NORFOLK, Va. — Former Lake Taylor Titan, Jalyn Holmes has a sense of purpose in his life these days. For the second straight day, he held his football camp for defensive lineman.
Yes he goes over the details of the position he currently plays in the NFL. Holmes is in his first season with the New York Jets. On Thursday it wasn't just about football, but for men's mental health.
His camp is called "Vaughn's Way Defensive Line Academy" named after his step father Vaughn Parker, Jr. who committed suicide a year ago this month. He was 49.
"He was giver", he said. "He loved and to me, he was everything I'm still trying to be to my kids. Vaughn was a strong man and sometimes you've got to check on your strong people".
Holmes wants the players that come through his academy to not suffer what his step father went through in his life, and be able to move forward.
"Life is just going to be a bunch of ups and downs", he said. "You've got live in the here and now. The past is the past and the future hasn't happened yet so when we can gather our emotions and be in the present, you can take advantage of that moment".
Holmes said Parker also owned several businesses, and he wanted the players at the academy to learn how to create businesses and work together. Much like teams working together on the football field and learning the fundamentals.