Jonah Laulu indulged in a trip down memory lane watching local Las Vegas youth scrimmage on Centennial High School's turf last Friday.
In the dry, desert heat, he made a halfway serious joke about nearly passing out from dehydration several times while practicing in 100 degree temperatures, prompting him to make routine trips to the sidelines to make sure all the water coolers stayed full for his campers and coaches.
Hosting his first-ever youth football camp at his alma mater, he handled everything from the music being played to the drills being conducted to refereeing 7-on-7 scrimmages. The camp had a solid turnout with over 100 campers from the ages of 7-13.
"I'm trying to make this something special," Laulu said.
"We started off a little wrong, the gate was locked so I might've had to hop the fence or something like that," he said with a grin, "but I want this to be special and make sure this is free."
He attended Cimarron-Memorial High School as an underclassman before transferring to Centennial High School his junior year. At Centennial he was a three-sport star in football, basketball and track and field. A breakout senior season put him on the University of Hawaii's radar, and he spent two seasons there before transferring to the University of Oklahoma.
The bonds he's created through football were on display at the camp as fellow coaches consisted of current Centennial High football players and former college teammates he also played Pop Warner Football with growing up.
"When we were younger he was a bigger guy, wasn't the most athletic guy, but he's always [had] the same personality his whole life – always smiling 24/7," said Tawee Walker, running back at University of Cincinnati and Sooners teammate with Laulu. "It's super important to be here. Not too many guys make it out of Las Vegas, Nevada, especially from this school. It has a good impact on the kids, good to see someone from their own area make it out and give them hope."
Originally drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Laulu was waived at the end of the preseason. In the pre-draft process, he impressed Raiders scouts at their local Pro Day, prompting the Silver and Black to take a shot on the hometown kid once he was waived. He ultimately started seven games his rookie season.
He initially attempted to host his first camp last offseason while still on the Colts roster. But now doing so as a member of his hometown team, holds even more weight for him personally.
"I always wanted to have a camp at my high school," Laulu said. "Seeing other guys in the league go back to their hometown and do it, and the fact I get to do this playing for the Raiders in my hometown – as soon as I got into the NFL I knew I wanted to do a camp."
The camp ended with Laulu taking photos with all the kids child along with signing autographs. He also personally expensed a taco and ice cream truck to feed all the families who attended.
"It also shows you don't have to be from one of the top schools in the city in order to produce NFL talent," said D.J. Campbell, former NFL safety and current head coach for Centennial High School. "Obviously Centennial made such a mark on him that he decided to come back here and hold this camp. ... He was at the first home game, he was one of the honorary captains and he's legitimately shown support. For our first state championship, he recorded a video for the boys before the game so he's been Centennial through and through."
Following this successful trial run, his goal is to make the camp bigger and better for the community next summer.
"Being able to come out here, I know when I was their age I would've thought it was super cool for a guy in the league, let alone a Vegas guy to be [here]," Laulu said. "A guy that plays for the Raiders who went to Centennial, went to Cimarron, all these public schools that weren't really the best at football but I'm showing them there's still a way.
"You can still make it, no matter where you come from. It's not about how you start, it's about how you finish."
The Las Vegas Raiders visited Reno to host 11-ON, an event focusing on skill building, training and character development.
High school football players pose for a photo during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes warm up during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Las Vegas Raiders senior director of football development Myles Hayes welcomes athletes to the Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in the Longest Throw competition during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in the Longest Throw competition during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in the Longest Throw competition during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Reno High School football players pose for a photo after winning the Longest Throw competition during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes warm up during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in the Fastest Man challenge during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in the Fastest Man challenge during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Damonte Ranch High School football players pose for a photo after winning the Fastest Man challenge during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in the Strongest Man challenge during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in the Strongest Man challenge during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Damonte Ranch High School football players pose for a photo after winning the Strongest Man challenge during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Athletes compete in a 7-on-7 game during a Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
Reno High School football players pose for a photo after being named champions of the Las Vegas Raiders 11-ON event at Damonte Ranch High School.
