 120, and attendance will be allotted to elite athletes with the potential of pursuing a collegiate or professional career in football.
While gaining invaluable skills and training in the game of American Football, camp attendees will also receive free gifts, equipment and a chance to earn the title of Camp MVP. Camp MVP will be judged by participation in all activities and the chosen honoree and one parent will win a fully paid trip to Kansas City, Missouri during the 2009 NFL season to spend a weekend with Devard Darling and his family.
“We are thrilled with the number of quality professional athletes confirmed to attend, coach and mentor campers at both of the 2009 football camps,” said Devard Darling.
“The foundation would not be able to put on successful football camps without the help and support from the athletic community and we are truly grateful for their time and generosity.”
For more information about Devard Darling, his vision for Bahamian youth and the “Devard & Devaughn Darling Football Camps” go to
www.asonefoundation.org
.
About Devard Darling
Devard Darling, the founder and visionary of the As One Foundation, is pursuing his goals on the professional football field while bringing to life the dream envisioned between him and his late twin brother, Devaughn; to bring the game of American football to their native country of the Bahamas and to honor his brother by opening the Devaughn Darling Sports Complex. Devard
currently plays professional football for the Kansas City Chiefs, where he is wide receiver. Prior to joining the Chiefs, Devard played 4 years with the Baltimore Ravens where he was selected as 82nd overall in the 3rd round of the 2004 NFL Draft. In the final two months of the 2007 season, Devard recorded 18 receptions for 326 yards and 3 touchdowns in just 8 games.
Devard began his athletic career at Florida State University as one of the top high school prospects out of Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston, Texas. However, after the unfortunate passing of his identical twin brother Devaughn Darling on the football field during spring practices in 2001, Florida State University would not reinstate Devard for his remaining eligibility. After being connected with Mike Price, former Head Coach of the Washington State University Cougars, Devard was cleared to play and became one of the best wide receivers in Washington State history, recording 16 touchdowns and over 1500 yards in just two years.
Devard currently resides in Kansas City, MI with his Wife, Cicely Darling and Son, Devard, Jr. In his free time he enjoys charity work, attending church and giving back to his community through athletics.
Devard Darling, Kansas City Chiefs, and founder of the As One Foundation - Speedy wideout enters his second season in Kansas City … Joined the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent from Baltimore in 2008 … Saw duty in every game a year ago, starting nine contests at wide receiver … Can line up at a variety of positions as a pass catcher and can also contribute on special teams … Registered Kansas City’s second-longest pass play of 2008 when he caught a slant from QB Damon Huard at New England (9/7) and turned it into a 68-yard gain … Has played in 46 games (10 starts) ... Owns 37 receptions for 578 yards (15.6 avg.) with four TDs, as well as 13 special teams tackles and a fumble recovery on special teams.
Assisting Coaches:
Darrius Heyward Bey, Oakland Raiders - One of the nation's most explosive receivers during his three-year career ... has good size and blazing speed ... earned freshman All-America honors in 2006 and honorable mention All-America accolades in 2007 ... a two-time All-ACC performer ... two-time member (2007-08) of the Biletnikoff Award watch list ... ranks second in school history in career receiving yards (2,089), third in receptions (138), tied for third in TD catches (13) and tied for sixth in 100-yard receiving games (4) ... also 17th in Maryland history in career all-purpose yards (2,403) despite never returning a punt or kickoff ... caught at least one pass in 34 of his last 37 career contests ... posted 228 receiving yards in his three bowl-game appearances ... one of the fastest players in the ACC ... his 40 time of 4.23 in 2006 set the school record among WRs ... surrendered his final year of eligibility to enter the 2009 NFL Draft ... invited to the 2009 NFL Combine.
Derrick Martin, Baltimore Ravens - Veteran player with a great blend of quickness and athletic ability… Can play both inside and outside … Enters 2008 having played in 24-career games, with 3 starts and has 27-career tackles from scrimmage (24 solo), 8 PD and 2 INTs in those contests … A special teams standout who finished 4th on the team with a career-high 17 special teams tackles and a special teams FR in 2007…
2008: Saw action in 3 games before being placed on Injured Reserve (shoulder) …
2007: Played in 16 games, starting 3 (1st starts of his career) and recorded career highs with 26 tackles, 8 PD, 2 INTs, 17 special teams tackles and a special teams FR
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs - Dynamic wide receiver should only continue to evolve in his third NFL campaign … Former first-round pick has accumulated more receptions (156) and more receiving yards (2,017) than any other player in his first two seasons in a Chiefs uniform … Earned a spot on USA Today’s All-Joe Team in 2008, which annually recognizes the league’s top blue-collar performers … His 86 catches in 2008 were the highest seasonal total ever accumulated by a Chiefs wide receiver … No other player selected in the 2007 NFL Draft can top his reception tally, while only Detroit WR Calvin Johnson (2,087) has more receiving yards over that two-year span … Posted 12 TD catches from 2007-08, tying for the second-highest total by a player in their first two years with Kansas City. Only WR Otis Taylor (13 in ‘65-66) had more … Fearless competitor isn’t afraid to go across the middle … A determined runner after the catch who led all NFL receivers with 15 broken tackles according to STATS, LLC
Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs - Ruggedly intense competitor has earned a reputation as one of the NFL’s most powerful performers since joining the Chiefs as a first-round draft choice (27th overall) in 2003 … Enters his seventh campaign in Kansas City in 2009 … Punishing two-time Pro Bowler owns a Chiefs record with 30 career 100-yard rushing games … Ranks second on the Chiefs all-time rushing yardage chart with 5,638 yards, needing just 433 more to bypass RB Priest Holmes (6,070) for the top spot in Kansas City annals … Bounced back from an injury-shortened 2007 season to see duty in 12 contests a year ago, leading the club in carries (193), rushing yards (874) and rushing TDs (five) ... Owns three of the four most prolific single-game rushing performances in club history, including the top two outings with a franchise-record 211-yard performance at Houston (11/20/05) and a 201-yard effort vs. Cincinnati (1/1/06)
Tre Stallings, Baltimore Ravens – Tre' Stallings is an offensive guard for the Kansas City Chiefs, wearing number 61. 2006 is his first year as a pro player. He played in college at Mississippi. Tre' Stallings is 6 feet, 4 inches and weighs 317 pounds. Signed with with Baltimore Ravens in 2009
