U.S. Army All-American Bowl Committee Selects 2015 Player and Coach of the Year

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Jan. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/-- On Jan. 2 the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee announced Martez Ivey from Apopka High School in Apopka, Fla., as the 2015 U.S. Army Player of the Year and Tony Sanchez from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nev., as the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl National Coach of the Year. The awards honor the nation's most outstanding senior and most exceptional coach in high school football.

"Ivey, an offensive lineman, possesses supreme athleticism," shared the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee. "He has very impressive footwork in pass protection and is extremely difficult to beat in the run game, delivering a big pop on contact at the line of scrimmage. Ivey has made a name for himself by crushing defenders on the move downfield, utilizing strength and agility to pave the way well beyond his first assignment off the snap. His overall skillset justly makes him the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2015."

Coach Sanchez will receive the Yoast Award, named after the legendary Coach Bill Yoast, who along with Coach Herman Boone was immortalized in the movie Remember the Titans.

"While every U.S. Army All-American player demonstrates excellence, one player has distinguished himself from the rest," said Mark S. Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing. "This year, we recognize Martez Ivey for his character, leadership and athletic excellence.

"Coaches play an important role in the positive development of America's youth and are also highly accomplished and respected leaders, who like our Army Soldiers, base their leadership on a set of core values. We congratulate Coach Sanchez on being recognized as the Coach of the Year and thank him for his dedication."

The Player of the Year selection process began this past fall as players were evaluated by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee and coaches from around the country. Coaches are nominated and selected by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee.

For 15 years, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl has been the nation's premier high school football game, serving as the preeminent launching pad for America's future college and NFL stars. Andrew Luck, Patrick Peterson and Jamaal Charles made their national debuts as U.S. Army All-Americans. In the 2014 NFL draft, there were a total of seven U.S. Army All-American Bowl Alumni drafted in the first round. The 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl drew a crowd of 40,017 to the Alamodome and was the most-watched sporting event on television over the weekend, excluding the NFL playoffs.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is owned and produced by All American Games, a New Jersey-based sports marketing and event management company. The 2015 game will be broadcast live on NBC from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 3, 2015 at 1 p.m. EST. For more information on the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, visit usarmyallamericanbowl.com and goarmy.com/events/aab.

CONTACTS:
MAJ Marcus Mitchell, 202-573-5087
Lauren Munguia, 817-528-5981, [email protected]

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SOURCE U.S. Army