By Gary Lloyd
PINSON — Pinson Valley rising senior running back Nick Gibson is one of 11 Alabama high school football players announced as a candidate to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 3, 2015.
The game will be televised by NBC at noon.
The other 10 nominees from Alabama are Hoover defensive end Christian Bell, Smiths Station linebacker Amonte Caban, Southside offensive lineman Tyler Carr, Central offensive lineman Lester Cotton, Vigor running back Desherrius Flowers, Madison Academy athlete Kerryon Johnson, Charles Henderson linebacker Richard McBryde, Shades Valley defensive tackle Daron Payne, Hoover running back Bradrick Shaw and Hoover linebacker Darrell Williams.
“The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a unique celebration of high school athletes, musicians and the American Soldier,” said Mark S. Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing. “This nomination recognizes the mental, emotional and physical strengths, as well as the leadership qualities these athletes possess both on and off the field; qualities they share with Army Strong Soldiers. We look forward to the continued opportunity to showcase the talents of America’s youth during the All-American Bowl Selection Tour and Bowl Week.”
Four hundred players are nominated nationwide. Of those, 90 will be selected and invited to play in the game. 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 musicians will be announced nationwide throughout the fall, with the Selection Tour ending in early December.
Gibson, the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A Back of the Year, rushed 293 times for 2,205 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior last season. Gibson also caught 25 passes for 266 yards and three scores.
He holds scholarship offers from Alabama, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina State, South Alabama and Jacksonville State.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.