Talented athletes might sound cliché, but these kids really are the best of the best.
One look at the U.S. Under-19 team for the United States, which beat Canada, 33-0, was a perfect example of just how elite these football players are.
Mecole Hardman Jr. (Bowman, Ga.) was a five-star senior ranked as the No. 1 athlete and 13th player overall during his recruitment. Sought after by the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee, the 5-foot-11, 176-pound senior didn’t choose his college until National Signing Day on Feb. 3. Congratulations Bulldogs.
Dwayne Haskins Jr. (Gaithersburg, Md.) was the quarterback on the same team and will head to Columbus this summer as a member of Ohio State’s 2016 recruiting class. He was a four-star quarterback with more than 35 offers from virtually every major college program in the nation as the No. 7 signal caller in the nation.
Haskins was the MVP for that U-19 game, going 12-of-16 for 154 yards and two scores.
N’keal Harry (Chandler, Ariz.), a four-star wide receiver, had 75 yards and a score. Harry was ranked 22nd in the nation and was touted as the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2016 class. He’ll head to Arizona State this summer.
The leader on defense, Jonathan Jones (Orlando, Fla.) is slated to play linebacker for Notre Dame.
And that’s just one game.
The U.S. Under-18 Select squad knocked off Ontario 34-3 behind Kenny Pickett (Oakhurst, N.J.).
A 6-3 junior with offers from Toledo, Temple and Monmouth and interest from Boston College and UConn, he certainly helped himself with a 24-of-30 performance that included 299 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Add the fact the games were played at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and it’s an experience few get.
That would be the same stadium where the 2015 NCAA National Championship between Ohio State and Oregon took place and where the Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25, in Super Bowl XLV. For those fans of the WWE, it’s where WrestleMania 32 will take place on April 3.
That alone should inspire the young, the stars of tomorrow to work harder in practice with the aim of playing in the games one day.
If that isn’t enough, the chance to win the International Bowl Cup — the United States took it back from Canada — should be enough to draw interest.
It’s even more than that, as the games bring families of all walks of life together to join in one voice and cheer for the kids.
In the end, the question isn’t why watch the International Bowl? It’s, why not watch?
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