Wednesday was a special day for Elba (Ala.) High Top247 running back Alvin Henderson. The 5-9, 200-pounder from the class of 2025 was presented with his 2025 Navy All-American Bowl jersey in front of friends and family.
“It really and truly means a lot to me,” said Henderson. “It’s an accomplishment to me. I’ve been working so hard ever since I first picked up a ball and I have always dreamed of being an All-American and playing in this game. I went to the camp two years ago and just getting around those guys and watching them compete in person, I brought all of that back home and used it and worked even harder. I wanted to be one of those guys playing in this 2025 game.”
The All-American Bowl is special to Henderson. He earned this opportunity and it knows it’s a competition with the best of the best in the nation. He’s fired up to get to San Antonio.
“One thing I could see is they bring in the top guys in the country, but the thing that really stood out was that it’s a family thing,” said Henderson. “There are two teams with great players all around you, but they bring in dudes who are great, with great families, and everyone is coming together to do something you’ve always dreamed of.”
Henderson is not only going to put on for himself and his family, but he and others are going to put on for the state of Alabama. That’s something that means a ton to him as well.
“Honestly, it means a lot. It’ll be me, Eric Winters, Malik Autry, Zion Grady, Derick Smith, we all grew up together playing ball and we’ve been watching each other succeed,” said Henderson. “Now we’re all playing in the All-American Bowl and it’s like dang, we really did it. We all got one more chance to play together. It’s a great feeling that we all made it here.”
Henderson committed to Auburn back on June 21. It is a moment he’ll never forget. He’s ready to get the Tigers back to their winning ways and he’s going to try and make that happen on day one upon arrival.
“Really and truly to the Auburn family, it’s the same message. Stay locked in and stay committed to us,” said Henderson. “We have an elite class. The 2024 class is already starting to flip the script. Once everyone gets there in the 2025 class, we’re going to continue getting Auburn back to where it used to be.”
Henderson has multiple family members who have served in the military. It’s something that makes all of this that much more special. This will be a week of fun, but also a week that means a great deal to him on and off the field.
The Road to the Dome Tour will honor all 100 All-Americans with live and virtual jersey presentations during a 15-episode series that will be released weekly through various digital and social platforms across NBC Sports.
Having been selected to play in the twenty-second edition of the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl, each of these selections will play in the annual East vs. West matchup inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The game will be nationally televised, live on NBC, and will feature the nation’s top 100 high school football players.
Each player was selected by the Navy All-American Bowl Selection Committee, consisting of the All-American Bowl and 247Sports. All-Americans are eligible for the Navy All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, the Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, the Defensive Player of the Year Award, the All-American Bowl Man of the Year, the All-American Bowl MVP Award.
Only 100 football players receive the honor of wearing the Navy All-American Bowl jersey each year. The 2025 Navy All-American Bowl will take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, will be presented live on NBC and Peacock at 1:00 p.m. ET on January 11, 2025, and will feature many of the nation’s top high school football players.
About the Navy All-American Bowl
As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the Premier League, and primetime’s #1 show for an unprecedented 13 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 594 draft picks; 93 Super Bowl champions; 247 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit nbcsports.com/college-football/all-american-bowl or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).
