The U.S. National Under-19 football team includes players from all levels in across the United States who have been given the opportunity to represent their country on a world stage.

For a pair of blue chip college recruits, the experience also includes a chance to learn from some of the top coaches in the country and to improve as football players and as young men.

Bar Milo of Oak Park, Calif., and Hayden Mahoney of Malvern, Pa., are penciled in as the starting offensive tackles for the U.S.

Both young men will be beginning their senior years of high school in the fall before heading off to major college programs.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to represent my country,” Mahoney said. “It’s an honor. But I also am looking forward to working with the coaches and improve as a player. I hope to become a better football player with this experience and hopefully that will lead to more success in my senior year of high school and at the University of Miami.”

Mahoney verbally committed to join the Hurricanes after receiving more than 10 scholarship offers from FBS programs.

Milo is considering offers from 14 FBS schools, including Miami and several Pac-12 schools.

“I’m going to go on all five of my official visits before I decide which school to attend,” Milo said. “It’s crazy that I’m considering Miami and Hayden is here. I’m sure we will talk about it at some point. But my focus is on the U.S. National Team and bringing home the gold medal now. These guys are my family and my brothers.”

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THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD  Every member of the U.S team had to travel a great distance to play in the IFAF Under-19 World Championships, but Charming Launiuvao nearly traveled to the other side of the earth to compete for the USA.

His trip from his hometown of Anchorage, Alaksa, to training camp in Winchester, Va., to Kuwait was 9,905 miles by plane and traveled 11 times zones in all. The circumference of the Earth at the equator is 24,901 miles.

“It’s really neat to travel halfway around the world to play football,” said Launiuva, who is of Samoan decent. “My friends and I watched two years ago when American Samoa played in this tournament and thought it would be neat to play in it myself one day. I didn’t think it would actually come true.

“The coaches have taught me a great deal about technique and have made me a much better football player in just the first week or so. Plus I get to play with some very talented players, which will also make me better.”

After returning all the way back home from the tournament July 18, Launiuvao will spend a day with his family before reporting to training camp at Mesa (Ariz.) Community College.

“It’s going to be a crazy month, but it will be an experience I will always remember,” he said.