IMG Academy sends record 10 football players to Under Armour All-American Game

When he was getting ready to enter the eighth grade, Dylan Moses’ name spread across the nation when LSU offered him a college football scholarship.

On Wednesday, Moses and nine other IMG Academy football players continued that journey toward the next level when they were presented their game jerseys for the 2017 Under Armour All-American Game.

Joining Moses on the rosters for the game, which is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 1, in Orlando, are teammates Cesar Ruiz, Joshua Kaindoh, Marcus Williamson, Jhamon Ausbon, Isaiah Pryor, Robert Hainsey, Grant Delpit, Kellen Mond and Robert Beal.

The annual all-star game has showcased current college stars such as Florida State’s Dalvin Cook and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and past Manatee County high school standouts such as Southeast’s Brian Poole (Atlanta Falcons) and Jonathan Dowling.

“It’s amazing,” Kaindoh said. “Kids dream about this stuff. I dreamed about, and I’m about to go do it.”

The 10 selections from IMG are the most from one school in the 10-year Under Armour All-American Game’s history.

“It says a lot of about the kids that want to come to school here,” said IMG head coach Kevin Wright, who coached in the game last year. “... It’s obviously good for the program, for our younger kids to see they have that opportunity if they continue to excel on the field.”

Moses, a linebacker, continued his ascent toward his status as a prized college prospect following that LSU offer. As a freshman at Southern Lab in Baton Rouge, La., he received his invitation for the Under Armour All-American Game. Moses kept his focus and is playing his senior year at IMG, where he is getting a glimpse into what college life will be like.

“For me to actually be invited to play this upcoming January, it’s really a huge accomplishment,” said Moses, who is from Baton Rouge, La.

Moses has his pick of college suitors and announced on Twitter that he’d make his choice known in mid-December. However, he said Wednesday that he might push the commitment announcement back to the Under Armour All-American Game, but that is not definite.

Meanwhile, Ruiz is rated the No. 1 center in the country and jumped onto the Under Armour radar as a sophomore in Camden, N.J. But while he was at his old high school, Ruiz got into trouble for watching the game on YouTube in a health class during his freshman year. Ruiz said his teacher told him he’d never play in the game.

Ruiz used it as motivation.

“He said, ‘You’re not one of those guys,’” Ruiz said. “I said, ‘Alright. I will be, though.’ When I put my mind to something, I can do it.”

Like Moses, Ruiz has several Division I offers and said he’s going to commit on Dec. 18. But he also said he’ll commit at the Under Armour All-American Game if the Dec. 18 time doesn’t work out.

The 10 IMG seniors are likely to see some other teammates in Orlando: The Under Armour Future 50 is comprised of underclassmen from around the nation. That list hasn’t been unveiled yet.

IMG’s Week 11 remains scheduled

The Sun-Sentinel reported earlier this month via Twitter that Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna had cancelled its home game against IMG scheduled for Nov. 5. Howewer, Wright confirmed to the Herald on Wednesday that the game is still scheduled.

This story was originally published September 28, 2016 at 6:44 PM with the headline "IMG Academy sends record 10 football players to Under Armour All-American Game."