Washington gives back to community

Former Spalding star hosts free clinic at the high school

Former Spalding star and current Maryland quarterback Malik Washington tells kids where to go for drills at his no-cost skills camp on Friday. Washington held the clinic, which was attended by several other college players, at his old high school. Paul W. Gillespie/Staff

Freshman Malik Washington has yet to take a snap as Maryland’s quarterback, outside of practice and spring ball. But the excitement is bubbling over, even for the youngest fans.

As a mother registered her son for Washington’s free football clinic, the little boy pointed excitedly, even jumping once: “Look! There’s Malik!”

He wasn’t alone.

“We’re here because of Malik,” said Milo Locksley, a third grader and grandson of Maryland coach Michael Locksley. “He mean everything to me. He wore my number.”

His best friend, 7-year-old Kyrie “Truck” Gaskins, added, “Malik’s my favorite player.”

It’s the third straight year for Washington’s “Friday Night Lights” camp, a no-cost football skills clinic open to kids in third through eighth grade on Spalding’s field. A different aura than the previous years followed as more than 130 kids came through the Whittles Field gates.

Darnique Rucker, Gaskins’ mother, heard about the camp from Washington’s aunt, her coworker. She hopes her son and his friend walk away from the evening having learned some “discipline, development and focus.”

“It’s amazing, for (Malik) to be so young and doing this, giving back to his community,” she said. “We appreciate this. Saved me $100.”Washington split the kids by age and then into smaller groups led by two or three players. Warmups rolled into drills, from passing to avoiding tackles. Within minutes of the clinic’s start, any uncertainty lingering on the kids’ faces melted to steely seriousness as they tried to outrun the kid beside them.

“It’s just fun,” Washington said. “Past two years we’ve done it, everybody’s come out and had a great time. Why not keep it going, come back to where it all started and do it for this community that helped me get to where I am?”

When the groups broke off to rotate drills, it didn’t matter where Washington walked as he patrolled the turf. Kids immediately broke ranks to chatter at him.

That’s nothing new to his mother, Kiana Teixeira. Kids have always gravitated to Washington like iron sand to a magnet.

But she’s noticed a change in it.

Washington is no longer the skillful Spalding quarterback who might go on to do great things somewhere. Since he joined Maryland football in January, the possible starting quarterback’s star has ascended even higher. Joining some Spalding players such as Florida State-bound safety Sean Johnson at the camp were a bale of Terps, including former Cavaliers like defensive lineman Delmar White. Others without ties to Anne Arundel County even attended, like safety Jalen Huskey, inside linebacker Daniel Wingate and tight end Leon Haughton Jr., to name a few. And there were more than a few.

That’s just as good evidence as any, Teixeira agreed, that the rookie already has votes of confidence from his new teammates.

“All the relationships that needed to stay, stayed,” Washington said. “It’s good to have people around you that understand.”

Over the past two years, Teixeira took on all the grunt work to ensure the camp ran smoothly, printing papers at her mother’s house and organizing sponsorships from friends. But as Washington trades Spalding for Maryland, times change. Now, working with a sports agency like F4L, Washington has an agent to handle those tasks, from making sure there’s enough waivers to organizing sponsorships from businesses. Golden Krust donated 200 dinners for the kids and staff, PATH Water contributed 700 bottles and Honey Stinger supplied energy waffle snacks.

Former Spalding star Julius Chestnut aided the camp over the past two seasons, too, but professional duties held the current Tennessee Titans running back out this time. Next year, Chestnut promises to bring a few fellow NFL players with him to lead groups.

“It’s all about making sure the kids have the most fun for a few hours,” Washington said.

For rising eighth grader CJ Cundiff, coming to the clinic wasn’t just about improving himself as a wide receiver or being near a star.

“Seeing him, it’s like anybody can really make it,” Cundiff said.

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