Bermudian Devwah Whaley made history at Central High School in Texas when he became the first football player in the school’s history to be invited to the Under Armour All-American game.

Whaley has been invited to compete in the All-American game, the ninth annual high school showcase which is scheduled for Saturday, January 2 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

He is among 17 Texas high school players to be invited to the star-studded exhibition.

The invitation was an indication of the enormous contribution Whaley has made to Central’s football success this season.

“It’s a blessing and it means a lot to me to have this kind of support,” said Whaley, who has already been lined up for college scholarships.

Whaley is the son of Devoe Whaley, a former middle-distance runner.

“It’s a big deal to play in this game. It means [a lot], not only to me, but it shows that anyone from around here can do something big as long as you work hard for it.”

Whaley is ranked as the number three running back in the country by ESPN and remains the most coveted uncommitted recruit in Southeast Texas. He has said he intends to commit to either Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Arkansas or Oklahoma.

In his senior season, Whaley has rushed for 1,282 yards and 15 touchdowns on 205 carries.

“When I first got here I received criticism for comparing him to some of the best players I’ve ever coached, like Earl Thomas, Deon Beasley and Mark Roberts,” said Toby Foreman, the Central coach. “But I think I was accurate. He has the ‘it’ factor and his talent has always shown through. This was expected and now he’s reaping the benefits of his hard work.”

Other players who appeared in the All-American game include Julio Jones and AJ Green who have gone on to have Pro Bowl careers in the NFL.