Pope John Paul II’s Kevin Heywood Named to All-American Bowl

UPPER PROVIDENCE >> Kevin Heywood, a Pope John Paul II senior and standout two-way lineman on the gridiron, received and formally accepted his invitation to the All-American Bowl at a ceremony at the school Wednesday afternoon.

The All-American Bowl is an annual contest featuring America’s top 100 high school football players at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Tex. The teams are divided into East and West squads, and the game will be nationally televised on NBC at 1 p.m. on January 6, 2024.

“I’ve been playing football since first grade,” said Heywood. “Even then, I’d see pictures of players in All-American jerseys, and it became a dream of mine. It’s amazing to be here today.”

Heywood, a 6-foot-8, 315-pound offensive and defensive lineman, was instrumental in PJP’s 12-1 season this fall, culminating in the school’s first-ever Pioneer Athletic Conference championship and a District 1 title.

After transferring from Archbishop Wood in the offseason, Heywood anchored PJP’s offensive line at right tackle while manning the nose guard position on defense.

“This doesn’t happen by accident,” said PJP head coach Scott Reed. “Kevin has put a ton of research into his own recruitment. He works extremely hard, gets up at crazy hours to complete certain workouts.

“He went to camp after camp, performed well and these coaches love him.”

Heywood is committed to the University of Wisconsin and plans to formally sign with the Badgers on December 20. He projects as an offensive tackle at the college level.

His plan is to enroll early at Wisconsin and report to the university on January 13. So the All-American Bowl may be the highlight, but it’s not the only thing on Heywood’s schedule over the next month or so.

“I’m still training twice a day, staying in touch with the coaches, and just trying to learn everything so I can be ready to go once I get there,” he said.

Since 2000, the All-American Bowl has attracted top high school football players from around the nation as both an All-Star Game and a celebration of outstanding high school football careers.

By playing in the game, Heywood will be eligible for a number of individual awards including the All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, the Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, and the All-American Bowl MVP Award.

“We’ve had many successful players who’ve been a part of making us a successful program,” said Tracey Rarich, athletic director at Pope John Paul II. “But Kevin’s impact, his reputation really put a spotlight on Pope John Paul II, proving that we are a school that can compete at the highest levels.

“I can’t thank Kevin and his family enough for trusting that Pope John Paul II would put him in a place where he would be successful.”