VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - It had been a long offseason for Virginia Beach native Shamarko Thomas. After spending the past four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Thomas, an Ocean Lakes High alumnus, was a free agent.
![](https://localtvwtkr.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/screen-shot-2017-06-03-at-11-49-38-pm.png?w=300&h=159)
Shamarko Thomas during a learning session at his youth camp.
The first day of June would be a monumental one though, as Thomas would sign a contract with the New York Jets. "It's definitely frustrating, but God has a plan," said Thomas. "The thing I kept, was my faith. I just worked hard every day and I knew the call was going to come, I'm just cherished and blessed to have the Jets call me."
![](https://localtvwtkr.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/screen-shot-2017-06-03-at-11-49-17-pm.png?w=300&h=166)
More than 100 hundred kids were at Thomas' youth camp.
Two days later, he was at the Virginia Sportsplex teaching more than a hundred kids defensive techniques during his free youth camp. "It's definitely a blessing just to give back," said Thomas. "I'm out here with my old coaches, alumni, even old teammates, just giving back to the kids is a blessing."
Thomas was a 2008 All-State player for Ocean Lakes, and then continued his career at Syracuse, becoming an All-Big East selection in 2008.