Browns players Richard LeCounte III and Curtis Weaver look to inspire McKinley students

CANTON – McKinley High School hosted a pair of prominent guests Tuesday.

The school brought in two Cleveland Browns players — Richard LeCounte III and Curtis Weaver — as guest speakers as part of the Stay in the Game program, part of the Browns Give Back Foundation.

Stay in the Game is part of the partnership with the Canton City Schools toreward school attendance and academic achievements. It includes opening up to students about reaching their goals and striving for greatness after graduating.

McKinley invited 20 football players and the top students in the sports medicine class to the event. The students got the chance to engage with the Browns players and hear words of encouragement.

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LeCounte, who plays safety, is entering his second season with the Browns after being a fifth-round pick a year ago.

"It was really exciting for me to talk back to the kids in the school, and let them know my insights about life, and everything I went through and help guys and tell how proud I am seeing the guys in school and working toward their goals," LeCounte said.

LeCounte referenced his high school experience after McKinley junior Trasean Foster asked about his transition to the collegiate level. LeCounte, a former five-star prospect out of Georgia, said he felt like he was a big shot in his hometown but humbled himself once he set foot on the University of Georgia campus.

"The process is real, and if life comes at you, what are you going to do? Stand or lay down," LeCounte said. "Just being able to maximize all 24 hours of your days and letting guys know that it is not easy to be where you're at. You're physical ability can take you so far, and hard work and dedication can take you through the rest."

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Foster, who has a 3.7 GPA, took a lot from speaking with LeCounte. He plans to set goals for himself and hang them inside his locker as a reminder. What he also absorbed from the Browns safety was how to network with other people and plans to help his fellow teammates reach their goals.

"They showed me how life goes quick, and that wherever I go to college or something, I have the right mindset, and I get to go anywhere," Foster said. "One thing I want to do is try to put my other players (first) and achieve their goals, and they can help me achieve mine."

Browns players remind McKinley students 'it’s about hard work'

McKinley senior Nehemiah Saipaia mentioned how little things are important and working to balance more serious matters, which he feels he wants to improve on.

"For me, there’s a lot of things that I need to learn, and I know that. So hearing it from these people who made it there really helps me because I know that I can do it just as long as I am doing all the little things right," Saipaia said. "They were saying to make sure that I am finding the right time and place because I like to joke around a lot, but finding that right time and place is what I really need to work on."

Saipaia, son of former NFL player and current assistant coach Blaine Saipaia, plans on continuing his football career at Colorado State University-Pueblo. He has older siblings who are either playing college ball or are in the Naval Academy.

Even though Saipaia understands the aspects of playing at a high level, he still felt he benefited from listening to LeCounte and Weaver because they are in the NFL now.

"It was a good opportunity to hear and learn from the people who made it to that the top level, and of course, my father was on that level," Saipaia said. "It’s good to see that things never changed. It’s about hard work and putting in the time."

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Richard LeCounte III, Curtis Weaver of Browns talk at McKinley