LCC's Magnuson to Play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl

At 6 foot 5 and 275 pounds, there shouldn’t be much to make ’s offensive tackle Erik Magnuson nervous. Yet speaking in front of his fellow students the Thursday afternoon in the Maverick’s gymnasium after accepting an invitation to play in the prestigious U.S. Army All-American Bowl, he confessed to being just that.

The game, scheduled for Jan. 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas before a national TV audience, pits the top 90 high school football players in an East vs. West match-up. Past players who have gone on to the NFL include Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets, Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings and Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos.

Despite the nerves, the massive Mav from the class of 2012 managed to say all the right things.  He thanked all the right people, from his teammates, (who he “wouldn’t trade for anybody”)  to his coaches, school officials, the Army, and his parents.

Especially his parents, he said afterward.

Thanks to them, Manguson attended camps from Oregon to Idaho.  In the process, he caught the eye of the national recruiting network known as Rivals.com, those with input selecting the players for the annual game.

He also caught the eye of one Brady Hoke. The former San Diego State University Aztec head coach originally recruited him to attend his father alma mater, SDSU.  But when Hoke accepted the post to coach at Michigan, guess where Magnuson since committed?

Magnuson’s father, Eric, declined to put a price tag on the funds expended on camps that helped his son develop his talents. Following Thursday’s ceremony, the he noted that while his son possessed the considerable physical gifts and talent for football as a freshman, he wouldn’t have risen to such a level if he hadn’t put in the time outside of practice – studying film, lifting weights performing agility drills.

“Lots of kids have the talent. But it takes more than that,” Mr. Magnuson said.

Maverick’s coach, Sean Sovacool, also had praise for both the young athlete, and his parents. The “sky’s the limit” for his player, Sovacool said, who he knows as  “tough, competitive, ornery and fiery.”  The honor includes an invite for the coach to a three-day U.S. Army Coaches Academy by NFL and NCAA players.

After accepting the Army’s invitation showing off a No. 12 jersey and thanking his parents, Magnuson told those assembled he was also accepting the honor on behalf of his teammates: “You guys are the best. I’m the only one who gets to play, but the whole team gets this award in a way.”

He concluded his brief remarks by admitting he was a bit “shocked” by all the attention, and allowed as to how the enormity of the honor “hadn’t really hit until today.”

“Thank you,” he said.  “You guys are the best. Go Mavs!”