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Nearly 1,000 football players and coaches from across Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. attended a high school football forum hosted by the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation at FedEx Field on Tuesday afternoon.

Twenty-one of the 22 public schools in Prince George's County attended the event, which allowed high school players the chance to listen and ask questions to Washington Redskins players Lorenzo Alexander, Kevin Barnes, Malcolm Kelly and Brian Orakpo. The Redskins' players talked about the importance of education and the role peer pressure plays in their lives.

Kelly, a wide receiver who attended the University of Oklahoma, said he remembers a talk former National Football League player Merton Hanks had with him when he was in college.

"He told us that we have a better chance of being struck by lightning then you do making it as a professional football player," Kelly said. "I am sure everyone here has talent and wants to play at the next level, but you have to start setting yourselves up for life after football."

That was the reality facing most of the seniors in attendance. Many of the players at the forum have likely played the last football game of their careers. Now they have to focus on life after football, which was a strong message that the Redskins' players tried to drive home.

Central High senior lineman Angelo Westfield said messages about education and life after football are something that players hear about all the time from their parents, teachers and coaches. But hearing it from a professional athlete carries more meaning.

"This event wasn't just about football, but it was about life, academics and your future," Westfield said. "We can relate to the players because they aren't that much older than us. We aren't going to listen to our parents all the time, but hearing it from people that we dream of being kind of motivates us."

That's the message Eleanor Roosevelt High coach Tom Green said he hopes the players take from the event. He also said he hopes the NFL and the Redskins do more gatherings like this.

Potomac coach Chris Davidson said the discussion could act as a wakeup call for players as they go forward after high school.

"You get a chance to hear real advice from someone that has been in your shoes," Davidson said. "These guys need to realize that this is the end for most of them. Anyone that doesn't take advantage of this is shortchanging themselves."

Laurel senior Wilmer Diaz said the part that struck home the most was how quickly a football career can come to an end. He said even football can be fleeting, an education is something you carry the rest of your life.

"You start building your foundation through high school and getting your education," he said. "My main focus has always been education. I take the student part in student-athlete very serious. I am always trying to get to the next level, but my education is more important."

E-mail Joshua Hudson at jhudson@gazette.net.