About Mr. Larry

Larry Braziel (Mr. Larry) is a youth minister and a retired NFL defensive back. He and his lovely wife, Linda, are both proud graduates of Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School, Class of 1973.

In 1974 Mr. Larry and his Dunbar teammates, Larry Duncan and Joel Briscoe (Class of 1974), left for Compton California to participate on the Compton Community College football team. The two seasons that they participated at Compton College, Mr. Larry earned a number of awards which included a full athletic scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC), his childhood dream school.

Mr. Larry was drafted by the then Baltimore Colts in 1979 and completed his seven year NFL career with the Cleveland Browns 1985. Upon retirement, Larry and his lovely wife Linda lived in Baltimore, Maryland for the next seven years serving their local church as Associate/Youth Pastors. In 1993 God impressed upon them to return to Fort Worth, to their home and roots, Stop Six, and continue ministry in their community.

For 25 years (1993-2018) Mr. Larry served the youth of the Stop Six Community as Branch Director of the Eastside Boys & Girls Club. His retirement has opened up a new opportunity to continue to serve his community – in a different capacity, but with the same passion.

Over the course of his collegiate and professional career, Mr. Larry has had the opportunity to learn the game, particularly his position as a defensive back, from some of the best. And now Mr. Larry is COMPELLED to share and pass down that wealth of knowledge to the young athlete of today – especially in the Stop Six Community.

WHY DO I FEel compelled?

God blessed me and afforded me the opportunity to do something that the majority only dream and fantasize about – to be a Pro Athlete!

I have a Godly calling and mandate on my life that I must fulfill, and I have a duty and responsibility to the youth of my community.

The camp is an opportunity for me to be a good steward of the gifts and talents that I’ve been blessed with.

The camp allows me to be a Godly example, teacher, motivator and share life lessons.

It’s important that young athletes who are sincere about their craft, that they have an opportunity to improve and excel.

I remind myself each year of the need for me to provide a “quality” camp in the community at NO FINANCIAL COST to the athletes or their parents.

My desire is to assist the local school districts’ middle/high school programs with high level off-season training and development at the defensive back position.

What is our purpose?

Mr. Larry’s DB Camp is here to provide basic fundamentals, detailed teaching, and comprehensive instruction for defensive backs ages 13-18. Along with our focus on the defensive back position, we enhance corners and safeties overall skill level for improved game-time performance. This skill development process, founded on training and experiences at the highest level, is the hallmark of all Mr. Larry’s camps.

But the greatest joy and what compels Mr. Larry the most, is being an example of honor, respect, character, integrity and God’s love and His goodness!

“I am not the average person or coach. I am driven and compelled by my love for God and people, especially young people.”

Larry Braziel (Mr. Larry)

Not Your average camp

Mr. Larry’s DB Football Camp is not the average camp – we don’t just teach skills and do drills. This is one of the reasons why this camp is for ten days.

After ten days of camp; after all the hard work, the teaching, the training, the motivation, the life lessons and life skills shared, athletes leave with more than just a higher understanding of the game of football.

“If these young athletes walk away from Mr. Larry’s DB Football Camp and begin to reflect back and talk about their experience while at the camp – and they only talk about their athletic experience and how they were impacted as a defensive back , and not as a young man, then, I failed them! and failure is not an option for me”