Xavier Nixon from Jack Britt High in Fayetteville, NC is a finalist for the U.S. Army High School Player of the Year Award and will play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Xavier Nixon is considered by many as the top offensive lineman in the nation and one of the most sought after recruits. He has received offers from nearly every major football program but has yet to decide. Xavier will announce his college choice live during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Nixon says he has no favorite on the current list that includes Clemson, Florida, LSU, Miami, N.C. State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, South Carolina and West Virginia.

He is the first U.S. Army All-American to ever have both parents serving actively in the U.S. Army. At one time, both parents (Kenneth and Fotini) were deployed to the Middle East. His father is currently serving in Afghanistan and his mother is currently at Fort Bragg. Despite these trying times, without his parents, he has continued to have success both on and off the field and is considered a leader on his team and in his community. His parents have instilled in him strong values, rooted in military disciplines. It's these values-as well as his obvious athletic talent-that make him a highly coveted college-football prospect and a future college and NFL star.

An invitation to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl is the highest honor a high school football player can receive. But, the All-American Bowl is not just high school sports' biggest event - it's an
opportunity to honor America's heroes: the men and women who have answered the call to service at home and throughout the world. At this year's Bowl, Spc. David Obray, a Construction Equipment Repair Specialist with the U.S. Army Reserve from Mankato, MN will be honored with the prestigious Soldier of the Year award.

To be chosen for this honor, Obray participated in a week-long competition that includes events designed to test a Soldier's mettle in areas like land navigation and physical fitness as well as their knowledge of various warrior tasks and battle drills.

Overall, the competition asks Soldiers to show their ability to complete the tasks most often needed in battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. Challenges from the competition are drawn from real-life scenarios in the global war on terror. Obray said he felt the competition effectively simulated what is going on overseas.

Obray will share the attention on game day with the Player of the Year, chosen from a roster of 80 of the nation's most outstanding seniors in high school football who will participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Soldiers and those who excel in sports share the same type of attributes, such as discipline, team spirit and leadership. Each of the students participating in the game will be paired with a mentor Soldier.

In the seven years since its inception, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl has built a legacy as the launch pad for America's football stars, with players like Reggie Bush, Adrian Peterson and Vince Young making their national debuts at the game.