NFL player Gehrig Dieter returns home to South Bend for youth camp

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - It was a long road to the NFL for former Washington High School star Gehrig Dieter.

That road though, took him to the national championship game with the Alabama Crimson Tide and now to a spot with the Kansas City Chiefs.

But Saturday, his focus was back in his hometown of South Bend.

Dieter will hosted a football camp at St. Joseph High School on Saturday, offering local youth a chance to learn from an NFL caliber player and other football leaders in the communities.

"[The goal is] to see them living up to their full potential on and off the field," Dieter said at the camp. "If I can come be a positive influence to them, that's something I have to do."

And he wasn't alone in that feeling.

Washington coach Jay Johnson, St. Joe defensive backs coach Trevor Doaks, and a few other players including Gehrig's brother Nolan were all involved to make the event as impactful as possible.

The camp is a family affair, with Gehrig's father Derek helping as well, and he says Gehrig's connection to South Bend is something close to his heart.

“I think it’s a real boost for the community, especially for the younger kids," Derek said. "To see a young man that went to public school in South Bend that achieved, played in a national championship college game, but more importantly coming back to show these kids the basics of football and showing them ‘Hey, I got to the NFL and you can too if you work hard.’”

After completing the work on the field, Dieter offered the campers a chance to take pictures and signed autographs.