The Maryland Crab Bowl will feature the best High School football players from Baltimore and D.C. at McDaniel College in Westminister, Md. on December 19.
Football was the carrot but the college education was key for Tony Kennedy when the final whistle blew on his career at Virginia Tech. As the Crab Bowl celebrates its eighth anniversary this year, Maryland’s high school football all star game has become more than just a platform for the state’s best high school football players to showcase their talent.
Since 2013, 25 alumni of the annual game were NFL Draft picks and three were drafted in the first round. Kyle Fuller of the Chicago Bears played at Mt. St. Joseph’s and was selected 14th in the 2014 draft from Virginia Tech. The Houston Texans also drafted River Hill’s Kevin Johnson with the 16th pick in the 2015 draft following his career at Wake Forest.
Perhaps the most noteworthy alumnus of the Crab Bowl alumni is Dunbar’s Tavon Austin. Austin, who left the Poets and became a star at West Virginia, was the top pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2013. As the eighth player selected in that year’s draft, Austin is the highest draft choice in the history of Maryland’s high school football all star game.
What’s most important to Kennedy, however, is that over 500 student athletes who have played in the Crab Bowl have left the field with a college education. While the blue chip recruits garner most of the attention from major college programs, the stage for the red, pink, white, or purple chips to perform have opened the doors to pursue degrees that may not have been available without an athletic scholarship.
“Ninety nine percent of all student athletes won’t play professional sports, said Kennedy. “The Crab Bowl is a chance to set yourself apart. This is not a four year decision this is a 40 year decision.”
Kennedy was a two sport athlete playing football and basketball at Bladensburg High in Prince George’s County. However, the academic support network was not set up to prepare him for life as a student athlete. Part of his motivation to bring the Crab Bowl to life was his high school counselor who was less than comforting when trying to prepare him for college life.
“My high school counselor basically told me the best options were either the military or a government job,” said Kennedy. “But my old coach changed the way the school dealt with student athletes after that”.
Kennedy and his former Hokies teammate Lamar Smith formed the Mid Athletic Sports Foundation in 2007. Smith was also a two sport athlete at Gilman who met Kennedy in Blacksburg as the duo played for legendary coach Frank Beamer.
Their mission has been to serve student athletes and their families in the Mid-Atlantic region with events and programs beyond just the Crab Bowl. During the year the Mid Atlantic Youth Foundation stages talent combines throughout the state where players are introduced to scouts who monitor their development that may lead to scholarship offers. They also provide workshops and information regarding NCAA academic eligibility requirements for incoming student athletes to help develop strategy for college success in class and on the field.
“I want to make sure that these kids don’t make the same mistakes I did , said Kennedy. My sole focus was trying to play pro football. Getting the education wasn’t even on my radar screen”.
Each player receives a Super Bowl size ring for participating in the Crab Bowl that will be played at McDaniel College in Westminster on December 19. However, the size of the heirloom is designed to make a greater impact and serve as a reminder when they embark on a professional career.
“When you show up at a job interview it sends a message,” Kennedy said. “If a prospective employer seen the ring it says success and may be the difference in landing the job”.
This year’s game will be televised almost a week after it is played on Comcast Sportsnet on Christmas Day.
