Poppinga brothers 'Play it Forward'

During his BYU football career, Brady Poppinga was known for his fierce intensity, boundless enthusiasm and stellar defensive play.

Now, Poppinga — a three-year starter at linebacker for the Green Bay Packers — is trying to pass on those traits and abilities to the next generation.

That's one of the reasons he is holding "The Poppinga Football Experience Skills Camp" on July 18 at the BYU football practice facilities in Provo. He and younger brother Kelly, a two-year Cougar starter who signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins this spring, and older brother Casey, a former Utah State tight end, are helping Brady with the camp.

The camp is for kids in 5th to 12th grades and costs $70 ($75 after June 23). Several current Cougar players and some former players, like Bryan Kehl, who was a fourth-round selection of the New York Giants in April's NFL draft, are scheduled to be involved in the camp.

"We'll be teaching football fundamentals — tackling, blocking and doing agility drills that are taken from the NFL combines and teaching techniques and drills that are done at BYU and Green Bay practices," Brady said. "It will give kids a foundation for them to be able to work out on their own and improve. If somebody looks really good, we'll be sure to let (BYU coach Bronco) Mendenhall know.

"We'll also do some motivational speaking to the kids and give them advice about football and about life."

For Poppinga, the purpose of the camp goes beyond football.

This year, Poppinga started a nonprofit "The Poppinga Play It Forward Fund," with the aim to raise money for less-fortunate children. Part of the proceeds of the camp in Provo will go to the family of a young American Fork girl, Tiffany Searle, who contracted a mysterious illness that left her without the use of her limbs. Doctors have not been able to diagnose the illness, and the frequent trips to specialists for medical tests have saddled the Searles with a serious financial burden.

"This is the type of situation we want to help with," Brady said. "We want to use football as a rallying point for these causes. It's an avenue to help children with urgent needs."

Helping those in need is nothing new for the Poppingas. Brady and his wife, Brooke, are heavily involved in community service in Green Bay, Wisc. Working with other foundations, the Poppingas have been able to provide necessities for ailing kids around the world.