Sparkman’s Jase Bradley To Play In Blue-Grey All-American Bowl
HARVEST- Jase Bradley has never been one to look for notoriety as he actually dislikes being the center of attention. The Sparkman High senior is about to be thrust into the limelight performing in front of thousands, including hundreds of college scouts, after being selected to play in the annual Blue-Grey All-American Bowl scheduled for Monday, Jan. 10 with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex.
“It’s very exciting and cool I was selected for this game,” said the low-keyed Bradley, son of Shawn Bradley and Jennifer Hare.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 230-pounds, Bradley is one of the mainstays of defensive lineman for the Class 7A Senators that cause havoc for any opposing offenses. His battle to his current position for Sparkman has been one of ups and downs since joining the varsity squad as a sophomore. Picking up the sport at age five as a member of a recreational team based at Madison Academy, he soon moved to play for Sparkman Middle School and then made the transition to Sparkman where he played both offense and defense before he settled in on the D-line.
After the completion of the 2020 season Bradley put forth an effort to put on 30-pounds for his position. He ate around 4,000 calories a day through the months of November-February and he’s was gaining weight and working out putting on pounds of muscle. Then in March of this year he caught COVID-19 and struggled with the virus for a month losing weight and strength. He was faced with getting back into top-notch physical condition and utilized his time at Chuck’s Gym in Harvest and working out with his father. He soon revamped himself both physically and emotionally and remains a starter to this point in the 2021 campaign.
“Jase is a good player and one of our leaders of this team and he also does a great job in the classroom,” said Leron White head coach of Sparkman.
“I’m not very vocal, but I do encourage others to play better and help them make adjustments to be better teammates,” said Bradley. “I attended numerous football camps during the summer months, all of which made me a better player where I learned to perfect my skills.”
Away from the football field, Bradley has volunteered his time for HEALs Charity Organization and Special Olympics, as well as, a Sparkman Peer Helper assisting students with special needs. He also holds down a part-time job at Kolh’s Department Store in Madison. He is well-versed in the latest technology and has great communication skills, although he is normally soft-spoken.
He’s been on the recruiting trail and has had several schools show lots of interest in his football and academic skills as he carries a 3.5 grade point average. He’s a member of the Sparkman SGA, Key Club and Army Education Outreach Program and was part of Junior Civitan for two years. In the eighth grade, Bradley was a page for State Representative Mac McCutcheon in Montgomery. He experienced the politics of the situation and said, “It was a great experience, fun and enjoyed it, but I don’t want to be in politics.”
Once his current season is closed Bradley will begin his trek through preps for the game where he will play for the East team versus the West team. He was selected for the nationally televised game from a pool of more than 6,750 recruits. The game is known as a “Recruiting Bonanza” as nearly 80-percent of All-American Bowl alumni successfully landed a scholarship offer after the game.
“I believe I was chosen for the Blue-Grey Game based on my skills, which include good speed off the line and great length,” said Bradley. “I’m a good student of the game.”
Once he heads out to the Lone Star State in early January, Bradley will soon be placed in a situation he’s uncomfortable with, but will forever cherish the experience of being the center of attention.
