All-Star Game Memories To Last A Lifetime
HATTIESBURG (MS)- The Alabama-Mississippi All-Star football game was indeed an experience to last a lifetime for three players from Bob Jones who participated in the 31st annual event. Despite a lopsided 42-7 loss, in which Mississippi scored 35 unanswered points in the second half of the game played in Hattiesburg, Miss., there were plenty of positive accepts of the experience each of the elite players carried with them.
“It was an awesome experience for being close to the top players from both states,” said Kade Koler a linebacker who signed with the University of South Alabama (USA). “The All-Star game was a great opportunity to prepare for the next level of football at USA.”
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Koler saw plenty of action in a platoon style of playing time in the first half and then proceeded to play the entire second half for the Alabama All-Stars. He finished among the team leaders with 4.5 tackles including a couple for losses.
Defensive end Gavin Lewis was extremely happy with his own play, despite the loss to the neighbors from Mississippi. The 6-5, 275 Div. I prospect played the entire game for Alabama making one official tackle, which for Lewis was a memory play. “The play came mid-game and their talented quarterback was scrambling and I chased him down,” said Lewis. “Most of the game I played up against a five-star Alabama commit and I thought I did well. The speed in the game was tremendous and seeing all that talent on the field at the same time was exciting.”
Lewis is being recruited by many of the top programs in the area and said he won’t make his decision about his choice of college until all of the college football bowl games are complete as most of the coaches with the teams are busy preparing for their respective games. “Right now Ole Miss and USA is spending a lot of time recruiting me, but many other schools are around, too.”
Brown, 6-2, 203, participated in some offensive plays at wide receiver for the Alabama squad, but did not make a catch.
For Koler, his memory book of his week-long experience leading up to the game will be filled, but he said, “I built some nice relationships and that is the one thing I’ll remember most.”
On the other hand, Lewis will always remember the week-long stay and the meals they were provided. “The amount of great food we ate was spectacular,” said Lewis. “The total experience was awesome. I suffered a slight injury early in the week, but came back from that just fine.”
