Khailey Olympia, center right, holds New England Patriot outside linebacker Matthew Judon's hand duirng an autograph event on March 23, 2024, at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Kalani, center, and Khaiden, right, Khailey's older silbings, listen along. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Michaden Sanders watched intently from the field at Kaiserslautern High School as New England Patriots star Matthew Judon picked up fellow football camp participant Abdoulaye Diallo during a receiver versus cornerback matchup and carried him past the crowd surrounding the action.
It left a big impression on Sanders, a 12-year-old Ramstein student. Instead of trash-talking like the previous two contestants, Sanders stayed humble when asked how he thought he’d do against the outside linebacker.
“I was terrified from the start because he’s very strong, he’s big,” Sanders said afterward.
Kalani Morgan, left, listens to New England Patriot outside linebacker Matthew Judon as he signs a football duirng an autograph event on March 23, 2024, at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
He took a contested pass on the first play near the goal line of the short, makeshift field around the 50-yard line. On the next play, he cut across the middle, surviving the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Judon trying to drag him away. It meant that Sanders had scored on the pro at the Matthew Judon Football ProCamp on Saturday.
“I beat an NFL player in a 1-v-1,” Sanders said of the story he can tell his classmates and others for life.
It’s one story among many to be told about meeting Judon, who came out for multiple events over the weekend in the largest U.S. overseas military community.
The four-time Pro Bowler, who has totaled 66.5 sacks in an NFL career that started in 2016 with the Baltimore Ravens before joining New England in 2021, was active during the camp, which had about 180 participants.
Chief Warran Officer3 Anthony Salame, left, and his sons, from left, Weston, 9, and Jaxon, 11, pose as New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon signs a football duirng an autograph event on March 23, 2024, at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Logan Salame, 4, bottom left, watches Judon. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
He took in drills with the kids, unsparingly at times. Judon bulldozed one player while defending a pass during one drill. He couldn’t hold back his excitement at having taken the brunt of a hit by the pro player, shouting it out to the other participants as he ran back in line.
On Friday, Judon was scheduled to meet with staff and patients at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the military’s largest overseas hospital.
And earlier Saturday, Judon signed autographs at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center in the Ramstein Air Base Main Exchange, where about 50 people showed up, most of whom were Patriots fans.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Anthony Salame traveled about 70 miles from Wiesbaden to Ramstein with his three sons — Jaxon, 11; Weston, 9; and Logan, 4 — just to see Judon.
“He’s, in my opinion, the best player on the Patriots,” Jaxon Salame said. “So, it’s pretty sick (to meet Judon).”
New England Patriots outside linebacker defends a pass to Ethaniel Gonzalez, 12, during the Matthew Judon Football ProCamp on March 23, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Anthony Salame, a Templeton, Mass., native, came wearing a Jerod Mayo jersey. The Patriots drafted Mayo in the 2008 NFL Draft, and he played in New England until his retirement after the 2015 season.
The jersey wasn’t lost on Judon, though. Mayo is his new boss, taking over from legendary coach Bill Belichick.
“We just talked quick. (Judon’s) excited for it,” Salame said of Mayo taking over. “Bill was instrumental for the Patriots, but Mayo was brought up by him, groomed to be the next coach.”
Michaden Sanders, 12, a Ramstein student, celebrates with other participants after scoring on New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon on March 23, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The drill was a part of the Matthew Judon Football ProCamp held at the school over Saturday and Sunday. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Kris Olympia also made the trek to Ramstein to see Judon.
An Army staff sergeant stationed in Baumholder, Germany, Olympia brought his children Khaiden, Kalani and Khailey to the signing event.
“This is their first time seeing a football player,” Olympia said. “I want them to keep watching more football as they grow older.”
Jaleea Williams, 10, throws a pass during the Matthew Judon Football ProCamp on March 23, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
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