Tarrant County football stars face some of nation's best

By Jarret Johnson

jmjohnson@star-telegram.com

Fort Worth Arlington Heights defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson is one of three Tarrant County high school football players from the 2013 graduating class who have achieved All-American status.

Fort Worth Southwest receiver Robbie Rhodes, a Baylor commitment, and Birdville offensive lineman Joas Aguilar, committed to Texas A&M, played in the ESPN-televised Under Armour All-America game on Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Robinson, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound Texas commitment, has spent all week in San Antonio practicing with some of the best players in the country in preparation for the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Kickoff is set for noon today at the Alamodome and will be nationally televised on NBC (KXAS/Channel 5).

"I'm excited, it's an honor to play in a game like this," Robinson said.

"I've been hanging out with the players and getting to know them. I got to know most of my team, we've just been joking around and laughing."

Robinson said his favorite part of the week has been the practices.

"We've been joking around but when it comes time to practice, we're practicing hard," Robinson said. "It's been pretty physical but not too physical. We're not trying to hurt each other."

The Arlington Heights standout wasn't the only Fort Worth native taking part in the activities this week.

Staff Sgt.Marshall Brown served as one of the U.S. Army Soldier Heroes paired with players for a variety of activities throughout the week.

Brown, who has served in the military for 12 years, lived in Fort Worth until the age of 14, when his family moved to Aledo. He eventually became a Bearcats linebacker on the 1998 Class 3A Division I state title team.

"We got to spend a lot of time Wednesday with the high school football players, got to know them, which is why we're here," said Brown, who was awarded the Air Medal with Valor in 2010 for his heroic actions in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. "We get to speak about things that matter and get to mentor the kids."

Jarret Johnson, 817-390-7760

Twitter: @JohnsonJarret

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