USA Football announces U.S. Under-18 National Team for International Bowl IX at AT&T Stadium

By Brent Glasgow | Posted 12/27/2017

Fifty-one high school student-athletes across 24 states have been selected for the 2018 U.S. Under-18 National Team, which will compete against the Under-18 Football Canada Team on Jan. 17 at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys and college football’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl. Kickoff is 8 p.m. Central Time (9 p.m. Eastern).

International Bowl IX features 24 high school and middle school-aged teams across eight nations on three continents. U.S. National Teams will compete against squads representing Canada, Japan, Mexico and the Nordic region, comprised of players and coaches from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

RELATED CONTENTUSA Football announces U.S. Under-17 National Team for International Bowl IX at AT&T Stadium

Matt Gegenheimer, 13-year head coach at Prior Lake High School (Savage, Minnesota), will lead the U-18 National Team. In 2011, Gegenheimer guided the Lakers to their first state tournament appearance in program history. Prior Lake returned to the state playoffs in 2012, 2014 and this past season. Gegenheimer is a USA Football regional master trainer, teaching important health and safety protocols and proper on-field technique to coaches nationwide.

“It is a great honor to lead our Under-18 National team comprised of extraordinary student-athletes,” Gegenheimer said. “The U.S. National Team program continues to elevate itself year after year, and I look forward to continuing its rich tradition and proudly representing the United States this January.”

RELATED CONTENTUSA Football announces U.S. Under-16 National Team for International Bowl IX at AT&T Stadium

U.S. National Team alumni include wide receivers Corey Coleman (Cleveland Browns) and Devin Funchess (Carolina Panthers), running backs Todd Gurley (Los Angeles Rams) and Samaje Perine (Washington Redskins), defensive back Tyrann Mathieu (Arizona Cardinals), offensive lineman Jack Mewhort (Indianapolis Colts), defensive end Stephon Tuitt (Pittsburgh Steelers) and quarterback Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

All International Bowl games will be played at AT&T Stadium. Game days are Friday, Jan. 12; Wednesday, Jan. 17; and Friday, Jan. 19,  with each day consisting of four games.

Broadcast information for all 12 games will be announced in advance. International Bowl game tickets and additional details are available at internationalbowlix.org.

USA Football will announce the remaining National and Select teams in the coming days.

Here’s a look at this year’s U-18 roster and coaching staff, presented by SquadLocker:

2018 U.S. Under-18 National Team roster:

(NOTE: Players listed alphabetically, but six late additions to the roster are added at the end)

NAME

POS.

HT.

WT.

HOMETOWN

HIGH SCHOOL

Justin Allen

QB

5-10

165

Leesburg, Va.

Tuscarora

Josh Barlow

WR

6-3

190

Fort Smith, Ark.

Greenwood

Jack Bibb

LS

602

175

Richmond, Texas

Foster

Sam Bissen

RB

5-11

207

Stillwater, Minn.

St. Croix Prep

A.J. Brown

RB

5-6

155

Grovetown, Ga.

Harlem

D.J. Bullard

OL

6-4

300

Fenton, Mo.

Rockwood Summit

Domonick Burkes

DB

5-9

165

Kansas City, Mo.

Hogan Prep

Mason Cadorette

DL

6-2

245

Rehoboth, Mass.

Dighton-Rehoboth

Colten Curry

TE

6-7

220

Valier, Mont.

Valier

A.J. DeSantis        

OL

6-4

287

Endwell, N.Y.

Maine-Endwell

Brandon Dickerson

K/P

5-11

185

Fort Mill, S.C.

Indian Land

Christian Dremel

 

WR

5-10

162

West Caldwell, N.J.

Don Bosco Prep

Garrett Dunn-Ford

DL

6-2

260

Chantilly, Va.

Freedom

Joseph Evans

DL

6-4

230

Williston, N.D.

Williston

Ryan Guerrero

 

LB

6-1

195

Chandler, Ariz.

Hamilton

Konnor Gomness

OL

6-4

260

Lemoore, Calif.

San Joaquin Memorial

Avaughn Holley

DB

6-1

190

Pomfret, Md.

McDonough

Joseph Horn

OL

6-2

280

Hamilton, N.J.

Notre Dame

Caleb James

OL

6-5

295

Des Moines, Iowa

East

Colton Jacquinot

DB

6-1

165

Rocklin, Calif.

Marysville

Mykal Johnson

DL

6-3

250

Los Angeles

Dorsey

Tanner Jonassen

OL

6-3

280

Ottawa, Ill.

Marquette

Santiago Messmacher

OL

6-3

295

Miami

Palmer Trinity

Tanner Moore

DB

6-2

182

Shawnee, Kan.

Mill Valley

 

Christopher Pendleton

TE

6-3

230

Savannah, Ga.

Savannah Country Day

D’Sean Perry

DL

6-4

215

Miami

Gulliver Prep

Kimani Quade

DB

5-9

165

Eugene, Ore.

Sheldon

Noah Quier

OL

6-4

320

Bradenton, Fla.

IMG Academy

Derek Reese

TE

6-4

215

Logandale, Nev.

Moapa Valley

James Rhodes III

WR

6-1

180

Spartanburg, S.C.

Byrnes

Greggory Rodgers II

LB

6-1

225

Grovetown, Ga.

Grovetown

Kole Rodriguez

DB

5-9

152

Crystal Beach, Texas

High Island

Trey Rucker

DB

6-0

185

Fairfax, Va.

Flint Hill

Cody Russell

RB

5-11

230

Portage, Ind.

Portage

Jalon Spencer

QB

6-4

190

Waldorf, Md.

Westlake

Cole Thomas

OL

6-7

260

Bellevue, Wash.

Bishop Blanchet

Jared Thompson

WR

6-3

195

Columbia, Mo.

Tolton Catholic

Brian Ugwu

LB

6-3

205

Hillside, N.J.

Hillside

Tyler Van Dyke

QB

6-4

205

Glastonbury, Conn.

Suffield Academy

Darius Waddell

DB

6-0

160

Jacksonville, Ark.

Sylvan Hills

Elijahuan Warfield

DB

5-9

170

North Las Vegas, Nev.

Legacy

Treyton Welch

WR

6-3

195

Buffalo, Minn.

Buffalo

Brandon Westberg

OL

6-4

270

Cambridge, Minn.

Cambridge Isanti

Hunter Williams

WR

6-0

155

Fayetteville, Ga.

Whitewater

Jaymason Willingham

LB

6-3

220

Olympia, Wash.

Steilacoom

Jarrett Naas

DL

5-10

235

Evansville, Ind.

F.J. Reitz

Elliott Wolfe

DL

6-2

295

Noel, Mo.

McDonald County 

Bishop Guzman

DL

5-10

305

San Antonio

Highlands

Brodrick Howard

LB

6-3

220

San Angelo, Texas

Bishop Dunne Catholic

C.J. Barlow
LB 6-0 220 Katy, Texas Obra D. Tompkins

Nicholas Kartsounis

OL

6-4

265

Middleton, Mass.

Masconomet

2018 U.S. Under-18 National Team coaching staff:

NAME

POSITION

SCHOOL

Matt Gegenheimer

Head Coach

Savage (Minn.)

Prior Lake

Mark Solis

Offensive Coordinator

Lewis Center (Ohio) Olentangy

Bill Williams

Defensive Coordinator

Holdenville (Okla.)

Fred Biletnikoff Jr.

Wide Receivers

Livermore Valley (Calif.)

David Blevins

Running Backs

Locust Grove (Okla.)

Bill Bradley

Safeties

Retired NFL player and coach (Texas)

Bill Laveroni

Offensive Line

Retired NFL Coach (Calif.)

Tom Menke

Linebackers

Savage (Minn.)

Prior Lake

Lamont Robinson

Defensive Backs

Washington Township (N.J.)

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