Heritage sending three to All-American Bowl
PLANTATION — For Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell and Nesta Silvera, their last game as a high school football player won’t be in an American Heritage uniform, but they’ll be wearing the same colors.
The three senior defensive standouts will trade in their Heritage black and gold for that of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this postseason. They were officially named to the national all-star exhibition in a ceremony at the school on Friday.
“It’s a great accomplishment for those guys,” said American Heritage coach Patrick Surtain, who was also named an assistant coach in the game. “I’ve seen the blood, sweat and tears that they’ve put in, and it’s definitely deserving.”
The Army All-American Bowl will be played in San Antonio’s Alamodome at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6 and broadcast on NBC
“It’s going to be my last high school game, so I’m looking forward to competing and having fun out there,” said Surtain II, an uncommitted five-star prospect rated the unanimous No. 1 cornerback in the Class of 2018. “It’s going to be my last ride with my two amigos — Tyson and Jade (Silvera’s nickname). I expect it to be fun.”
The three are looking to put an American Heritage stamp on the national exhibition.
“I feel like if we play Heritage football — like we already do — up there, we’ll show out,” said Campbell, also a five-star recruit who ESPN ranks as the second-best corner nationally behind Surtain.
Silvera appreciates that he’ll have two teammates from the same side of the ball accompanying him.
“To be able to do that with my two brothers, that’s something that’s unheard of,” said Silvera, a four-star defensive tackle committed to Miami. “It doesn’t happen a lot.”
American Heritage has become somewhat of a recent pipeline to the Army All-American Bowl. The Patriots have sent lineman T.J. Slaton, defensive end Brian Burns, quarterback Torrance Gibson, cornerback Tarvarus McFadden and running back Sony Michel.
Heritage is also sending receiver Anthony Schwartz to the Under Armour All-America game this season and has previously had offensive tackle Kai-Leon Herbert and Isaiah McKenzie play in that exhibition.
The last time a Broward County school shipped off three prospects to the Army All-American Bowl was two seasons ago when Coconut Creek had cornerbacks Malek Young (Miami) and Trayvon Mullen (Clemson) and receiver Binjimen Victor (Ohio State) represent the Cougars.
In addition to three players and a coach, Heritage will even be represented during the halftime show. School band tuba player Dominique Cunningham was also named to the game on Friday.