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Young athletes dream of one day playing in NFL. Kyle Eckel has taken things a step further as a fullback for his hometown Philadelphia Eagles. Friday, he made sure to take part when his Birds hosted their third annual Junior Combine at the NovaCare complex.
"It feels great to give back to the community. When I was young, I looked forward to events the Eagles hosted," Eckel said prior to the evening session. "Now it’s good to be a part of the giving aspect."
More than 900 children from Philadelphia and the surrounding areas were able to shake off the winter cobwebs last weekend and showcase their skills. Elementary school students had opportunities to throw, kick and catch footballs at five interactive stations. Eckel, originally of 17th Street and Packer Avenue, opened the April 3 session with some stretching activities, including jumping jacks and running in place, followed by some advice and a brief Q&A session with his young pupils.
The questions started off easy for the six-year pro, like what college he attended and how long has he been playing, but the youngsters soon started resembling veteran reporters. One asked Eckel how he felt about Brian Dawkins not being resigned, while another tried passing on a message to coach Andy Reid to sign Baltimore Ravens defensive back Chris McAllister, who is an unrestricted free agent. Grilling aside, Eckel was happy to relive his NFL combine experience with the kids.
"Throughout the day, I will tell the kids to have fun and that they should go hard. They’re at the age when children should get dirty and have fun," he said.
The activities gave Eckel time to take his mind off football before he prepares for the upcoming season. On this day, the 5-foot-11, 237-pound man was the biggest kid on the field.
The 27-year-old signed with Philadelphia in October as a free agent after spending a year with the New England Patriots. He saw action in five games with the Eagles last season, rushing 24 times for 79 yards. More importantly, he knows firsthand about the fans’ passion from growing up within walking distance of Veterans Stadium.
"I want the kids to know that the Eagles love them as much as they love us. The Eagles wouldn’t be the Eagles without the fans," Eckel said.
