After a morning of drills with Rams players and a full day of lessions from some of his heroes, Paul Rougeau, an eighth grader at Rockwood Villa Middle School in Chesterfield, Mo., was even more tired than most of the young athletes who visited the Russell Training Center last week for a football camp led by Rams rookies.

“I couldn’t sleep at all last night,” Rougeau said. “I was just too excited to meet the Rams and get on the field with them. I started following the team from a young age and I just knew that today was going to be really exciting and be a lot of fun.”

Rougeau was one of approximately 150 St. Louis-area youth football players grades 5-8 who got to mingle with and learn from Rams players Friday through a youth football camp at the Russell Training Center.

The camp, presented by Russell Athletic and Barnes-Jewish Hospital & Washington University Orthopedics, was part of the Rams “Rookie Week.” The 11 members of the Rams 2010 draft class led the youngsters through drills on the field and later got to address the students to share some valuable advice on football and on life.

The on-field portion of the camp provided the Rams players with an opportunity to provide some pointers on technique while also showing them how enjoyable the game of football can be.

“I love it,” wide receiver Mardy Gilyard said. “This is my kind of deal. I love just getting a chance to be a big kid with the kids. You get to have fun with them but also encourage them and try to help them get better. Hopefully I said something to someone or showed someone something that’s going to help them get better.”

Added Rams offensive tackle Rodger Saffold, “You want them to have fun, you want to raise their confidence level, and you try to teach them the basics so that when they go out wherever they’re going to go, they’ll be just a little bit ahead of the game. That helps make a smooth transition to whatever the next level is for them.”

Following lunch, Dr. Mark Halstead of Washington University Orthopedics, who serves as a team physician for the Rams, gave the youngsters a presentation on football safety, specifically regarding concussions. Then the youth football players got a chance to directly address the Rams rookies during a Q&A session at the end of the day.

For Gary Bertolucci, a coach with the Chesterfield Football Association, the words of Sam Bradford, Marquis Johnson and company were the perfect backing of the messages Bertolucci repeatedly gives his players.

“It’s so great when the kids ask the Rams players questions and the players talk about working hard, being dedicated and focusing on fundamentals,” Bertolucci said. “All the things you’re talking about as a coach, it gets reinforced by somebody the kids look up to, and it comes without us even having to prompt them to say those things.”

Saffold understands that his words can hold great weight in the ears of young people, and he takes that responsibility seriously.

“I have three nephews and a niece and I’m constantly trying to impact their lives as much as possible,” Saffold said. “With these kids, they’re going to hang on to every single word that I’m saying just like my nephews and niece do, so I’ve got to make sure that I’m speaking effectively. It’s important to say the right things and say them the right way.”

Each camper left with a goodie bag and a host of memories that they’ll hold onto. In addition, two other campers received an added bonus for their Rams knowledge. During a break in sessions, the students were given a 10-question quiz that focused on St. Louis’ team. Tyler Fogarty and Andrew Jewell delivered perfect scores and were each rewarded with autographed Steven Jackson footballs.

“I just read a lot about the Rams and try to learn as much about them as possible because I’m such a big fan,” fourth-grader-to-be Fogarty said. “I knew a lot about the Rams before today but I learned even more and it was really cool to get to meet some of the players.”