USAfootball

Defensive linemen and linebackers announced for 2012 U.S. Under-19 National Team in football

Defensive linemen KIGHT DALLAS of Lithonia (Ga.) Arabia Mountain High School, DAJAUN DRENNON of Erial (N.J.) Timber Creek Regional High School, HERBERT MOORE of Memphis (Tenn.) East High School and EBENEZER OGUNDEKO of Brooklyn (N.Y.) Thomas Jefferson High School join linebackers CHASE ABBINGTON of St. Peters (Mo.) Fort Zumwalt South High School, REGGIE CHEVIS of Houston Sharpstown High School, SAMUEL DOUGLAS of Arlington (Texas) High School, CORY JASUDOWICH of Cheshire (Conn.) Academy, ISAAC McDONALD of Hialeah (Fla.) Champagnat Catholic School and REGGIE SPEARMAN of Chicago Simeon Career Academy in being selected to play on the 2012 U.S. Under-19 National Team, assembled by USA Football.

The team will compete in the 2012 IFAF Under-19 World Championship on June 30 to July 7 at Burger Stadium in Austin, Texas. The eight-nation tournament is conducted by the International Federation of American Football. Players and coaches will live at the University of Texas in Olympic Village-style accommodations. IFAF is composed of 62 nations spanning six continents that possess a national federation dedicated solely to American football.

The U.S. Under-19 National Team, comprised of high school athletes, will compete against national teams from American Samoa, Austria, Canada, France, Japan, Panama and Sweden. The United States won the inaugural IFAF Under-19 World Championship in 2009 in Canton, Ohio, earning the No. 1 seed this summer. The Americans open against No. 8 seed American Samoa at 8 p.m. CT June 30.

Dallas is a heady pass rusher with the speed and flexibility to play defensive end or linebacker. At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he is verbally committed to South Carolina.

Long-armed and exceptionally quick to the ball, Drennon has received more than 20 college offers, including Alabama, Kentucky, Notre Dame and Maryland. Drennon helped Timber Creek finish 12-0 last fall as a junior, scoring on a 5-yard touchdown catch to help the Chargers win a New Jersey Group 3 championship.

A 6-1, 335-pound nose tackle, Moore is a run-stuffer inside who can occupy defenders at the point of attack.

A tough run-stopper, Ogundeko had 62 tackles and six sacks last fall as a junior. An All-Borough selection, he also had 79 tackles and 11 sacks as a sophomore in 2010.

Abbington is a versatile 6-4, 220-pound athlete who also plays running back and slot receiver at Fort Zumwalt South. In one game last September, Abbington ran for 226 yards and seven touchdowns. He has verbally committed to Missouri.

As a junior in 2011, Chevis registered 12 sacks and 102 tackles. The 6-1, 247-pound linebacker has received offers from Baylor, Boise State, LSU, Houston and Texas A&M.

Douglas was an all-district linebacker last fall as a junior, recording 148 tackles, six sacks, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. Verbally committed to TCU, Douglas at 6-2, 180 is a tall, athletic player who can make plays all over the field.

Jasudowich finished with 85 tackles, six sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries as a junior in 2011. As a sophomore, he recorded 112 tackles, five sacks and three fumble recoveries to go with four rushing touchdowns.

McDonald recorded 75 tackles (14 for loss) with five sacks and a pair of interceptions as a sophomore in 2010. The 6-5, 205-pound junior has verbally committed to Clemson.

An athletic outside linebacker at 6-2, 210 pounds, Spearman has the ability to disrupt offenses by avoiding blockers and getting to the ball-carrier.

USA Football will announce 2012 U.S. Under-19 National Team players in their position groups throughout May and June.

Team USA is led by STEVE SPECHT, head coach of Cincinnati St. Xavier High School. Specht led St. Xavier to Ohio Division I (largest school division) state titles in 2005 and 2007. He is 77-19 (.802) since becoming the head coach at his alma mater following the 2003 season.

A national team exemption granted by the NCAA allows high school seniors to play for USA Football and not have their participation count as one of their two permitted all-star game appearances. The IFAF Under-19 World Championship is recognized as a national team competition. 

USA Football is the sport’s national governing body in the United States and is the official youth football development partner of the NFL and NFL Players Association.

U.S. Under-19 National Team roster:

USA Football’s national team program is supported by corporate partners Marriott, Riddell, Sports Authority, Rawlings, Cutters, Gatorade, Upper Deck, Shock Doctor and St. Vincent Sports Performance.

About USA Football: USA Football, the sport’s national governing body in the United States, hosts more than 100 football training events annually offering education for coaches, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent nonprofit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competitions and provides more than $1 million annually in equipment grants and youth league volunteer background check subsidies. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football (www.usafootball.com) is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.