BA 'inducted' in special All-American Bowl ceremony
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
Brentwood Academy senior Graham Shuler on Tuesday was officially inducted by the U.S. Army, but not for active duty. Shuler, a 6’5”, 275-pound offensive tackle and four-year starter for the BA Eagles learned last week he had been selected as one of the top 90 high school football players in the nation to be invited to play in the Army All-American Bowl early next year.

Shuler, who has committed to Stanford, will wear the uniform of the East Squad.
The Army travels to each player’s school to perform a formal recognition ceremony and Tuesday was Shuler’s day. He is the only player in Middle Tennessee to be selected this year, said Lee Elder, Public Affairs liaison with the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Nashville.

Graham is the first player in BA history to be selected to play in the bowl game.

“This is something I’ve dreamed about playing in for a while, so this is a dream for me,” Shuler said during the press conference attended by friends, family, local media and most of his BA teammates. He thanked his family, his friends and “his creator” for helping him become the person he is.

“Hopefully this will put BA and Stanford on even a more national map,” he added.

Head coach Ralph Potter noted that Graham was among the class of players he started with when he arrived on the BA campus five years ago. He made note of Shuler’s leadership and mentoring skills. He said Graham was always someone younger players could go to for help and support.

As a result of Shuler being selected, Potter was also invited to travel to San Antonio and attend the U.S. Army Coaches Academy, an elite three-day learning experience featuring NFL and NCAA coaches. A previous speaking engagement, however, prevents him from being able to take part, Potter said, but he expects Coach Jason Matthews to attend in his place.

Shuler is the son of Kim Hill and Rob Shuler, who were both present for the ceremony. His younger brother Benji, a BA eighth grader, also attended.

Elder said Graham’s nomination and subsequent selection to be on the team “is a testimony to the strength and reputation of the Brentwood Academy program.”

The game will be played Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Adrian Peterson, Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Ndamukong Suh, Marcus Lattimore, and Andrew Luck all made their national debuts as U.S. Army All-Americans.
Graham’s teammate Woody Baron was also nominated. Shuler and Baron were both named as Mr. Tennessee finalists in the Div. II-AA Lineman category.