Hermitage High School senior linebacker Curtis Grant was named one of 16 nominees for the 2011 U.S. Army Player of the Year Award, considered high school football’s highest honor.  The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee made the announcement today.The award is given to the nation’s most outstanding high school football player.
 
Six finalists for the award will be announced on Dec. 1. The U.S. Army Player of the Year will be crowned during the U.S. Army Awards Dinner on Jan. 7, 2011, in San Antonio, where the winner will be presented with the Ken Hall Trophy, modeled after Ken “Sugar Land Express” Hall, high school football’s all-time leading rusher.

“Every U.S. Army All-American reflects the characteristics found in the Army Strong Soldier and possesses a mental, emotional and physical strength like no other,” said Col. Derik Crotts, Director of Strategic Communications, Marketing and Outreach, U.S. Army Accessions Command. “These 16 finalists have distinguished themselves even further through their on-field leadership.  We are proud to have them wear our Army Strong colors and to recognize them as U.S. Army Player of the Year Award nominees.”

Past winners include: 2001-Kevin Jones; 2002-Lorenzo Booker; 2003-Chris Leak; 2004-Adrian Peterson; 2005-Ryan Perrilloux; 2006-Mitch Mustain; 2007-Jimmy Clausen; 2008-Terrelle Pryor; 2009-Bryce Brown; and 2010-Dillon Baxter.

Grant will play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, the premier high school football game in the country held each January in the Alamodome in San Antonio. The game features the best high school football players in the nation and has helped launch the careers of Adrian Peterson, Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Michael Oher (from the movie “The Blind Side”), and many other college and NFL stars since its inception in 2001. Last year the U.S. Army All-American Bowl drew more than 34,000 fans to the Alamodome along with being the most watched sporting event on television over the weekend, besides the NFL Playoffs.