Frequent Flier Mars' Carmody will rack up the miles starting with the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas
ADAMS TWP — Michael Carmody may want to hire a tour guide.
The 6-foot-7, 295-pound senior Mars offensive tackle was presented his honorary All-American Bowl jersey Friday afternoon at Mars High School.
That game — featuring the top 100 high school football players in America — is Jan. 4 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Two weeks later, Carmody will be playing in the Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii.
Last April, he was in Italy playing in a basketball event. His first game as a freshman football player at Notre Dame next fall is in Dublin, Ireland.
“And we're going to Coral Springs (Fla.) for a basketball tournament before Christmas,” his father and Mars basketball coach Rob Carmody said, laughing. “For a high school senior, sports have taken him to a lot of places.”
The All-American Bowl will feature players from 29 states. Carmody is the only player selected from Pennsylvania.
An All-American Bowl committee of roughly 100 people, including some of the top football scouts and high school coaches in the country, select the players for the game.
“I was sitting at home the second week of August, getting ready to go to my birthday dinner when they called me,” Michael Carmody said. “I was amazed. I mean, I didn't play football at all my freshman year.
“To go from that point to being picked as one of the top 100 players ... Definitely not something I expected.”
Also a standout basketball player, Carmody said he chose to not play football as a freshman “because seeing what basketball did for (older brother) Robby, I figured that was the way to go.”
Robby Carmody is playing basketball at Notre Dame. Michael will be an offensive lineman there.
Carrying a 4.0 grade point average, he will be an engineering major.
“We've never had a player selected for this game,” Mars football coach Scott Heinauer said of the All-American Bowl. “We've had guys in the Big 33 Game and we've had a lot of great players come through here.
“Michael received 40 scholarship offers. This is a special honor for a very special player.”
Carmody was a quarterback for four years in youth football before switching to tight end his sophomore year. He became an offensive lineman for the Planets last year.
“Some buddies of mine got me to play 7-on-7 football after my freshman year and I loved it,” Carmody said. “I decided to get back into football.”
This will be the 20th annual All-American Bowl. The game has featured 15 eventual Heisman Trophy finalists and 453 players who have gone on to the NFL, including Andrew Luck, Ezekiel Elliott, Aderian Peterson, Odell Beckham Jr. and Joe Thomas.”
“I know I'll be going up against the best down there and I'm anxious to see how I grade out,” Carmody said.
Heinauer plans on making the trip to San Antonio for the game.
“I'm excited about it. We're all excited about it,” Heinauer said. “Michael's footwork as an offensive lineman sets him apart. Playing basketball and tight end have done that for him.
“You see the athleticism of defensive linemen and linebackers in the NFL. It takes quickness, agility and footwork to get out there to block guys like that.”
Carmody's father said he “got chills” when he parked in the high school lot Friday, saw the All-American Bowl van out front and the set-up in the gym, honoring Carmody with a school assembly.
“Michael grew up as Robby's little brother,” his father said. “To see him have his own day like this is rewarding.
“It's not only a great day for him. It's a great day for Mars High School and for this community.”
