LEWISBERRY, Pa. — It's a tight-knit group of players that have gone from the 717 area code to the NFL.
"So Jamie and I, Jamie's family, my family, we all go way, way back," recalled Marques Colston. "We started youth sports together, so that's just a really good friend."
Colston, Susquehanna Township grad, and Jaimie Thomas, a Bishop McDevitt alum, have played at the highest level. Colston was taken by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Hofstra. Thomas went to play at Maryland and was drafted in the seventh round in 2009 by the Indianapolis Colts. Their teams even met in Super Bowl 44, which went the way of Colston's Saints, 31-17.
So that might explain why the Saints Hall of Fame receiver was knee-deep in a camp for linemen.
"I reached out to Marques and I knew that he was building this data technology company and thought it would be a perfect opportunity to kind of give it a run on some things and we're doing exactly that," said Thomas about his Big Man Classic camp for linemen and tight-ends.
"This is a familiar environment. I don't know much about the o-line work so I could probably learn something," laughed Colston. "But no, it's always good to see some familiar faces. You know, it makes me feel old. I'm running into people's kids that I went to school with, but no, it's always going to be home."
Whether it's making moves on the field, or as an entrepreneur, Colston's latest venture gets its legs under it, in the same area as his football career.
"We just launched right at the beginning of the year," Colston said. "This technology is kind of right in my wheelhouse. I'm just kind of getting back into sports but in a different lane. It's learning about yourself, it's learning about the technology and the different markets, so the more you learn, the more you can stay ahead of the curve. That's that's one thing that sports taught me."
There are a lot of stats and data on the New Orleans record holder for career receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions, and with his latest challenge, you could say that he's still in the statistical business.
"For us, it's just around capturing data to really inform your decision-making, inform your preparation, so the more that they can get accustomed and acclimated to doing that at this level, it's only going to get more and more enhanced as they get to the college ranks and eventually the professional ranks,” said the Hofstra grad.
Colston brings next-level technology to the high school level. He once walked in the shoes of these student-athletes, and now they'll benefit from what he's been able to achieve.
"This is what it's all about, just be a part of what Jamie and his crew put together, to kind of be able to give back in those little ways. As these guys are out here working, it's always good to know exactly where you're at with data as a former player. As a current entrepreneur, it's the best of both worlds for me," said Colston.