Setting the tone

Former NFL defensive back and Ocala native Natrell Jamerson addresses campers alongside participating coaches during the Set The Tone End-of-Summer Youth Football Camp at Booster Stadium in Ocala on July 25, 2026. [Photo by Javier O. Zapata, Young Cultures Media]

Ocala-raised Natrell Jamerson was a standout player at Vanguard High School before excelling at college and professional football. On July 25, he hosted a Set The Tone End-of-Summer Youth Football Camp at Booster Stadium in Ocala, which is the home field for VHS football games.

More than 110 youth ages 8 to 18 registered for the free camp, according to provided materials. Activities included football fundamentals, speed and agility training, position work, 1-on-1 competition, 7-on-7 play, mentorship, leadership development and awards.

Coaches in attendance included N’Kosi Perry, Kano Dillon, Glover Cook III, Tye Farmer, Serge Trezy, Tyree Gillespie and Brad Muhammad. Community support was provided by Vanguard High School, Frank DeLuca YMCA and Ocala Electric Utility.

Jamerson is a defensive back trainer and founder of the NRJ Foundation. After Vanguard, he went to the University of Wisconsin as a wide receiver before transitioning to cornerback and safety. By his senior year, he had earned All-Big Ten honorable mention. He was named Defensive MVP of the 2018 East-West Shrine Game. In 2018, he was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. His professional career took him through NFL organizations including the Saints, Texans, Packers, Panthers, Jets, Giants and Raiders, as well as the Canadian Football League.

Now back home in Ocala, Jamerson uses his experience to develop athletes with the detail, intensity and discipline required at the highest levels of the sport, according to the materials provided. That same commitment fuels his work through the NRJ Foundation and youth initiatives including the Set The Tone Youth Football Camp.

To learn more, find Jamerson on social media.