Trio from Beaufort picked for 8th grade All-American Game
By Justin Jarrett
They might never be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame themselves, but three eighth-graders from the Beaufort area got a closer look at that long-term goal last weekend.
And they’ll be going back.
Kacy Fields, Eamon Smalls, and Daryl Depass — three football players from the Extra Mile Club of the Lowcountry (EMC), a non-profit athletics and mentoring program in Beaufort — were invited to attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy camp from July 13-15 in Canton, Ohio.
During the camp, they were evaluated and coached by NFL scouts, and all three local players were among 60 rising eighth-graders selected to play in the inaugural Hall of Fame 8th Grade All-American Game, to be played Aug. 3 during Enshrinement Week.
Prior to playing in the All-American Game, they will be tested at an exclusive combine for National Preps College Report, perform a Pro-Day style workout with former NFL GM Ray Farmer, and be featured as “Top 100 Middle Schoolers” for National Preps.
These eighth-grade players will receive national press and VIP access to all sponsors. Players will be able to have meet and greets with NFL legends and Hall of Famers, as well as have the chance to attend the Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Ravens Enshrinement Game and a private tour of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Players will attend an autograph session and participate in the Canton Repository Grand Parade.
“When I say they came and worked their butts off, that’s what I mean,” EMC founder Christopher Dantzler said. “I knew what they were capable of, but they had to prove it to the NFL scouts and they did just that.”
Photo at top from left: Kacy Fields, Eamon Smalls, Christopher Dantzler, and Daryl Depass.
