Fifty-nine of Florida’s top senior football players have been nominated to play in the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Those nominated will have the chance to showcase their talents on Saturday, January 7, 2017, in the annual East vs. West match-up, televised live on NBC at 1:00 p.m. EST.

“The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a unique event designed to showcase and recognize the talents of America’s youth while celebrating the team that makes a difference every day for the Nation – the U.S. Army,” said Mark S. Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing. “This nomination recognizes the versatility and adaptability the athletes possess both on and off the field; qualities they share with U.S. Army Soldiers. We look forward to the 2017 Army All-American Bowl program that includes more than 200 events across the country and culminates in San Antonio during game week.”

The athletes were nominated by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee, which consists of All American Games™, 247Sports, XOS Digital, and All American Games’ network of regional coaches throughout the country. Of the 400 nominees, 90 will be ultimately selected and invited to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The next step for the nominees occurs in September, when the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Tour begins. Player finalists, along with U.S. Army All-American Marching Band members, will be announced nationwide throughout the fall, with the Selection Tour ending in early December.

For 17 years, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl has been the nation’s premier high school All-American game, providing a glimpse into the future of football. Serving as a launching pad for America’s future college and NFL stars, Odell Beckham Jr., Andrew Luck, Derrick Henry, Patrick Peterson, Adrian Peterson, Christian McCaffrey, and Jalen Ramsey made their national introductions as U.S. Army All-Americans. A total of 31 U.S. Army All-American alumni were drafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. The 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl drew a crowd of 39,121 to the Alamodome.

Central Florida players nominated:

OL Calvin Ashley, First Academy

ATH Bruce Judson, Cocoa HS

QB N’Kosi Perry, Ocala Vanguard HS

OL Blake Vinson, North Marion HS

Tampa Bay players nominated:

RB Devan Barrett, Tampa Catholic HS

ATH Juwan Burgess, Plant HS

DL Zachary Carter, Hillsborough HS

RB CJ Cotman, Clearwater Central Catholic

RB A.J. Davis, Lakeland HS

OL Dillon Gibbons, Clearwater Central Catholic

WR Daquon Green, Tampa Bay Tech

RB Adarius Lemons, Clearwater HS

WR James Robinson, Lakeland HS

Article provided and written by usarmyallamericanbowl.com.