By Josh Sigler
Tribune sportswriter
— Damon Foreman faced his fair share of tough competition during his time as a football player at Cass High School.
Nothing could prepare him, however, for the type of talent he’s seen this week.
Foreman and with Kokomo’s Braxton Shelton are set to take part in the 2010 Grange Insurance/IFCA All-Star Football Classic, which pits Indiana’s top senior grid talent against each other in a North versus South battle, after a rigorous week of practices.
“It doesn’t really compare [to IHSAA Class 2A football],” Foreman said. “I’ve played against some kids in 2A that are pretty good. I knew everyone would be this good coming in, so I wasn’t really surprised.
“I think it’s good to get some experience playing against some higher-level guys to get me ready for the fall. I’ve just been trying to keep up with everybody. All of these guys are so fast. Just seeing the speed of the game that I will be seeing in college [has helped me get prepared]. It’ll be even higher than this. It’ll help me with the transition.”
Foreman, the Kokomo Tribune All-Area Player of the Year in 2009, will play safety in tonight’s game, which is set for 7 p.m. at North Central High School in Indianapolis.
He expects to split time with two other players tonight. He had seven interceptions as a senior in the King secondary, leading them to their third-straight sectional title.
All of this, the practices and competition, will serve as a springboard into college football for Foreman, a University of Indianapolis recruit.
“It’s all football,” Foreman said. “You don’t get to go home [after practice], or anything like that. The other day, we had three practices that were all an hour and a half. It’s a lot different than regular high school practice.
“It’s been good. I’m meeting a lot of guys. There are a lot of good football players down here. It’s been a rough first couple of days with a lot of practicing, but it’s downhill from here. It’s been fun so far.”
Shelton is among a enormously-talented group of running backs that were selected for the North squad, players that include Ohio State recruit Rod Smith from Harding, as well as Lowell’s Brandon Grubbe, who ran for 5,923 yards and 80 touchdowns in his prep days before choosing to continue his career at Butler.
“It’s just going to develop me for the next level,” Shelton, a St. Francis recruit, said. “We all compete against each other and have fun together. We’re like a family almost. It’s been fun to sit here and see all the talent coming out of the North. I think I stack up pretty well.”
A bulldozer-style back with deceptive speed, Shelton ran for 1,650 yards and 32 touchdowns last season, leading the Wildkats to a 9-1 record and a North Central Conference title. His 4,182 career rushing yards and 66 career touchdowns are both school records. He feels he was overlooked in the recruiting department, and thus eager to put his talents on display tonight. He will return kicks, and play both tailback and fullback for the squad coached by Mishawaka’s Bart Curtis.
“I just want to go and show what I can do in a lot of areas,” Shelton said. “I just want to go out and have fun.
“I’ve had a great time. Coach Curtis and the entire staff has been great. I would like to thank the people that elected me as an All-Star, and gave me an opportunity to play in this game.”
