Approximately 1,200 kids sign up for football camp hosted by Aaron Jones

Former UTEP star running back Aaron Jones might be a member of the Green Bay Packers now, but he’s still giving back to his hometown of El Paso.

Jones is hosting a free youth football camp on Friday and Saturday at the Sun Bowl.

Almost 1,200 players signed up for the camp from all across Texas and New Mexico. There was such a great response that Jones says the camp has had to stop accepting new registrants.

Jones, a native El Pasoan who starred at Burges before his time with the Miners, says it’s always been a dream of his to host a camp.

“I knew there weren’t many camps here in El Paso to begin with,” he said. “I know Ray Mickens has one. Brian Young used to have one. And I always said if I made it, I was going to have a camp.”

Though the camp is currently not accepting any more players for this year, Jones is hoping to make the camp a tradition in El Paso.

He has partnered with BBVA Compass to hopefully host more camps in the years to come.

“This is a great event because Aaron has made the national scene. He has a chance to really shine across the country. And we want kids from El Paso to see that,” said BBVA Compass Vice President Steve Kontoulis.

Jones says the free camp is his way of thanking a community that has supported him his entire career.

“I’m giving back to my community and the people who have supported me over the years,” said Jones “The least I could do is make it free for the kids. I couldn’t charge kids to play football.”