JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The sun was barely breaking through the clouds Tuesday morning, but the excitement on Maurice Bacon Field was already unmistakable.
More than 100 students jogged and played on the field as they moved from station to station — a field normally reserved for football practice transformed into an open-air classroom, mixing sports, teamwork, and financial lessons.
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For Ryley Jorden Smith, the day felt like the best kind of surprise.
“We were practicing on our footwork and also learning how to save money,” he said.
Ryley, a fifth-grader and football lover with big dreams of making it to the league, said he soaked in lessons about saving money, something he said he needs if he wants to make it to the NFL one day.
That dream is still a few years away, but the habits start now.
“If you’re a kid, do not spend your money on snacks and food,” he said. “You can save your money to get the stuff you really want.”
That was the heart of the youth financial camp, hosted by EverBank for a second year. The program brought students from across Jacksonville to meet Jaguars wide receiver Tim Patrick and team mascot Jaxson de Ville — both of whom spent the morning encouraging kids through agility drills and offering advice about building strong habits early.
While the drills brought the excitement, the true game plan Tuesday morning was financial literacy.
And for fifth graders Gabriel Hernandez and Dian Luca, their first time here, the experience hit deeper than just the fun.
“Not all of these kids get this opportunity to train with the Jaguars,” said fifth-grader Gabriel Hernandez. “It’s just really fun, and not that many kids get to have this much fun in a beautiful environment.”
His classmate, Dian Luca, said the biggest takeaway wasn’t about speed or coordination — it was about stability.
“Save money, invest, and be smart in life,” Luca said. “If you don’t be smart in life, you can end up facing consequences.”
Hernandez agreed. For him, the financial lessons felt heavy, but important.
“Saving money is important because if you don’t save money, you can end up on the streets without a home or without food,” he said. “And that’s sad.”
By midday, students left the field tired but energized, carrying not only memories of meeting a Jaguars player but also early confidence in managing their futures.