Battle set to do battle in Blue-Grey All-American Bowl on Dec. 15

HARVEST – The annual Blue-Grey All-American Bowl has dipped into the town of Harvest for some top-notch talent for its contest set for Dec. 15 in Arlington, Texas. The Grey defense will feature Sparkman High’s Blake Battle as the Senators’ starting outside linebacker will make the trip to the Lone Star State for what he hopes will showcase his talents.

“I’m elated about being selected to play in the prestigious game and I am certainly grateful for the opportunity,” said Battle, who was selected for the game of outstanding seniors after attending a Blue-Grey Combine earlier this summer. “I was nervous heading into the combine and I felt I did my best.”

Born in Dothan, Ala., Battle moved to the Harvest- Madison area at age six where he began to play football. The son of Benjamin Battle and Trakeeta Winn, the 6-foot, 200-pound Battle, who carries a 3.5 grade point average and hopes to study forestry in college while playing collegiate football, was invited to attend a Blue-Grey Combine in Kentucky in July. The three-day event featured 40 invitees each of whom were put through a battery of skills tests including a speed test. Battle was clocked at 4.62-seconds in the 40-yard sprint. He also shined in other skills workouts in front of combine experts and invited coaches.

“I left the combine and was confident of my abilities in all aspects of my game,” said Battle of his departure from the combine after three physically demanding days of football workouts. “The combine was fun and a good experience.”

Once returning to his home in Harvest, Battle was e-mailed the decision of his being selected for the annual talent showcase coming up in December. His father also received a letter from the Blue-Grey Game telling of Battle’s position and Battle shared his big news by posting his being selected on his Instagram page.

The 2024 Class 7A Region 4 Player of the Year was also among the two top tacklers among all players in Class 7A across Alabama with 109 tackles, 14 of which were for a loss all coming in just eight full games of action. “I’m aggressive as I like to be the first to the ball as we say, see ball, get ball, very active. We have something to prove that we can fight back and change the culture as winners here at Sparkman,” added Battle who said Alabama A&M is at the top of the schools for his college.

The Blue-Grey All-American Bowl, East vs. West, will be played Dec. 15 with kickoff set for noon central time in Arlington at the Cowboys AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

An additional Blue-Grey Game, North vs. South, will feature Bob Jones senior linebacker/defensive back Romeo Washington. His game is set for Dec. 8 in Orlando, Fla.