TAMPA — R.J. Fleming doesn’t simply want to be known as the guy that plays football, but moreso a follower of Christ.

The former Trinity Episcopal standout and current wide receiver for Arkansas State would normally be doing summer workouts with his team right now. But Fleming has instead decided to spend five weeks at the Tampa Project discipleship retreat in Tampa, Fla.

“I’m still working out, trying to get bigger, faster and stronger, but I’m also investing in my relationship with Jesus Christ,” Fleming said.

The Tampa Project is normally a 10-week retreat for participants, Fleming said, but Fleming will only be able to do five weeks of the program before returning to Arkansas State. He is currently in the second week of the program.

“I heard about it at my school, and a lot of my teammates went and were pushing me to go,” Fleming said. “I made up my mind to go the last day, actually.

“At first, my coaches weren’t really for me going, since they wanted me to be here working out. But we came to a compromise, to where I’d go for five weeks.”

Fleming said the Tampa Project is multi-faceted, where he’s always doing something different every day.

“One day it’ll be a prayer session, the next a sermon or one-on-one discipleship,” Fleming said. “Every day they’re poring into your life. It’s really helped me focus on my relationship with Christ.”

Fleming credited his parents with instilling him with Christian values, but even they had to be convinced of Fleming not working out with his team for five weeks.

“Ever since my childhood, they’ve been about having a relationship with Christ,” Fleming said. “That’s just how I was raised.

“For a while, they stressed that I needed to work out with my teammates and get closer to them, but after I kept bringing it up, they realized it was a better decision for me (to go to Tampa Project).”

The Arkansas State staff has given Fleming a workout regimen, he said, and he’s making sure to stay on top of his workouts while he’s in Tampa.

“I work out at Gold’s Gym, and also on the beaches, since I’m in Florida,” Fleming said. “I’m doing a lot of footwork and explosion-type drills in the sand.”

And Fleming said working out in the sand has made a big difference in boosting his speed.

“I feel like I’ve gotten a step or two faster already,” Fleming said. “It’s just a whole new world. The texture… it’s hard to explain, but once you touch grass again after you get out of the sand, it feels like your feet are uncontrollable.”

Despite last season’s 4-8 record, Fleming said his team is expecting good things this year.

“Our coach is definitely a leader in Christ, and there’s good team chemistry,” Fleming said. “We put God first, and it’s not about ourselves anymore. Everyone’s pulling in the same direction. That’s kind of the theme for this year.”

Fleming also said he’s been getting a lot of encouraging words from his high school coach David King and some former teammates.

“I just talked to coach King (Friday), actually,” Fleming said. “I’ve also spoken to Jordan Dossett, Brandon Daggs, Deacon Newman, Matthew Rymer and Chas Moroney. They all have their own way of encouraging me and telling me to keep with it.”

Fleming said he’s also spoken to Stevan Ridley, who was a senior at Trinity when Fleming was a freshman. Ridley also had encouraging words for Fleming, he said.

“For him to even go through his phone and find my number to text me is encouraging and a great honor,” Fleming said.

Fleming also said he wanted to give his parents and the City of Natchez for its support.

“I’d like to thank the city for standing behind me and ask they keep me in their prayers,” Fleming said. “I want to say thanks to my mom, dad and little brother for everything they do for me.

“I love the town, for sure. Natchez, Miss., baby.”

Fleming is the son of Frederick and Eyevette Fleming.