Sixty (60) of the nation’s best high school freshmen and sophomore football players have been selected to the U.S. Under-16 National Team, which will compete against Canada in the 2016 International Bowl on Friday, Feb. 5, at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is 1 p.m. CT.

Four high school-aged U.S. National Teams will compete against national teams from Canada in the seventh annual International Bowl series. U.S. Select Teams at the high school and junior high level also will compete as part of the series.

The U.S. Under-16 head coach is Tom Bainter, who has been a high school football head coach in the Seattle area for 18 years, including the last 15 years at Bothell High School, where he led the 2014 Cougars to the school’s first state championship. His teams also have twice finished state runners-up. A health and physical education teacher, Bainter served as the head coach for the 2015 Under-15 U.S. National Team and the running backs coach for the 2009 U.S. Under-19 National Team, which won a gold medal at the IFAF Under-19 World Championship in Canton, Ohio.

U.S. rosters and coaching staffs will be announced throughout November and December and available on www.internationalbowl.com. Canadian rosters will be announced in early 2016.

The games are a collaboration of the sport’s national governing bodies in each country – USA Football and Football Canada – featuring top student-athletes in high school football’s greatest annual international competition.

The event will feature a week of practices and activities for each team, culminating in internationally sanctioned competitions. The schedule includes:

(All times CT)

Sunday, Jan. 31

• U.S. Under-19 National Team vs. Canada Under-19 National Team, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 3

• U.S. Under-14 Select Teams: Stars vs. Stripes, 1 p.m.
• U.S. Under-15 Select Teams: Stars vs. Stripes, 4 p.m.
• U.S. Under-18 National Team vs. Canada Under-18 National Team, 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 5

• U.S. Under-16 National Team vs. Alberta Under-16, 1 p.m.
• U.S. Under-18 Select Team vs. Ontario Under-18, 4 p.m.
• U.S. Under-17 National Team vs. Ontario Under-17, 7 p.m.

Single-day general admission tickets are $10. Single-game sideline passes, which include access to the field club, are $50. Games also will be broadcast throughout the United States.

“This is an exciting opportunity for these young men to represent their country on the football field and learn from top coaches while working alongside the best athletes in their grade levels,” USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck said. “To play on the same field as the Dallas Cowboys will make this a memorable experience for our coaches, athletes and their families.”

“I’m looking forward to this extraordinary opportunity to lead some of the finest young athletes in our nation and represent our country on the football field,” Bainter said. “It’s rare to get play for your country in a sport you love. To be able to do it in football, America’s most popular sport, is truly special.” 

The NCAA recognizes USA Football’s International Bowl as a national team competition. Playing for the United States in the International Bowl is exempt from high school seniors’ two all-star game appearances. USA Football and Football Canada are among the 71 national federations who are members of IFAF. IFAF’s member nations span six continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America.

2016 U.S. Under-16 National Team roster

 

Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	High school	Hometown
Jared Ables	DB	6-0	190	Foothill	Henderson, Nev.
Justin Allen	QB	5-10	145	Tuscarora	Leesburg, Va.
Cayde Anderson	DL	5-7	210	Harris County	Fortson, Ga.
Max Barnett	DL	6-0	262	Old Bridge	Old Bridge, N.J.
DeAnte Bernard	WR	5-11	155	Highland	Albuquerque, N.M.
Kyle Bilodeau	TE	6-4	220	Woodberry Forest	Mechanicsville, Va.
Jonny Bottorff	DL	6-3	255	Notre Dame	Quincy, Illi.
A.J. Brown	RB	5-5	145	Grovetown	Grovetown, Ga.
TaShumbrae Brown	DB	5-4	125	San Marcos	San Marcos, Texas
Alex Buckmeier	DL	5-10	205	N.R.H.E.G.	New Richland, Minn.
Jose Castillo	OL	5-9	190	Cathedral Catholic	San Diego, Calif.
Sebastian Class	RB	5-7	145	Weeki Wachee	Spring Hill, Fla.
Luan Cosmo	DL	5-9	180	Sprayberry	Marietta, Ga.
Aric Davison	OL	6-3	271	Richland	Richland, Wash.
Brandon Dickerson	K-P	5-8	150	Indian Land	Fort Mill, S.C.
Jaden Dottin	WR	6-2	165	Arlington	Arlington, Mass.
Kylan Draper	DL	5-11	155	Camdenton	Camdenton, Mo.
Christian Dremel	WR	5-3	115	Don Bosco Prep	West Caldwell, N.J.
Evan Durbin	OL	6-4	275	Columbine	Littleton, Colo.
Joshua Edwards	DB	5-8	163	Milton	Alpharetta, Ga.
Bailey Elder	DL	6-5	290	Stadium	Tacoma, Wash.
Michael Erhart	WR	6-1	175	Oaks Christian	Westlake Village, Calif.
Jake Galli	LB	5-11	185	Gonzaga College	Arlington, Va.
Joel Girtman, Jr.	DB	5-8	160	Westlake	College Park, Ga.
Frank Grant	DL	5-10	240	Old Bridge	Old Bridge, N.J.
Garrett Graves	DB	5-8	130	Nevada Union	Grass Valley, Calif.
Matt Greenwald	DB	6-1	160	Fairview	Boulder, Colo.
Dylan Hawk	WR	5-8	155	Lutheran St. Charles	Washington, Mo.
Nyquee Hawkins	WR	6-0	175	Orange	Newark, N.J.
Grant Hutchison	LB	5-10	175	Versailles	Versailles, Mo.
Jalen Jackson	WR	6-1	175	Hillgrove	Powder Springs, Ga.
Benjamin Kaufer	DL	6-1	190	Serrano	Phelan, Calif.
Will Kuehne	QB	6-1	175	Liberty Christian	Westlake, Texas
Elie Maurice	DL	6-3	175	Seton Hall Prep	West Orange, N.J.
Edward Maxwell III	LB	5-11	165	Centreville	Centreville, Va.
Jalen Mayden	QB	6-2	205	Sachse	Rowlett, Texas
Ethan T. Negron	DB	5-5	122	War Memorial	Sayreville, N.J.
Bulah Nyang	OL	6-0	295	Lassiter	Marietta, Ga.
Lucas Openlander	LB	5-11	163	Sullivan	Sullivan, Mo.
Wellington Pereira	DL	6-0	205	Wayland	Wayland, Mass.
Greggory Rodgers II	LB	6-0	200	Grovetown	Grovetown, Ga.
Thomas Romig	DB	5-7	145	Honeoye Falls-Lima	Honeoye Falls, N.Y.
Mason Russell	LB	6-1	195	Windermere Prep	Windermere, Fla.
Diego Sanchez	LB	6-0	185	Los Lunas	Los Lunas, N.M.
Anthony Session II	DL	6-0	194	Chaparral	Murrieta, Calif.
Nolan Smith	DL	6-2	195	Calvary Day	Savannah, Ga.
Aaron Soto	LB	5-8	170	St. Francis Central Coast Catholic	Watsonville, Calif.
Samuel Todd	OL	6-4	218	Stephen Decatur	Bishopville, Md.
Teon William Todd-Morris	DL	6-0	295	Russellville	Russellville, Ky.
Preston Toner	DL	6-0	175	Great Oak	Murrieta, Calif.
Jack Topping	DL	6-3	235	Parish Episcopal	Carrollton, Texas
Victor Vega III	LB	5-11	210	Lake Nona	Orlando, Fla.
DeOnte’ Washington	RB	6-1	205	Colorado Springs Early Colleges	Colorado Springs, Colo.
Norman Washington	OL	6-3	255	Hillsborough	Hillsborough, N.J.
Thomas Washington	WR	5-5	160	Mount Tahoma	Tacoma, Wash.
Ryan Wheaton	DL	6-1	245	Hillsborough	Hillsborough, N.J.
Jake Wooldridge	LB	5-10	165	Glenwood	Chatham, Ill.
Trey Wilson	DB	5-7	140	Montclair Kimberley	Upper Montclair, N.J.

 

2016 U.S. Under-16 National Team coaching staff

Name	Position	Hometown	School
Tom Bainter	Head coach	Bothell, Wash.	Bothell H.S.
Wayne Voorhees	Running backs	Broomfield, Colo.	Legacy H.S.
Terry Summerfield	Receivers	Barlow, Ore.	Barlow H.S.
Jim Monson	Offensive line	Bothell, Wash.	Bothell H.S.
Bill Christensen	Defensive line	Bothell, Wash.	Bothell H.S.
Matt Gegenheimer	Linebackers	Savage, Minn.	Prior Lake H.S.
Brandon Younger	Defensive backs	San Jose, Calif.	Oak Grove H.S.