Micahi Danzy knows how special the Tallahassee athletics community is.
A product of Florida High and Tallahassee Zoom, a local track club, Danzy is now a superstar for Florida State football and track and field, and he’s made it a priority to give back to the community that helped launch him into stardom.
On Saturday, June 27, Danzy hosted his second annual free youth speed camp for local athletes at Florida High. Nearly 100 kids wore white camp-sponsored t-shirts and got an opportunity to learn from Danzy and a host of teammates and friends he brought to the camp.
“Some kids are less fortunate and have to pay for camps or go out of town to do this,” Danzy said. “I just want to give back to the community and just show how blessed I am and give back to the community.
“Tally, you know everybody. It’s such a small community, since you know everybody, you want to help them out.”
Danzy was joined by FAMU football and former Leon running back De’Rodrick Hepburn, FAMU track sprinter Kennith Martin, FSU teammate and former Leon track athlete Curtis Williams, ULM track and field athlete and former Leon star, Alexandria Kennedy, former Northwestern and Tulane defensive back AJ Hampton, among other athletes with local ties.
“It just feels great to give back to the community. Especially with Micahi, we’ve known each other for a while,” Williams said. “It just feels great to give back to the youth and actually have them understand and get motivation from the older athletes.”
“I hope being out here we can show these kids what they can be and what they can do,” added Kennedy. “Show them how important mental toughness and discipline is.”
The cohort of athletes helped local kids through agility drills, speed work, and other drills to help improve running form and build confidence, both on the track and in life. At the end of the camp, Danzy and other Division I athletes raced against campers, who were given a generous head start.
Even with that, Danzy and co. still won.
Danzy broke out on the football field for FSU last season. He caught 27 passes for 571 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 216 yards with three additional touchdowns in 12 games. On the track, Danzy helped the Seminoles to a first-place finish in the 4X100 in the ACC Championship.
While many in Tallahassee knew what Danzy was capable of on the football field, he’s put the country on notice. Heading into his junior season, Danzy wants to take his game to the next level.
“This year it’s different, it’s not about surprising anybody. Everybody knows what I can do right now. I’m coming at this year with a different intent,” Danzy said. “I changed my whole mentality, I’m at the facility early, Duce [Robinson] taught me how to go about this… I changed my whole mentality, and I’m working hard. I feel like a different person.”
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football, track star Micahi Danzy gives back with 2nd annual speed camp
Reporting by Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
