LG’s Dobbins Selected to Play In the Army All-American Bowl

His senior season was supposed to be spent piling up accolades and stats. 

But ever since he suffered a serious ankle injury and fractured fibula on his first carry of the season, La Grange star running back J.K. Dobbins has had to be content cheering on his teammates from the sidelines and waiting for his surgically-repaired body to heal.

Tuesday, however, the spotlight was back on Dobbins as a distinguished group of military representatives arrived at La Grange High School to officially invite Dobbins to play in the Jan. 7 U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome. The game will be broadcast live on NBC at noon that day. 

It is unclear whether or not his injury will allow Dobbins to actually play in the bowl game, which includes the top 90 players in the nation

Highlighted by Heisman Trophy winners and more than 200 NFL players counted among its alumni, throughout its 17 years, the game has featured the nation’s most elite football players before they reach stardom.  Just some of these alumni include: Odell Beckham Jr., Andrew Luck, Adrian Peterson, and Ezekiel Elliott

The game will come just days before Dobbins plans to enroll early at Ohio State University.

Dobbins was presented his All-American jersey in front of a group of his fellow LHS athlete and family members in the school gym.

“I want to thank my mom and my family and the coaching staff here. They made me who I am as a player,” Dobbins said. “I’d like to thank my teammates because without them I couldn’t do any of this.” 

“I’d like to thank the fans. We have great fans in La Grange ...  

“It means a lot to me to be selected an Army All-American because there are a lot of great players who played in this game.”

 Also during the ceremony it was announcned that the La Grange coaching staff has been invited to select coaching clinic held in conjunction with the bowl game and Dobbins’ mother, Mya Grounds, was presented the “Dream Champion Award.” 

Taking the podium after Dobbins, La Grange head coach Matt Kates talked of his star running back’s younger days including a message he got from an assistant coach detailing JK’s first two times touching the ball as a seventh grader.

“Two carries, 180 yards, two touchdowns,” the message read, Kates said. 

“We knew what kind of athlete he was going to become. You guys growing up with him knew that.

“But the great thing about JK is the type of young man he’s become. His character is unmatched. That’s what set him apart during the recruiting process.

“He’s a great student ... does all the things you’d  ever ask a student athlete to do. 

“It’s rare to find a kind of guy that has the talent and the work ethic that he does and that’s why he’s going to be great.

“I want him to let him know we love him and we’re proud of him. ... We’re excited to see him go out there one last time and represent the purple and gold one last time.”