Former OPRF High School and Indianapolis Colts player Dallis Flowers has been wanting to give back to his community, and on Saturday he did so in a big way.
Flowers, who played for four years at OPRF (2012-2015) and had his jersey retired this past August, hosted his inaugural youth football camp at the high school last Saturday morning, with kids from all over the area getting to work with him and other former OPRF players and coaching staff. Flowers was happy with the turnout and the opportunity to work with kids in the community.
“Today was great,” he said. “The coaches who helped out, the parents who came, and the kids, this is what you do it for. Growing up, I didn’t have this opportunity, so I just wanted to give these kids that opportunity.”
Fellow Oak Park alum Jared Scott was on hand to help with the camp and was also happy with how the day went.
OPRF alum Dallis Flowers (center), currently a defensive back with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, addresses campers at the debut of his youth football camp, July 20. | Carol Dunning 
Oak Park-River Forest alum Dallis Flowers (left) chats with younger brother Brenden during the debut of the Dallis Flowers Youth Football Camp held at OPRF, July 20. | Carol Dunning 
OPRF alum Dallis Flowers (in orange shirt), currently a defensive back with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, provides guidance to campers at his youth football camp held at OPRF, July 20. | Carol Dunning
“It was great,” he said. “The kids came with a lot of energy. This was the first of hopefully many camps and it can only get bigger and better, that’s our hope and that’s our plan.”
Both Flowers and Scott are proud to be OPRF alumni, and being back in their hometown was an experience both cherished.
“Coming back home to my old stomping grounds here was a surreal moment,” Flowers said. It’s a blessing to come here with my people and my family.”
Scott said, “I don’t get to come back here often. Seeing the kids who are in the same shoes as me coming to these camps back in the day, going to different levels and having the pros come back and give back, that’s what it’s all about. It’s what you dream about as a kid, making it to the highest level and giving back to the kids who are in your shoes.”
Kids learned all about what the game of football has to offer, and Flowers knows how important it was for him to get involved in the game at an early age. He made sure to pass that knowledge on.
“It’s very important,” Flowers said. “Nowadays, there are a lot of distractions in this world, so being able to play sports, whether it be football, basketball, or any sport, is just a blessing. You never know what you can do with it; you could change your family’s life. If I can do anything to help the kids with that, I’ll do it.”
Scott, who has been playing in pads since age 6, also made sure to pass his love of the game on to the kids who attended.
“I think it’s very important. My dad coached youth football when I was growing up, so I was around the game from a young age and wanted to get into it. Not everyone looks forward to getting their kids in contact and tackle football at an early age, but there’s so many ways to get involved with flag football and seven on seven. If they have love for the game, I say why not, just get involved in it any way you can.”
Flowers now shifts his focus to his upcoming NFL season for the Colts (his third season) as training camp begins this week.
“I’m definitely in that mindset, excited that the season starts next week,” he said. “It’s going to be a big year for all of us and I can’t wait to get on the field.”