Wednesday was a special day for Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson punter John Alan McGuire. The 6-2, 205-pounder from the class of 2025 was presented with his 2025 Navy All-American Bowl jersey in front of friends and family.
“It means a lot to me,” said McGuire. “Both of my grandparents served. One was in the Air Force and one was in the Army. I have worked really hard. I’ve been trying to strive for it since my freshman year of high school. It was a pretty big goal for me.”
On July 28, McGuire committed to Auburn. He chose the Tigers over Florida State. His decision, although it had everyone in the Yellowhammer state connected to the program fired up, it wasn’t much of a surprise. Auburn is home for him.
“My mom went to Auburn. My sister went there. My brother just finished playing there in 2023,” said McGuire. “Honestly, every time I went up there, any time I kicked for the coaches, it always felt like home. All of the coaches, I feel like I can talk to all of them.
“So, North Carolina, the special teams coach, he was my brother’s coach at Auburn,” continued McGuire, when asked if other offers came his way. “He reached out to my brother letting him know I had an offer there, but he never reached out to me.”
McGuire is excited to play for head coach Hugh Freeze. He believes if given some time, the Tigers will turn it around quickly with him leading the charge.
“He’s a really good guy in my opinion,” said McGuire. “I just feel like he needs – he still has the other classes on his roster right now. When this 2025 class gets in and the 2026 behind us, I feel like it’s going to start turning around.”
So, what is Auburn getting in McGuire? From my vantage point, a punter with a massive leg. But according to him, so much more than that.
“I am a really hard worker,” said McGuire. “I always strive to be one of the first people in the facility. If we have to be there at 6 in the morning, I try and get there around 5:45. My parents always said if you’re on time or right on that time, you’re late. So, 15 minutes early is on time.”
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).
