Greg Scott has never forgotten where he came from. Scott, who played football at Southampton High School, and eventually went on to Hampton University and the National Football League, is back in the area after a stint at coaching at Hampton. He is ready to give the same things that led him to success back to the community.

Scott’s Cover 3 Football will hold a Winter Football Academy for youngsters ages 6-14 through the Franklin City Parks and Recreation Department in February. The academy will meet every Saturday in February at the Franklin National Guard Armory.

“I have a curriculum of drills that are universal to football,” Scott said in an interview at the Franklin Applebee’s, which has a picture of Scott in a Bengals’ uniform hanging in the restaurant. “I’m going to teach positions from the ground up. It’s going to be like ‘Football 101.’”

Scott named his company “Cover 3 Football” after the Cover 3 defense, which he played.

“It also stands for the three aspects of my company — attitude, a hard work ethic and a great commitment in whatever it is you are interested in,” Scott said. “If you have those three things, you can be successful at whatever you want to do.”

Scott said the academy will cover all aspects of football on the field, but also leadership and life skills.

“I want to preach to them and talk about the different avenues we have. Southampton County is a great place, but you want to get out and explore things, stay out of trouble, and be respectful,” he said. “I want to give them my experience and some of the do’s and dont’s. If I reach three or four of the guys, I’ve done my job. I’m a guy that came from this same area, these same streets you are in. It can be done. Just hold on to those dreams.”

The youngest of five boys, Scott played for the Courtland Indians in the Mustang League and at Southampton under former head coach Littleton Parker in the 1990s. During his time there, the Indians went 29-2. After being named an All-State tight end and outside linebacker, he went on to Hampton on a full scholarship from 1998-2001. He played in the 2002 Senior Bowl and Hula Bowl and was later a 2002 draft pick of the Washington Redskins. Scott played for the Redskins and the Cincinnati Bengals and eventually moved to NFL Europe. A torn ACL ended his pro career while he was with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League in 2007.

Scott’s roots still run deep in the Western Tidewater area.

“One of the things I wanted to do was come back here. It was only 12 years ago that I was a little kid dreaming about trying make that goal (playing professionally),” he said. “It can happen. If I can do it, you can do it. I just want to lay that same message to these guys.”

Players ages 6-8 will meet from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and players 9-14 will meet from 2-5 p.m.

The cost of the academy is $20 per week or $75 for the entire month for players ages 6-8 who pre-register by Jan. 20 or $25 per week or $95 for the entire month for players 9-14 who pre-register. The price for walk-ups increases $5 per week or $10 for the entire month.

Players can pre-register by e-mailing cover3football@gmail.com or calling (757) 818-5828.