Torry and Terrence Holt, known for their contributions on the gridiron at N.C. State and the National Football League, are making an impact elsewhere after hanging up their cleats.

Since retiring, the brothers have created their own company, Holt Brothers Inc., which features Holt Brothers Construction, Holt Brother Development, Holt Brothers Football and the Holt Brothers Foundation, all of which benefit the local community.

On July 13, the Holt Brothers Football Camp was held at Dail Outdoor Practice Facility on campus. The annual camp is also held in Gibsonville, N.C., the brothers’ hometown. 2013 marks the second year for the camp in Raleigh and the 11th year in Gibsonville.

The camp is open to kids from grades one through 12, focusing on station-based skill drills, one-on-one and conditioning drills. In addition, positional drills are a focal point of the experience, with former coaches and players on hand to advance campers’ skill levels.

But football skill-building is not the only enrichment the campers will experience during the day.

“What we do is important, because there is a correlation between football and life, football and business,” said Terrence Holt, the younger brother. “We just try to teach the kids to be mindful of that. But most importantly, when the game is done, you’re still a human, and you still want to treat it and act a certain way outside of your sport.”

Terrence Holt was drafted in the fifth round by the Detroit Lions in 2003 as a defensive back and played for four other teams during his time in the NFL. He totaled 242 tackles, 0.5 sacks and eight interceptions. He played from 1999 to 2002 with the Wolfpack.

At State, he blocked seven field goals, four in 2001 that tied the national record set by Hawaii’s Mike Akiu in 1982.

“There’s a lot that goes into the camp, physically and mentally,” Torry Holt said. “We try out best to simulate those into the kids and give them an idea of what football’s all about—not only football but what life is all about.”

“The kids responded well; it was very respectful. They helped each other off the ground, they patted, they shook each others’ hands, they high fived one another.”

Torry Holt, who attended N.C. State from 1995 to 1998 and played wide receiver, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year in his senior season after compiling 88 receptions for 1,604 yards and 16 touchdowns, all ACC records. He was also a first-team All-American in his senior season.

In the NFL, he was named to the Pro Bowl on seven occasions, the All-Pro team twice and a Super Bowl champion in his rookie season with the St. Louis Rams. He compiled 920 receptions for 13,182 yards and 74 receiving touchdowns during his career.

The Holt Brothers Foundation was created in 1999 in honor of Ojetta V. Holt-Shoffner, the brothers’ mother, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1986 and died in 1996 after battling the disease for 10 years.

“She embodied perseverance—working hard— and it’s something that we try to mirror the way in which we go about out business, just based upon her strength and what she showed us as young men, and what we needed to do to reach any dreams that we had,” Terrence Holt said.

The brothers created the foundation to support kids and families experiencing the disease, and to help a lending hand in the process.

The brothers’ mother and their father—a military veteran who served in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart—instilled character and perseverance from a young age, traits they hope to share with the youngsters who attend the camp.

“We had great influence from parents who go up, day in and day out, worked hard, and showed us how to provide for a family, and showed us what hard work looked like,” Terrence Holt said. “It had a big influence on us in how we live our lives.”

Terrence said he and Torry envision the camp staying in Raleigh.

“We hope to come back in support our community,” Terrence Holt said. “Hopefully the parents will continue to support us with their kids. Hopefully the kids and youth see our camp as something worthy enough to attend”

“We want to continue to stay in Raleigh. Raleigh is where we live—it’s where we played ball. We want to continue to have a camp here in Raleigh every year.”