LORMAN — For the first time in recent years, Steve McNair’s football camp will take place at Southern Miss instead of Alcorn State.

Alcorn State athletic director Dr. Darren Hamilton said McNair wanted to see what the marketing impact would be from kids around the coast by hosting it in Hattiesburg.

Hamilton said he was saddened by the decision to host the camp at USM this year, although he added the camp will return to ASU next year.

“Anytime you don’t have an opportunity to get kids on campus it’s a disappointment,” Hamilton said. “Anytime kids come to campus and have a good experience it’s a good thing.”

Although the McNair camp won’t be taking place in Lorman, youth football players will still occupy the Braves’ football fields.

Starting June 17, the Braves began hosting several youth football camps in hopes of growing the sport and exposure of Alcorn State.

“It’s all part of the championship culture to me,” Alcorn State head football coach Ernest T. Jones said. “We wanted to reach out to the local community. We want to be the type of coaching staff that’s community-oriented.”

Jones said the camp has gone great thus far, stating a lot of local student athletes have already participated.

“That’s what we wanted to do, we wanted to reach out to the state of Mississippi,” Jones said. “We had two full days of Mississippi kids. I love it.”

One of the biggest draws to the camp, Jones said, is the chance for high school and youth football players to learn from collegiate coaches.

“Most schools bring in visiting coaches,” Jones said. “We didn’t do that. I wanted my coaches out there.”

Another incentive for area youth to participate in the Braves’ camps is the affordability. Jones said the camps only cost $25.

“(Other area universities) charge upwards of $300,” Jones said. “We gave them everything those schools would give them, but for much less.”

Over the course of the first two days of the camp, Jones said he saw promising collegiate talent.

“That’s what was most promising. We saw a number of kids out there that could be potential future Braves.”

The camps will continue to take place until the 7-on-7 Shootout/Bigman Camp June 28.