Darius Slay is as real of a guy as it gets when it comes to interacting in the community with Detroit Lions fans. Not only is he one of the better guys on the team in terms of giving fans the love during training camp and after the game, but Slay has been one of the bright stars when it comes to getting his feet on the ground in the local Detroit atmosphere, too. Routinely, Slay takes time out to go to high school basketball games when his season is over, and recently, he took another great step for the community in devoting some time to help local high school players improve their own games.

This summer, Slay has been making the rounds in Detroit, stopping in at West Bloomfield High School and U of D Jesuit High School to help the players with their own offseason programs. Slay himself has been busy this offseason honing his own craft with some of the biggest names at cornerback, but that hasn't stopped him from checking in and making the day of some youngsters in the community at the grassroots level when he's got the time.

Just take a look at the delight on some of the young faces that Slay has connected with in recent weeks. It's clear the work in the community means a ton to the youngsters, who are relishing the chance to not simply meet an NFL star and get a selfie or an autograph, but also learn big time skills that might help them become the next superstar.

To that end, since coming to Detroit, Slay has been a great example for all the young players in the community. He's a hard worker on the field, has no drama off the field and has done a great job to assimilate to the pro game and make himself into one of the most dominating players in the league. Nothing was handed to Slay upon being selected to the Lions; he simply had to go out and earn it on the field with hard work and solid play, and he's done just that. As a result, rewards have come, like recognition on NFL lists, and a Pro Bowl appearance. In just a few seasons, Slay has made himself into one of the best corners in the league. That's a positive message to send.

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All along, even in spite of his own success, Slay has never gotten too big for the little guys out there, which is great to see. Young football players depend on good role models as they are coming up through the ranks, and it's nice to see a guy in Slay accepting the responsibility head on and making it his mission to pay it forward to the next generation. Better than that, he's doing it in his home city of Detroit and paying the love forward right there. That's something impressive to note, and something the players will never forget.

With every high school game he attends and every football practice he crashes, Slay sends the message that he's not simply some big time celebrity, he's someone who cares and wants to make a major impact and truly help the kids reach their own potential. There's something to be said for that in this day in age, where athletes can play the big time role on social media and avoid community commitments if they so choose. Slay himself is a real guy, from his tweets to his interactions. When he shows up, it's all about the love.

As the saying goes, real recognize real. Slay is one of the most real Lions, and deserves big credit for paying it forward and being a star in the Detroit community with the young people. In doing so, he's truly helping to make a difference beyond any of the big plays he delivers on Sundays.