Panthers QB Bryce Young’s football camp offers message that goes beyond field
Bryce Young still remembers the youth basketball camps that he attended as a child, specifically one hosted by legendary Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.
While the future Carolina Panthers QB was eventually sent down a path toward a Heisman Trophy and the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, he initially gravitated toward basketball in grade school, and attending Bryant’s youth camp had a lasting impact on him. Young, as a youngster growing up in Southern California, looked up to Bryant, and he and the other kids were amazed as the Hall of Fame basketball star shot the ball while campers scrimmaged on the hardwood.
Young remembers being too nervous to ask Bryant for tips on his game. But he can still recall the graciousness of Bryant, who passed away in 2020, as the host of the event. Bryant, according to Young, made sure to acknowledge each and every kid at the camp, and he took photos with each group.
“I remember saying ‘hello,’ and him being super, super kind and super nice to myself and to everyone,” Young said. “And, obviously, that’s Kobe, so seeing him do that at a young age was like amazing. I remember having a great time. And, yeah, it’s humbling just to be in a situation where now I can host my own camp.”
Young, 23, paid it forward with empathy and graciousness Saturday during his second annual youth football camp at Johnson C. Smith University. Like Bryant, the third-year QB went up to each attendee, group-by-group, to say hello.
Along with hosting football drills and activities, Young — during an opening address — also stressed the importance of mental health awareness, a subject about which he has been outspoken since he entered the NFL.
His father, Craig, is a former family therapist, and his mother, Julie, is a former special needs teacher, so Young — who is coming off a whirlwind second season in Carolina — has a strong understanding of why the mental health discussion, especially with children, needs to take place.
“We all have our own journeys with our mental health,” Young said. “And I’m a firm believer that you need to take care of yourself in order to take care of others, in order to take of what you do for a living, and it’s something that we want to work to continue to destigmatize, and give young kids tools so that they can be well-equipped to go on their journey of mental health.”
With a little help from his friends ... and bosses
Young wasn’t alone in hosting the event. ProCamps’ team of coaches and employees helped run the camp along with the QB’s Young 9 Foundation and event sponsor, CareSource.
Young also had some notable volunteers.
Wide receiver Xavier Legette, right tackle Taylor Moton and center Austin Corbett took turns spending time with the hundreds of elementary school-aged campers. Head coach Dave Canales, offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, special teams coordinator Tracy Smith and assistant coach Daren Bates also participated in the event.
“When we’re talking to the team, and we’re all connecting, I never want them to lose sight of the fact that football is fun,” Canales said. “And football is about community, and it’s about family, and it’s the greatest team sport that there is with the sheer numbers and the dynamics and different personalities. So, moments like this just remind the guys who come out here and lend a hand: ‘Remember how fun this game is? Remember when you were in this place, dreaming about where you are today?’
“It’s so critical that we take hold of that, because I just believe in living from a place of gratitude. And these are the moments that bring that gratitude full circle and really cement it.”
Craig and Julie also interacted with the kids. Having raised Young while they were working in the mental health and educational fields, respectively, the parents were proud to see their son pay it forward with the youth camp.
“It’s always special when you see your kids develop into their own person,” Craig said. “And so you can impart on them lessons, but it’s up to them to implement them into their own life and how they’re going to apply them. And I’m just seeing his development and growth, and how he is applying, maybe, the foundation, but he’s taking it to another level and making it his own, so it’s so wonderful as a parent to see. I’m so proud of him.”
Corbett, who just re-signed with the Panthers in March, wanted to support Young with his event because building chemistry isn’t always done with jerseys on.
The culture in Carolina is being cemented, and the turnout on Saturday, according to Corbett, shows the emphasis the team has put on supporting each other, on and off the field.
“We’re obviously doing everything we can to win and set that up, but these relationships, they need to be stronger than just what’s going on in the huddle,” Corbett said. “Especially with the coaches being out here — that’s exactly what we’re trying to build. It’s a genuine effort to know each other, to be with each other, so that we can understand and grow together. That way, it just makes football easier.”
Canales said the big turnout from teammates and coaches shows that Young’s grip on the locker room and the staff was tightened by how he handled his early benching in 2024.
“Honestly, it goes back to last season, and the ups and downs,” Canales said. “And to watch Bryce continue to lead, even with the challenge of when we put Andy (Dalton) in for Bryce — Bryce never stop leading. He never removed himself from a team that was struggling, going through hard stuff. That goes so far with the guys.”
A message bigger than football
While the camp emphasized the fun of football, Young — who dealt with his fair share of adversity in his first two seasons in the NFL — wanted to leave a bigger impact on his campers than the Xs and Os and highlight reel throws.
It was important to Young that he acknowledged the parents sitting in the stands who helped bring the children to the camp. He made sure during his opening address to have his campers and his staff acknowledge and thank those who helped them take part in the event.
During the midway point of the camp, the campers also got to learn some techniques to help combat various stressful situations. From breathing exercises to focus techniques, the campers learned about tools to help them function during tough times.
Craig, who has seen his son experience the highest of highs and lowest of lows as an athlete, felt the message of mental health awareness — along with the teaching of the techniques — was an important lesson for children and parents.
“Success on the field or football doesn’t define you,” Craig said. “It’s part of who you are, and you don’t have to be miserable if things on the field aren’t going well. The way that (Young) has been able to grow in his way of expressing and dealing with adversity has been awesome.”
For Young, the event was an opportunity to give back beyond sports as he continues to embrace Charlotte as his adopted home.
Getting to spend time with the youngsters offered a nice break from the rigors of the offseason program, especially with the team’s mandatory minicamp set to begin on Tuesday.
Said Young: “Seeing kids just enjoying the game, having fun, running around — that’s something for me that I’m super grateful for, I take a lot of pride in and get a lot of joy from.”
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
