Montel McBride still can’t believe it.
Although he’s gotten plenty of attention since his offseason adventures landed him a spot on Alabama’s football team, getting to play in a big-time bowl game wasn’t something he was expecting to do before he leaves high school.
But it’s true: He’s been selected to the East’s roster in the 2014 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, confirmed at first with a text message and later by sitting in the kitchen with his family, a couple of Marines and a reporter.
“I’m truly honored,” McBride says. “I was in shock when I got the text.”
The Plant City offensive lineman was just hanging out at a friend’s house one day, when a representative from the bowl game got his phone number and informed him he was selected for the game.
“I got the text, I read it, I threw my phone and walked out of the room,” he says. “I took a lap, came back and checked it again. He asked if I was interested in playing, and I’m like, ‘What? Is that even a question?’”
The bowl game comes with an appearance at Sunday’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, five days of vacation (with daily practices and team meetings peppered in) and national exposure. Just as he was throughout the first 11 months of 2013, McBride is a happy camper right now.
CULTURE CHANGE
It’s easy to pinpoint the Alabama offer as the turning point in McBride’s life, the part where everything really fell into place. His football career was thrust into the spotlight, and the extra recognition didn’t affect his play this season. In fact, it may have helped his teammates out beyond this season.
“I still get schools that are trying to holler at me,” McBride says. “USF, FSU, Louisville. … Some coaches still went to games to see me, but a few other players caught their eye. Like, Markese [Hargrove] with FSU.”
McBride still stands firm with his commitment to ‘Bama, which apparently has turned him into one of the hot topics of the PCHS hallways.
“People tell me I’m the most popular guy in school now, but I don’t worry about it,” he says. “People are going to talk, but I don’t worry about it.”
He just wanted to make the most out of his last opportunity to play with his high school teammates, whom he considers his “extended family.” Although the playoff game at Sickles didn’t work out as well as he and the Raiders had hoped, McBride still is pleased with the way in which the season turned out.
And his family, along with the Marines, are pleased with the way in which he turned out.
CHARACTER TEST
The tagline for the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl is as follows: “This is not an exercise. It is a test of character.” The Marines will say that, although they value athletic ability, an athlete’s character and values are critical in the selection process.
That’s what impresses Sgt. Jose Moreno, a high school recruiter in the Plant City area and someone who evaluates potential players. Although McBride’s football prowess is obvious as soon as one presses “play” on the game film, Moreno says a call to the family convinced him that Montel was a perfect candidate.
“I spoke with his grandmother on the phone a few weeks ago,” Moreno says. “We talked for 45 minutes about values, life … I just lost track of the time. She reminded me of my grandmother.”
Jeanell Vickers always has been a big part of McBride’s life, teaching him life skills from an early age.
“Friends always after family, and family always after Christ,” Vickers says. “As long as he has Christ in his life, there’s no limit to what he can do. I’m from the old school.”
When Moreno encountered McBride in person, he was impressed immediately. Even as recently as two weeks ago, the senior continued to show he was a natural fit for the bowl game.
“I was giving a presentation in one of his classes the other day, and I see Montel is about to pass out — he’s tired,” Moreno says. “He had a long day. But, he got up. He stood up and went to the back of the class so he could stay awake. That shows discipline, that he’s respectful, and I haven’t seen that in a lot of kids.”
And, as a recruiter for Plant City, Durant and Strawberry Crest high schools, Moreno encounters a lot of kids.
THE BOWL AND BEYOND
McBride is excited to talk about California. The Marines are treating him and the other players well, planning to bring the players to a Clippers game and Hollywood Studios and setting up community-service events.
“I’m very thankful for this,” McBride says. “Football has taken me to places I never expected it to.”
And, he’ll have a lot of support when he goes to Carson. Also making the trip are his mother and grandmother, his church’s pastor and even coach Wayne Ward. He has family in San Diego, who plan to drive to Carson to watch him play in person.
After that, he’ll be ready for a new chapter in Alabama. Though his family will miss having him around, they know that it’s something he needs to do.
“He needs to experience college to find out who he is,” Vickers says.
At the moment, he plans to stay all four years and get his degree in criminology to become a federal agent. He says the only way that he’d do something else right after college is if he gets selected in the NFL Draft.
But, for now, he’s just excited to go to Raymond James Stadium and be recognized. Although he claims to be a Packers fan, he’s looking forward to being with the Bucs on Sunday.
“It’ll be an experience I won’t forget,” he says.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
ABOUT THE GAME
Montel McBride will be one of three Tampa-area players honored during the third quarter of Sunday’s Bills-Buccaneers game, where he will be presented with his jersey. The Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl will be held Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The game is slated to begin at 6 p.m. PST, or 9 p.m. locally, and will be televised nationally on the Fox Sports 1 network.