PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME NATIONAL SHOWCASE DELIVERS INSTANT SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS TO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy sent its national scouting team to Central Square, N.Y. on May 19 to provide student athletes from across New York a unique opportunity to showcase their skills. Before the day was over, two players received NCAA Division I scholarship offers.

To the delight of nearly 100 players in attendance, with their parents and coaches looking on, freshman Addison Copeland III from Western New York Maritime Charter School (Buffalo) and Sophomore Aries Davis-El from Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse) received offers from Brigham Young University. It was a perfect way to end a day that provided valuable exposure for high school and middle school football players in the region.

“I felt happy, joyful, proud and relieved as a parent who has seen hard work and tremendous growth as a player and as a person,” said Addison Copeland Jr., father of the elite Wide Receiver whose speed and athleticism has attracted the attention of scouts since the 7^th grade.

“When Coach Miller announced that BYU gave me a scholarship offer, it felt amazing,” said Davis-El, a 6’3” wide receiver who, according to scouts, has only scratched the surface of his potential. “It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Hearing that I got an offer brought tears of joy to my eyes. Luckily it was raining so no one knew! I felt so proud because I made my parents proud.”

“When they announced that Aries received an offer from BYU, my jaw hit the ground,” said Aries’ father Marcus Davis-El. “We were completely caught off guard. As a parent, there’s no better feeling in the world than seeing your child accomplish one of their dreams. We are truly thankful to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy for giving these kids this opportunity.” 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy tests, trains and showcases the world’s top football talent from youth to the NFL. In 2018, the organization worked with thousands of top athletes along with Hall of Famers RAY LEWIS, ROD WOODSON and RANDY MOSS, among others.

Participation in the organization’s individual and team-based events has been strong in Upstate New York. “A good group of players from Upstate New York came out, worked their tails off and competed in every facet of the combine/showcase,” said Keith Miller, Director of Player Personnel for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy. “Every athlete received electronic testing, quality instruction, and was seen by the top high school football scout in America.”

National Preps (the go-to source for over 240 college football programs from Division I BCS to Division III) was in attendance. “Colleges rely on National Preps to identify and filter potential student athletes while streamlining the recruiting process for their programs,” said Gary Howard, National Scouting Director and VP, Elite Division for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy. “They provide all evaluations and data from the Hall of Fame showcase to the colleges they serve. The partnership between the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy and National Preps demonstrates what real exposure is all about. We saw it in Central New York with scholarship offers right on the spot and we see it across the country whenever we host this type of event.”