Covington Catholic brothers, football standouts enjoy a return to the field for youth camp

For the first time in more than four years, Michael and A.J. Mayer were together again on the football field at Covington Catholic High School.

The brothers and standout athletes at CovCath hosted a youth football camp Saturday at Griffin Stadium with more than 100 young football players of various ages.

The camp was sponsored by ProCamps, which organizes similar instructional clinics around the country hosted by various professional and college athletes.

The Mayers left a large legacy after graduating from Covington Catholic.

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With A.J. having a record-setting season at quarterback, they led CovCath to a Kentucky High School Athletic Association state championship in 2017. Then, with Michael controlling the action at tight end and on the defensive front, the Colonels won another title in 2019.

In between, they helped CovCath win the 2018 KHSAA Sweet 16 state championship in basketball, using their physicality and athleticism in the paint.

A.J., a 2018 graduate, went to Miami University of Ohio. He recently announced a transfer to Arkansas State, a Division I school in the Sun Belt Conference coached by former University of Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones.

Mayer played three seasons with the RedHawks as mainly a backup quarterback. He played 13 games, throwing for 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Michael, a 2020 graduate, is preparing for his junior season at Notre Dame, which was 11-2 last season with a regular-season loss to the UC Bearcats. He was Notre Dame’s leading receiver with 71 catches for 840 yards and seventh touchdowns, and was named third-team All-American at tight end by the Associated Press.

With both brothers roaming the field and working on drills with the young campers, and with CovCath head coach Eddie Eviston and other local coaches running the drills, the youth football players had a day to remember.

Both Mayers cited the new Name, Image and Likeness rules in college athletics for allowing them to make the camp happen.

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“Ever since we’ve started doing this camp stuff, it’s awesome,” A.J. said. “It’s all about relationships, being back with the community. It’s a great feeling. It’s great to be with Mike, which is awesome. You can start doing camps, you can start getting paid. We thought it would be cool if we could do something together.”

Michael said working with younger football players brought back memories of the beginning of his football career.

“I’ve had so many good memories at this field, this campus,” he said. “It’s so good to be back here and relive some of the memories. High school football is unbeatable. It’s really good to be back here and see everybody.

“I was in these kids’ shoes a while ago, and it’s good to see them be here. I remember being their age and the high school players being here, the people coming back that were here, playing with me on this field. I remember how enjoyable that was and how cool that was to run routes off high school players when I’m in fourth grade. So I wanted to do that for these kids.”

A.J. is excited to start a new chapter in his career when he moves to Jonesboro, Arkansas, to be with his new team.

“(Jones) is very professional,” he said. “I really enjoyed my visits and talking with him. He has great insight, perspective. He knows a ton of people, resources. He’s a good football coach. Arkansas State was great value for me as a person. I’ll get my MBA there. I have a new opportunity to be a starting quarterback there, and that’s what I was looking for.”

This time next year, Michael could be hearing his name called in the NFL Draft if he leaves ND early. He is focusing on keeping the Fighting Irish in College Football Playoff contention this fall. ND has a new head coach in Marcus Freeman.

“I feel great,” Michael said. “I’m 100 percent healthy. We just got a new head coach that I like a lot. I have a new tight ends coach who I love, Coach (Gerad) Parker. We had a great spring ball and we have a ton of confidence going into the summer.”

Both brothers will get to play in the Horseshoe at Ohio State University to begin the 2022 season. Notre Dame plays there Sept. 3, and Arkansas State follows on Sept. 10.

“We’re excited,” A.J. said. “I’ll have to get some intel. I’ll tell my teammates I think I might know a guy who played them.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Covington Catholic brothers Michael, A.J. Mayer enjoy return for camp