New Orleans Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton visited Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff Elementary school Thursday afternoon and spoke to third- through fifth-graders about the importance of literacy and education as part of the Rotolo's Literacy Program Visit series.

Lofton addressed the students gathered in the cafeteria to explain to them how reading impacted his life from elementary school all the way to his professional football career.

The students then asked Lofton a wide range of questions from why he plays football for the Saints to what his favorite color is. The students then had the opportunity to answer trivia questions about the visit and receive an autographed T-shirt from Lofton.

Rotolo's Pizzeria will be stressing the importance of reading and education to youth throughout Southeast Louisiana through its Literacy Program.

"Some of my favorite books were "The Magic School Bus" and "Clifford the Big Red Dog." For me those are just some of the books that I really enjoyed reading," Lofton said. "I wasn't always the best student and that's what I kind of told them. You don't have to be the best student or the best reader. If you work at it, then you can be a good reader. If you're already good then you can still get better. That's the message I was trying to get across."