With many high school football seniors ready to take the next step in their careers, the post season offers one last opportunity to showcase their skills.
For as long as anyone can remember, the post season All-Star games have been the highlight of any season – and tonight (5:00) at Camping World Stadium, the next generation of gridiron superstars will have the opportunity to show out at the 2023 Under Armour Next All-America Football Game.
The game was created to spotlight the nation’s top high school seniors. The game was first played on January 5, 2008, and has been played annually at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg or at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The game is sponsored by Under Armour and enjoyed a national audience thanks to broadcast partner ESPN (the first edition was broadcast on ABC opposite the U.S. Army All-American Bowl).
The game has long been a forum for some of the elite football players from Hawaii to Florida and everywhere in between to showcase their many skills as they get set to embark on a collegiate career.
Among the standouts who have taken part throughout the years include Julio Jones (2008), A. J. Green (2008), Jadeveon Clowney (2011), Jameis Winston (2012), Landon Collins (2012), Myles Garrett (2014), Leonard Fournette (2014) and Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray (2015) to name a few. Also. Kyle Pitts, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Fields, and Nick and Joey Bosa all took part. In total, nearly 300 alumni have been selected in the NFL Draft, including four No. 1 picks and 79 first-round selections.
More than 100 of the nation’s best players are selected by Under Armour and this year several Florida high school prospects will be included in the event.
MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD WILL BE WELL REPRESENTED
While 32 players who attended schools in the Sunshine State will join the many elite players competing this evening, several prospects from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties will be out to show just why four of the top 10 teams nationally were from this prospect-rich area.
Among those gifted standouts include Rueben Bain (Edge, 6-3, 250, Miami Central – Miami signee), Santana Fleming (WR, 5-10, 160, Davie Western – Western Carolina signee), William Fowles (WR, 6-2, 195, Hollywood Avant Garde Academy – Louisville signee) and Javin Simpkins (RB, 5-9, 183, Miami Norland).
In addition, the game will feature University of Miami signees Robert Stafford (CB, 5-11, 170, Eau Gallie) and Riley Williams (TE, 6-6, 240, Bradenton IMG Academy). Cormani McClain, a highly regarded 6-2, 170-pound cornerback from Lakeland, remains committed to the Hurricanes as well.
The early signing period has taken the stage away from the litany of prospects who used to announce their college choices at the game, but the attention will be on four players who announce their choices at the game, Four-star defensive lineman Ashton Porter of Cypress (Texas) Cy Ranch, Rosewell (Ga.) High cornerback Ethan Nation, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG edge Cameron Lenhardt and Baltimore St. Frances running back Durell Robinson will each make their college choices. Each said they already signed with their schools but waited until this game make their decisions public.
For the past 53 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields throughout the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..