O’Dowd’s Austin Jones ’19 is among the nation’s top 100 senior football players who received an invitation to play in the 2019 All-American Bowl, presented by American Family Insurance. The game, which will be played in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, will air live on NBC January 5, 2019, to an estimated 5 million viewers.
Jones was presented his game jersey on November 13 in a ceremony that was attended by his family, teammates, coaches, and O’Dowd faculty and staff. He is only the second O’Dowd football player to be selected for this prestigious bowl game. Camilo Eifler ’16 played in the All-American Bowl his senior year.
Over the past 19 years, the All-American Bowl has established itself as the nation’s premier high school football all-star game, featuring more than 400 players who have gone on to play in the NFL, including Pro Bowlers Andrew Luck and Odell Beckham Jr., Super Bowl Champions Percy Harvin and Jermaine Kearse and current FBS stars Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa.
“Playing in this game has been a dream of mine,” Jones said.
As a sophomore, Jones helped O’Dowd win a CIF State Division 5-AA title, and rushed for 1,967 yards and 27 touchdowns during the season. As a junior, he averaged 10.8 yards per carry, and finished the season with 1,560 rushing yards, 23 rushing touchdowns, 15 receptions for 368 yard, and four receiving touchdowns. The Stanford commit is also a three-time All-North Coast Section Academic Award recipient.
Head varsity football coach Napoleon Kaufman, a former NFL running back who still holds the Oakland Raiders single game rushing record with 227 yards, said Jones is special.
“When Austin came in as a freshman we immediately saw his talent, drive, commitment and focus – not only on the football field but in the classroom,” Kaufman said of the four-year starter. “He’s been a model since he stepped foot on campus and I am so proud of him.”