By CURTIS ROCKWELL

Item Sports Editor

College football is coming to Picayune for the day on Thursday.

The coaching staff from the University of Southern Mississippi will conduct a mini-camp Thursday afternoon at the Picayune Memorial High Maroon Tide Stadium.

The camp is open to any prep football players that will be in grades 10-12 this coming season.

“I think this is something new that the coaching staff is doing and they contacted us about it,” Picayune head football coach Dodd Lee said. “They are having a series of them at different high schools across the state. I think this is the only one in South Mississippi.”

Registration will begin at 2 p.m., and there is a $25 fee per participant. Players must bring proof of a recent physical exam, as well as cleats and shorts. A t-shirt will be provided for campers.

The camp will run from 3-5 p.m., and parents are welcomed to attend and watch.

The camp will cover all positions, from linemen to skill positions and special teams with various agility drills as well.

“I think the way the USM coaches are looking at it is that this is a way for them to see more kids,” Lee added. “They are bringing the camp to them instead of the kids having to pay more money to go to their campus.”

Lee said that the USM coaches indicated that the campers should come expecting to work hard for the two hours of the camp.