Youth football players at the top of their game

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, Dec. 25, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Sig Rogich Middle School students Zack Singer and Hayden Solis dominated local opponents on the youth football circuit this fall.

Now, the eighth graders will see how they stack up against the nation’s best.

They were two of 60 nationwide who were selected by Football University, a respected training and evaluating company, to participate in the Football University Youth All-American Bowl during the first week of January in San Antonio.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a game pitting 90 of the top high school seniors, is held during the same week in San Antonio and televised by NBC. It’s the game where several prospects make their college commitments on television.

While it’s impossible to compare players who live in different states, Football University believes its group of 60 eighth-graders are the best the nation has to offer. Athletes are selected from their performance in a regional camp or by sending the committee game film.

Singer, a 6-foot-2, 280-pound offensive lineman, is explosive off the ball, knowledgeable in pass protection and physically better than everyone he lines up against.

“He is probably the best lineman in the entire United States in his age group,” said Steve Farmer, a local youth coach who coordinated with Football University in its selection process. “That’s not an exaggeration. He is beyond the talent and smarts of most high school lineman in this city.”

Solis, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound defensive back and wide receiver, has a better build than most varsity football players. He’s credited with not allowing any receptions this year in pass defense, and like Singer, has a bright future.

“He’s is just a great kid,” said Randall Cunningham, the former UNLV and NFL quarterback who was Solis’ youth coach. “He’s big enough to play defensive back in college right now. He’s going to be a special player because he has a passion for the game and is willing to put in the time.”

The week will be a fantasy camp of sorts for the children.

The game will be played in the Alamodome, former home of the NBA San Antonio Spurs, and will be televised on the Internet. In addition to the game, the players will be coached during three days of practices by current and former NFL players, and spend time with the nation’s top high school All-Americans.

“I’m really excited that I got this opportunity,” Singer, 13, said. “I plan to take advantage of it and show what I can do. I don’t feel nervous at all. I’m happy for the opportunity to go.”

They will likely be four-year varsity performers in high school, joining the likes of Anu Solomon and Ryan Smith from state champion Bishop Gorman, Cody Mucino of Coronado, Niko Kapeli of Liberty and Chris Moon of Silverado as ninth graders who made an impact on Friday nights this past fall. Mucino, Kapeli and Solomon took part in the event last year, and Mucino received a letter of interest from UCLA following the camp.

Both eighth-graders are zoned for Palo Verde High in Summerlin. However, each said they will likely end up at a private school, either Gorman or Faith Lutheran.

Singer also played catcher for Rancho High's American Legion affiliate last summer and his father said the family is interested in the North Las Vegas school’s medicine magnet program.

For now, they plan to enjoy the experience in San Antonio.

“I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” Solis, 14, said. “I’m going to go out there and play my heart out. It’s going to be fun.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected].