Home is Where the Hart is for This Ute
8/25/2026 8:28 AM | Football
Utah cornerback JC Hart hosted a free football clinic in his hometown this summer
SALT LAKE CITY — If you spend a little reading about Loachapoka, Alabama on the state tourism department's website, you'll get a glimpse into the history of this small town, such as the antebellum homes that have been preserved or the churches that are nearly two centuries old and you might learn about the Syrup-Sopping Day that takes place every October.
For Utah senior cornerback JC Hart, however, there are different things that come to mind when he thinks of his hometown. "My favorite thing is seeing kids look up to me and be happy whenever I come around," said Hart. "Just being able to see people smile, that's all I'm about."
It was in this small town of just a few hundred people that Hart grew up and honed the skills that eventually earned him the chance to play under college football's brightest lights. He still remembers losing a shoe while scoring his very first rec league touchdown. As Hart rose to prominence on the gridiron, finding a way to give back to his hometown was one of the foremost thoughts on his mind.
One of the ideas that occurred to Hart was to host a youth football camp at his alma mater, Loachapoka High School. The Alabama native also saw it as an opportunity to set an example for others who also might be in a position to give back. "It started because there aren't many like fun things to do in the city," said Hart. "Auburn is going to like a money-type, so there aren't really many events. It was just to be able to provide something for the kids to come to. And then just to show other players that you don't have to be in the NFL to be able to give back and be a positive example."
As the idea started to take shape, Hart knew this wasn't something he could accomplish on his own, but his family and came through and provided all the help he needed to make this camp happen. "The first step," said Hart, "was getting my family and friends to be all on the same objective and all know the main goal, which is to have fun. There's a lot of competition, but it's more about having fun. Since I'm in Utah, it's hard to put it on, but getting people and family and friends to help, I'm very grateful to those people."
Once the word got out in Loachapoka and the surrounding area that Hart's camp was coming to town, it didn't take long for the registration list to start filling up. As for getting the word out, the Utah defensive back decided he could handle that responsibility on his own. "He came towards the end of May and was actually in our cafeteria passing out flyers for the camp," said Jessica Harden, a teacher and mother in Loachapoka. Harden said signing her son up for the camp became an immediate priority. "I signed him up for it as soon as I received the flyer," she said. "He was super, super excited."
One of the ways Hart made sure the camp was accessible for all those who wanted to attend was to make the camp free. "I'm in an opportunity to be able to give a free camp," he said. "It's not about money. I just put aside a budget and everything for the camp was within that budget. I didn't need to make money."
The lack of a registration fee was also something that made life easier for so many in Hart's hometown. "It was definitely one of the most generous things that I feel like that somebody at that level could do," said Harden. "I'm a single parent, so it's difficult doing everything, being mom, being dad and only working off one income. I didn't have to pay an arm and a leg or sacrifice too many things in order to make sure that I was doing something for my child. It was very, very special and very important for me."
When June 27, the date of the camp, arrived, it was busy day for Hart and all those involved, starting bright and early with camp for ages 5 -9 in the morning, followed by drills with those aged 10 – 16 in the afternoon. While football was certainly a big part of both camps, there were plenty of other activities mixed in. "There was music, there were games, there was food, plenty of water," said Harden. "They had a dunking booth. They had water slides set up. I saw every child out there laughing, having a good time.
Hart said one there was one specific part of the day he enjoyed the most. "My favorite part of the day was seeing the kids dance," said Hart, who posted one of the videos to his socials. "There's a lot of dancing that goes on at camps." "They danced their hearts out," said Harden.
The impact Hart had on his community goes far beyond the lessons learned on that day at Loachapoka High School. Whether he's in Utah or Alabama, his imprint on his hometown is being felt by all those who've seen him accomplish so much. "I feel like the whole the mindset of the community has shifted since JC has reached the level that he's reached," said Harden. "Everybody looks up to JC and everybody's like 'Well, if he can do it, I can do it.' It's because of somebody like JC who's actually made it to that level and made it through all the obstacles and hardships that we have in our area."
Hart has remained in touch with Harden and her son, who earned spot on one of the local football teams as a result of his play at the camp. And the Utes now have a new bastion of fans in eastern Alabama. Said Harden: "I definitely think that everyone in this area is going to be so tuned in on Utah this year."
JC Hart traveled a long way from home when he joined the Utah football program, but the people who make up his hometown and continue to support him on his journey are never far from his mind. The new friends he made on June 27 in Loachapoka will be fueling him throughout the 2026 season. "It's a big motivator," said Hart. "Every time I pick up my phone, I see a lot of kids with my name on their shirts. It shows me that what I'm doing is bigger than football. When I look at the picture, I see it's bigger than me."
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Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
For Utah senior cornerback JC Hart, however, there are different things that come to mind when he thinks of his hometown. "My favorite thing is seeing kids look up to me and be happy whenever I come around," said Hart. "Just being able to see people smile, that's all I'm about."
It was in this small town of just a few hundred people that Hart grew up and honed the skills that eventually earned him the chance to play under college football's brightest lights. He still remembers losing a shoe while scoring his very first rec league touchdown. As Hart rose to prominence on the gridiron, finding a way to give back to his hometown was one of the foremost thoughts on his mind.
One of the ideas that occurred to Hart was to host a youth football camp at his alma mater, Loachapoka High School. The Alabama native also saw it as an opportunity to set an example for others who also might be in a position to give back. "It started because there aren't many like fun things to do in the city," said Hart. "Auburn is going to like a money-type, so there aren't really many events. It was just to be able to provide something for the kids to come to. And then just to show other players that you don't have to be in the NFL to be able to give back and be a positive example."
As the idea started to take shape, Hart knew this wasn't something he could accomplish on his own, but his family and came through and provided all the help he needed to make this camp happen. "The first step," said Hart, "was getting my family and friends to be all on the same objective and all know the main goal, which is to have fun. There's a lot of competition, but it's more about having fun. Since I'm in Utah, it's hard to put it on, but getting people and family and friends to help, I'm very grateful to those people."
Once the word got out in Loachapoka and the surrounding area that Hart's camp was coming to town, it didn't take long for the registration list to start filling up. As for getting the word out, the Utah defensive back decided he could handle that responsibility on his own. "He came towards the end of May and was actually in our cafeteria passing out flyers for the camp," said Jessica Harden, a teacher and mother in Loachapoka. Harden said signing her son up for the camp became an immediate priority. "I signed him up for it as soon as I received the flyer," she said. "He was super, super excited."
One of the ways Hart made sure the camp was accessible for all those who wanted to attend was to make the camp free. "I'm in an opportunity to be able to give a free camp," he said. "It's not about money. I just put aside a budget and everything for the camp was within that budget. I didn't need to make money."
The lack of a registration fee was also something that made life easier for so many in Hart's hometown. "It was definitely one of the most generous things that I feel like that somebody at that level could do," said Harden. "I'm a single parent, so it's difficult doing everything, being mom, being dad and only working off one income. I didn't have to pay an arm and a leg or sacrifice too many things in order to make sure that I was doing something for my child. It was very, very special and very important for me."
When June 27, the date of the camp, arrived, it was busy day for Hart and all those involved, starting bright and early with camp for ages 5 -9 in the morning, followed by drills with those aged 10 – 16 in the afternoon. While football was certainly a big part of both camps, there were plenty of other activities mixed in. "There was music, there were games, there was food, plenty of water," said Harden. "They had a dunking booth. They had water slides set up. I saw every child out there laughing, having a good time.
Hart said one there was one specific part of the day he enjoyed the most. "My favorite part of the day was seeing the kids dance," said Hart, who posted one of the videos to his socials. "There's a lot of dancing that goes on at camps." "They danced their hearts out," said Harden.
The impact Hart had on his community goes far beyond the lessons learned on that day at Loachapoka High School. Whether he's in Utah or Alabama, his imprint on his hometown is being felt by all those who've seen him accomplish so much. "I feel like the whole the mindset of the community has shifted since JC has reached the level that he's reached," said Harden. "Everybody looks up to JC and everybody's like 'Well, if he can do it, I can do it.' It's because of somebody like JC who's actually made it to that level and made it through all the obstacles and hardships that we have in our area."
Hart has remained in touch with Harden and her son, who earned spot on one of the local football teams as a result of his play at the camp. And the Utes now have a new bastion of fans in eastern Alabama. Said Harden: "I definitely think that everyone in this area is going to be so tuned in on Utah this year."
JC Hart traveled a long way from home when he joined the Utah football program, but the people who make up his hometown and continue to support him on his journey are never far from his mind. The new friends he made on June 27 in Loachapoka will be fueling him throughout the 2026 season. "It's a big motivator," said Hart. "Every time I pick up my phone, I see a lot of kids with my name on their shirts. It shows me that what I'm doing is bigger than football. When I look at the picture, I see it's bigger than me."
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
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