Rasco named to the Army All-American game

SHREVEPORT, La. - Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian Academy is one of the more storied programs in the country. The Eagles were named the High School National Champions in 1999 and have claimed 12 Louisiana State Championships, going undefeated from 1996-1999.

There have been countless All-Americans, Division I athletes, and even guys who have gone on to the NFL who have called Evangel Christian home over the years. But Wednesday morning at an 8 a.m. ceremony, defensive end Jermauria Rasco joined only one other Eagle as a U.S. Army All-American.

"It's an honor to be chosen as an Army All-American," Rasco said. "I give God all the praise and honor. It's a privilege and I just thank him for it."

The 6-3, 237-pound defensive end was announced as a member of the 2011 West squad in front of a packed gymnasium on the Evangel Christian campus. He did not know what to expect of the morning, but as the announcement grew closer, he began to see.

"I slept well last night but when I woke up this morning and came to practice and saw the truck here I started getting nervous," he said. "Then when I walked into the gym, I got even more nervous than I was before. I'm doing good right now though."

Rasco is one of 90 elite high school football players selected to the Army All-American game, and is ranked No. 121 in the Rivals250. He is taking his first official visit this weekend to Florida St. and is taking the recruiting process in stride.

"As of right now it's still kind of slow motion," Rasco said. "I've learned how to take control of the process so I'm just slowly taking my time with everything and I'm probably going to make my decision on signing day."

As a member of the Army All-American squad, Rasco joins an alumni list which includes the likes of NFL defensive linemen Chris Long, Victor Abiamiri, Tommie Harris and Haloti Ngata, and he is looking forward to learning and growing with his fellow All-American honorees.

"I just want to have fun with all the other top players around the nation, and just try to get to know them better and build a relationship with them so we can talk throughout college," he said. "I just want to go out there and enjoy my time and do my thing in the game and come out as the most improved player."

Rasco and his fellow Army All-Americans will take the field for the Army All-American Bowl on January 8, 2011. The game will be televised nationally on NBC. He will be the second Eagle to suit up for the game, joining quarterback Brent Rawls, who played in the 2001 game.

Rasco is Evangel Christian's leading tackler with 57 tackles, 14 sacks, an interception and four fumble recoveries in 2010.