Two area football players nominated for U.S. Army Bowl

A pair of area football players are among 472 players nationally to be nominated for the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Opelika linebacker Josh Rowe and Central-Phenix City running back Orwin Smith are among the 15 players from Alabama named as nominees.

Rowe earned First-Team All-State and First-Team All-Area honors last year as a junior for the Bulldogs.

As a middle linebacker, Rowe, 6-1, 205 pounds, recorded a team-best 104 tackles, had five sacks and recovered four fumbles.

He has early offers from Kentucky and South Alabama and is drawing heavy interest from Auburn, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Smith, 6-1, 190 pounds, exploded on the scene last year, rushing for 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior.

He was named the Opelika-Auburn News’ Breakthrough Performer of the Year.

Smith received an offer from Auburn University early last season and has since added offers from Alabama, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and UAB.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl has become one of the nation’s premier All-Star games for high school seniors.

The game has a lengthy list of alumni, including Reggie Bush, Vince Young, Adrian Peterson and Brady Quinn

The game will be held on Jan. 3 in San Antonio, Texas at the Almodome.