Gilman's Goodwin selected for USA vs. The World game
Gilman lineman Hunter Goodwin has been selected for the 2011 U.S. Under -19 National Team and will play in the second annual Team USA vs. The World game Wednesday in Austin, Texas.
Goodwin, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound tackle plowed holes for a Gilman offense that scored 311 points more than the opposition last fall as the Greyhounds finished No. 2. He has committed to Wake Forest and plans to sign his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday when the signing period for football opens.
Goodwin said he found out about his selection last night after helping his little brother build a snowman.
“When I came in, I had like three calls and a few texts, one from my coach saying, ‘You’re about to get a good call,’” Goodwin said. “I called one of the numbers back and it was the head of the game, Matt Ferrara. He told me that the Gonzaga (high school) coach had recommended me and they looked at my film and they really like it and basically to come on down.”
Goodwin, 17, is one of 46 players chosen from around the country. He knows only two of his teammates, Gonzaga quarterback Kevin Hogan and St. John’s-DC defensive tackle Kevin McReynolds.
This experience, he said, will build on the ones he took away from playing in the Crab Bowl and the Chesapeake Bowl.
“Both of the all-star games I was in gave me a glimpse of what college is going to be like because you’ve only got the top of the top [players]. Now I’m going to be going against the best and I think it’s really going to help me level out my game, because Gilman’s all running and in a lot of these all-star games, they do a lot more passing. It will give me a chance to work on everything.”
Although high school players are limited by the NCAA to two all-star games, an exemption is granted for the USA vs. The World game in which all of the USA players are high school seniors. The World team includes players from four continents and coaches from Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Japan, Mexico and Sweden.
The game will be played in Austin Westlake Stadium and televised live on Fox College Sports Central. It also will be streamed live at www.HighSchoolSports.net at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Goodwin, who hopes to help the USA take a second victory after winning 17-0 last year, said he is looking forward to the entire experience.
“I’m looking forward to flying down to Austin. I know the quarterback from Gonzage and the D tackle from St. John’s are in it, so I’m looking forward to playing with them. I’ll be able to work with a lot of top guys in our nation and the world. and they’re doing a big signing day thing. We’ll sign in front of all the cameras, so it’s going to be pretty cool.”
