Calling in a pro
CHERRY TWP — Marlin Jackson and Wade Vogan started off as rivals.
Playing Pop Warner in Sharon, Jackson played for the Tigers and Vogan for the Colts.
They became close friends growing up before graduating from Sharon High School.
That's when Vogan became football coach at Moniteau, Jackson, a former NFL defensive back was happy to lend a hand.
Jackson's Fight for Life Foundation runs a “Seal the Deal” football camp and he came to Moniteau High School Saturday to work with youth players.
“We played together, but more importantly we grew up together,” Jackson said. “We became friends in middle school and I stayed over his house and we did a number of things together.”
Jackson helped lead a camp of nearly 60 kids through nine to 10 stations.
Jackson, who was last on the Philadelphia Eagles Roster in 2011, also played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2005-09. He finished his career with 284 tackles and four interceptions.
He was on the Colts' Super Bowl championship team in 2006 and also played for the team that lost in 2009.
Seeing someone from a similarly-sized school find big success is something Vogan believes his team will benefit from.
About 20-25 kids from the varsity team volunteered to help with the camp.
“This is something he's passionate about. Me being an educator, a guidance counselor and football coach it was natural for me and him to team up,” Vogan said. “We have some of the same values that line up with his foundation and what he's trying to teach the kids.”
Jackson went to the University of Michigan and was picked in the first round by the Colts in 2005. Having that type of success, Jackson said, went beyond being talented on the field.Being able to visualize success despite your circumstances was a big part of it.“It was more about having the mindset to overcome your environment,” Jackson said. “If your environment isn't meeting up with your expectations and what the possibilities of your future are, then you can't see because you're blinded by your environment.”Vogan hopes to bring the camp back in the future. He wants to try and get 100 kids out. Vogan also hopes to generate some excitement for the program.“The point of the drills camp is for out varsity players to interact with the young kids coming out and put a name to a face and a jersey,” Vogan said. “It's about getting involved in the community and not staying in your cubby hole. We're trying to expand their horizons at Moniteau.”Jackson typically does two camps a year, one in Indianapolis, where he lives, and one in Sharon. Helping Vogan out was an added bonus.“With Wade coming here to Moniteau it's a chance to expand on that and help one of my best friends out,” Jackson said. “I'm excited for what he's going to do here in the community raising up some young men.”
