Eighth grader to play on national stage

Richard Brian

Cody Mucino, who plays for the Silverado Middle School Skyhawks, catches a pass during practice. The Del Webb Middle School eight grader played in the inaugural Football University Youth All-American Bowl Jan. 4 in San Antonio.

By Jared Harmon (contact)

Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008 | 6 a.m.

Richard Brian

Cody Mucino, who plays for the Silverado Middle School Skyhawks, catches a pass during practice. The Del Webb Middle School eight grader played in the inaugural Football University Youth All-American Bowl Jan. 4 in San Antonio.

Richard Brian

Cody Mucino pauses to catch his breath during a recent practice.

Del Webb Middle School eighth grader Cody Mucino knows the power of YouTube.

After a standout season with the Silverado Middle School Skyhawks, the talented athlete's older brother put together a highlight reel of Mucino and uploaded it on the file-sharing Web site.

Shortly thereafter, Mucino received a call informing him he had been selected to play in the inaugural Football University Youth All-American Bowl. Representatives from the game were impressed with his highlights on the Web site and extended him an invitation to play.

The event — held in San Antonio on Jan. 4 in conjunction with the U.S. Army All-American Bowl high school all-star game — takes 60 of the top eighth graders from across the country to participate.

"I'm really excited to get a chance to play in a game like that," said Mucino, who will attend Coronado next year. "I'm a little nervous because I'm going against the best kids in the country, but I think it will be good to test myself like that."

Mucino has become a jack-of-all-trades for the Skyhawks, splitting time at safety, running back, receiver, punter and quarterback.

"I like hitting people and going for interceptions, so I think safety is the most fun," he said. "But I have a lot of speed and I know how to read the field, so I'm probably best at running back. It's hard for me to pick because I like playing everything. I just love the game."

Mucino's father and Skyhawks assistant coach Wayne Mundt said Mucino's ability is beyond what you normally see at the middle school level.

"You get kids who have speed but Cody has tremendous athleticism and understands the game so well," Mundt said. "He moves laterally very well. He finds his holes and he finds the best path for the ball."

Mucino missed three games this season with a broken thumb but still collected 11 touchdowns in seven games. In the previous two years, he averaged 20 touchdowns and interceptions per season, Mundt said.

At Del Webb, he holds the school record for the 50-yard dash (6 seconds), the long jump (12 feet) and the mile relay (5 minutes, 40 seconds).

"He has the quickest feet around and some great hands," Skyhawks coach Steve Farmer said. "I don't know what's better, his offense or his defense. He hits like a truck but he's so explosive on offense. I think he'll stack up well against anyone at the (All-American Bowl)."

Jared Harmon can be reached at 990-8922 or jared.harmon@hbcpub.com.