Cody Mauch Returns to Wahpeton to Host 2nd Annual Free Football Camp

MAUCH WAS DRAFTED IN THE 2ND ROUND OF THE 2023 NFL DRAFT TO THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AFTER A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE.

WAHPETON, N.D. (KVRR) –500 kids grades 3-8 took the field at Wahpeton High School Tuesday for the second annual Cody Mauch Youth Football Camp.

Once the drills were all wrapped up, Cody took the time to sign autographs for anyone who wanted one. The biggest thing for Mauch in this camp is he puts it on completely free for everyone who attends.

“Yeah that’s kind of the biggest thing that what we wanted to do with it when we started it,” said Mauch. “Not very often are there free camps especially with, you know, what I would say are some pretty good coaches, good high school coaches, high school players who know what they’re doing, NDSU guys and NFL guys. You don’t want kids to miss it on this opportunity, even if it’s, you know, $ 25, $50, maybe then some people are hesitant to do it. So, that’s one thing we really love doing is just doing it for free.”

For all the kids who made it out to Tuesday’s camp, it’s certainly a memory that will last a lifetime and an amazing experience to be in the presence of a current NFL player.

“I think that’s really cool,” said Brody Bakewell, a camper from Wahpeton. “He probably grew up kind of like us and then went all the way to the big leagues.”

Fellow camper, Diesel Wallace from Fergus Falls, Minnesota added, “I think it was a pretty good experience and I learned a lot.”

Now two years complete in the NFL for the former 2023 second round pick, Mauch shares what his mindset is heading into year three in the league.

“You get more comfortable in there,” said Mauch. “Right away, rookie year, thrown into the fire…you learn from that first year into the second year and then hopefully do the same now, second year into third year. You take 2,400-2,500 reps in these past two years. Just get more comfortable in there with that many reps.”

Cody mentioned what his next few weeks look like before training camp rolls around saying it’s wedding season, all his NDSU buddies are getting married, so he is going to go to all those and of course he just got married this past Saturday.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open the 2025-26 regular season on Sunday, September 7, against the Atlanta Falcons.