By MATT PIKE
Before the Seattle Seahawks begin their championship defense in the 2026 season, offensive lineman and Maryville alum Jalen Sundell returned home to host his first ever youth football camp.
Students ranging from kindergarten to 6th grade took over the Maryville High School football field to run through several football drills, led by both Sundell and members of the Maryville High School football team. Sundell, the starting center for the Seahawks, led the offensive line drills leading kids on how to hit the sled and get the block on the defensive line, while drills led by high schoolers included things such as tackling, receiving and kicking.
Sundell says it was awesome to be able to come back to Maryville, where he grew up and played football his entire life before graduating high shcool, and give back the knowledge he's gained to the youth.
"It was awesome, never in a million years would I have thought that I would have the honor to do a camp and that kids would want to come," Sundell tells reporters. "So that was a cool way to give back."
Sundell recalls participating in youth camps like this, saying he remembers learning how to get in a three point stance and other things, on the very field he had the chance to teach youth on. But the main thing Sundell wanted the participants to walk away with is how fun football is.
"It can get lost especially in this day and age where sports is on such a high pedestal, and it loses focus of the fact that its a game so quickly," Sundell explains. "And especially when its my job you can lose sight of the fact that its a game really fast."
The Seahawks begin Training Camp on July 25th, but even with a new season just around the corner, Sundell has still taken time to reflect on everything he accomplished last season, going from undrafted to winning a Super Bowl ring as the starting center.
"It just comes full circle, especially going undrafted and seeing all the hard work that started on this field," Sundell says. "Super special memory that I'll have and its time now to move onto the next season.
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