Wildwood graduate Ryan Harrison Jr. is giving back to the community that helped shape him by hosting the inaugural Who’s Next Football Camp this summer for local youth while building a future in sports leadership and mentorship, free of charge.

Many in Wildwood remember Ryan as an outstanding academic and athletic scholar at Wildwood Middle High School, where he played basketball from sixth through 12th grade. His athletic ability and dedication in the classroom helped shape the person he is today. Throughout his years at Wildwood, Ryan demonstrated a strong work ethic that extended far beyond the basketball court.

Since graduating high school in 2025, Ryan’s journey has opened doors in athletics and sports leadership. As a former member of the Florida High School Athletic Association Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Ryan gained valuable leadership experience that helped prepare him for opportunities during his freshman year at Louisiana State University.

Ryan is currently completing an internship with the Louisiana High School Athletic Association while also staying heavily involved in sports-related organizations and opportunities at LSU. He is a member of Minorities in Sports at LSU, where he serves as outreach co-chair on the executive board.

Recently, Ryan was selected to serve as an LSU Athletics marketing intern this fall, an opportunity he says he is extremely excited and thankful for.

“All of these experiences have continued to confirm for me that sports are where I belong, even if it’s not necessarily as an athlete on the court,” Ryan says.

Growing up, Ryan spent much of his time watching his father coach and work for the FHSAA while serving as athletic director at Wildwood Middle High School. Watching his father pour into others inspired Ryan to pursue a similar path while finding his own way to impact people through athletics.

“The support system around athletics in Wildwood always stood out to me,” Ryan says. “The coaches, teachers, parents and community members constantly poured into us because they genuinely wanted to see us succeed. That environment helped mold me into the person I am today.”

Ryan says being a student-athlete taught him how to balance responsibilities and work with others toward a common goal while developing leadership, accountability, discipline, communication and time management skills.

As he got older, Ryan began realizing the impact sports can have on kids and the community. Even though he knew he likely would not play collegiate sports, he always wanted to stay connected to athletics because of his love for sports. Early on, he began thinking about how he could make an impact in the sports world beyond playing, which led him toward pursuing a career as a sports agent and working within the sports industry.

That passion helped lead him to LSU, an SEC school widely recognized for its commitment to athletics and sports programs. Ryan is majoring in sports administration with a concentration in sports commerce. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he plans to attend law school.

“Giving back means everything to me because Wildwood means everything to me,” Ryan says. “This community poured so much love, support and encouragement into me growing up, and I always told myself that no matter where life takes me, I want to come back and do the same for the next generation.”

Ryan’s love for kids and passion for giving back inspired him to host a sports camp this summer to pour back into the community that helped shape him. Through the camp, he wants kids to understand that anything is possible no matter where they come from.

“I want young athletes to physically see examples of people who once stood exactly where they are now,” Ryan says. “Sometimes kids just need someone to believe in them and show them what’s possible.”

Several athletes with ties to Wildwood will also return to mentor young athletes at the camp. Many once stood in the same shoes as the children attending and have since gone on to play college football at major programs while accomplishing success on and off the field.

Many of the athletes involved also have strong relationships within the community outside of sports. Ryan says once he explained the vision behind the camp and its focus on mentorship, exposure, motivation and pouring back into the next generation, his friends immediately wanted to get involved.

Ryan says campers can expect a fun and positive environment where they will learn football fundamentals, compete, receive mentorship and interact directly with athletes they can look up to. More importantly, he wants every child to leave feeling confident both on and off the field.

The inaugural Who’s Next Football Camp will take place June 20 from 9am-2pm at Wildwood Middle High School’s Rocker Field for ages 5-17. The deadline to register is June 13.