Ravenwood Raptors’ Van Jefferson was officially given his invitation to be selected to the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl Wednesday afternoon. The Bowl game is set to be played in San Antonio, Texas in January of next year.
The senior wide receiver – and Georgia Bulldogs commit – was there to accept along with his parents and Raptors head coach Will Hester.
“I want to thank my mom, for keeping my head on straight,” said Jefferson, “Tells me when I’m slacking and when I’m doing good, and I thank God for that.”
“And I want to thank my dad, even though we butt heads sometimes, but that’s alright. Always tell me to work hard, and I understand that now.” His father, Shawn Jefferson, played 13 years in the NFL as a wide receiver and has coached in the NFL as a wide receivers coach for the Detroit Lions and most recently for the Tennessee Titans.
Head coach Hester was also given the invite to attend the 2015 U.S. Army Coaches Academy for the bowl game. With three more weeks left in the 2014 regular season, he has coached Ravenwood as the lone undefeated team at 6-0 and eyes another straight state championship.
“A couple springs ago when Van came, I had just gotten the job in January and I told him the truth: I told him we were going to work hard and try to change the culture here and he’s been a big part of that,” Hester said. “The teammates here have been an unbelievable support system for him and for me as well.”
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is the premier high school football All-American game and is held annually in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings together 90 of the nation’s top high school football players in an East versus West matchup.
Notable alumni include Adrian Peterson, Andrew Luck, LeSean McCoy, Jamaal Charles, Tim Tebow and others. Thirty-six U.S. Army All-Americans were selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, and 274 have been selected all-time. As of the 2014 NFL Draft, there are over 200 Army All-Americans on an active NFL roster.
