Pair of Kansas products named to high school football All-American game

Two Kansas high school football players have been selected to compete in the 2019 All-American Bowl.

Wichita Northwest senior running back Breece Hall and Blue Valley North quarterback Graham Mertz will play in the noon showcase on Jan. 5 in San Antonio. Each year, only 100 players from across the U.S. are named to the All-American Bowl rosters.

Since the All-American Bowl was created 19 years ago, it has produced 380 NFL draft picks, 134 Pro Bowl selections, 52 Super Bowl champions and 16 Heisman Trophy finalists.

Hall is a three-star prospect, according to many recruiting outlets, and is verbally committed to Iowa State. He holds offers from Kansas State, Nebraska, Michigan and 13 others.

Although he is verbally committed, in July, Hall said he still considers his recruitment open and received a scholarship offer from Baylor on Oct. 23.

So far in the 2018 season, Hall has rushed for 1,336 yards and 129 carries for 10.4 yards per attempt. He has scored 25 total touchdowns and has Northwest into the Class 5A regionals against Emporia on Friday.

Mertz has been pegged as a four-star recruit by many outlets and is verbally committed to Wisconsin. He holds offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and 15 other schools.

Mertz was informed of his invitation to the All-American Bowl in July.

Through Week 8, Mertz led Kansas with 2,156 passing yards in just six games after suffering an ankle injury midseason. Mertz and the Mustangs are the defending Class 6A champions and are 6-3 ahead of their 2018 regional matchup against Shawnee Mission South on Friday.