Now that we’ve got one down, there’s one more to go and it takes place in San Antonio, Texas this Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome as the 2012 installment of the US Army All-American game takes center stage. This game, although a stark contrast in terms of feel in comparison to the Under Armour event, still manages to put just as talented a group of players as do the fellas at UA and the notable alumni currently playing in the NFL confirm that.
There are only 90 players selected from a group of 400 candidates. They are selected by a committee comprised of the guys at Rivals.com and All American Games who serve as the creators and producers of MTV2’s “The Ride.” These young men are also picked on the basis of their characteristics that parallel the US Army’s Mantra of Army Strong. They are student-athletes that have met the stringent requirements set by the committee.
Since the game’s inception, there have been 179 NFL Draft Picks, 30 Pro Bowl Selections and 1 MVP in Adrian Peterson. There have been 5 NFL Rookies of the Year that have played in the game with Vince young, AP, Percy Harvin, Brian Cushing and Ndamukong Suh. Two of their alumni have gone on to win Heisman Trophies. Those guys are Reggie Bush and some guy by the last name of Tebow. There have also been three Maxwell Award Winners that have graced the field. That dude named Tebow won it twice along with Brady Quinn and Vince Young.
Worlds even collided on September 13, 2009 when the New York Jets C Nick Mangold and QB Mark Sanchez became the first QB-Center tandem to have played in the bowl game and then start for the same team. The all-time scorers in Bowl history are former Rutgers RB Brian Toal, RB Chris “Beanie” Wells of Ohio St and Arizona Cardinal along with Clemson QB Tajh Boyd with 3 TD’s. The longest pass play belongs to a Gators tandem with Chris Leak completing a 78-yarder to Andre “Bubba” Caldwell in the 2003 game.
The two teams are divided into East and West with some of the State of Florida’s best talent on display for the East. Several of the players on the roster were present and accounted for making plays as recently as the week before Christmas in Orlando at the State Finals.
Floridians on the roster for this year are:
K Brooks Abbott 6-2, 180 (Bolles School)
DB Travis Blanks 6-1, 195 (North Florida Christian) *Clemson*
LB Keith Brown 6-2, 227 (Norland)
DB Deon Bush 6-1, 177 (Columbus)
OL Ty Darlington 6-2, 275 (Apopka) *Oklahoma*
DB Jordan Diggs 6-1, 198 (Island Coast)
DB Tracy Howard 6-0, 170 (Miramar)
DL Tyriq McCord 6-3, 222 (Jefferson)
DL Dante Phillips 6-5, 260 (Venice)
TE Kent Taylor 6-5, 220 (Land O’ Lakes) *Florida*
OT John Theus OL 6-6, 305 (Bolles) *Georgia*
The US Army All-American game will kickoff at 12:00 CST (1:00 our time) and be televised on NBC.