Anthony Backer is hoping May 26, 2023 is a special day.
"I am really excited and I want to stand out as much as I can," he said.
"I want to represent my family, my town and my school."
The 16-year-old St.Joseph-Scollard Hall football player has been selected as one of the top 70 high school football players in the country and will be playing in the CFC Prospects Game in Ottawa next Friday for the game that will be televised nationally on TSN at 11 a.m.
Backer, who is a defensive back, had to get through a pair of tryouts to eventually be named to the all-star roster.
"I had to wait to find out if I was going to be one of the top 70 because they had to handpick from hundreds of kids across the country that did their camps and had to move on from phase two," he said.
"It was a bit of a process but it all worked out."
The 5'9", 150-pound teen who will be going into grade 12 at Scollard this fall, believes the best part of his game is his brain.
"I think my brain is my best asset," he said confidently.
"I have been studying defensive backs for four or five years and I understand both sides of the ball. I understand offence and defence so I am able to see what is going on and read the plays, read the field and I understand things that go on."
Backer also believes he pays attention to detail.
"I watch the little things," he said.
"I watch what receivers do, how they line up. If they adjust their gloves they are getting a ball. I am good at seeing those little things and I am smart with it."
Backer will be playing summer football in Sudbury this year as the local team for his age group within the North Bay Bulldogs program is not operating this summer.
"I had a fun time in North Bay but it was cut short," said Backer.
"I did not get to do all that I wanted to do so I figured making the move to Sudbury would be a smart choice since I will be getting more playtime, better exposure with a better team and I really get to show up and get better coaching."
Backer does thank longtime Bulldogs coach and organizer Christa Morgan for her efforts over the past few years as well as Scollard Hall coach Kyle Quinlan for helping with his development.
"Christa Morgan has always been there supporting me and she has been like my football mother," he said.
Backer also says his older sister, Giulia, who went to Laurentian University on a soccer scholarship in 2020 and now attends Western, has been a strong influence as well.
"She has helped me for sure," he said about his sister.
"She is telling me,'did you watch film? Are you still working out?' so yes she is definitely a big factor with helping me out with everything."
Backer will play on Team Stegall coached by the longtime Winnipeg Blue Bombers former star receiver. He is hoping this game will help garner attention from college football scouts in Canada and the U.S.
"I'd like to get options from NCAA Division One schools but if that does not happen I am very interested in playing USports football," he said.
"I would love to play in the OUA, and play at one of the bigger schools and that is the goal."
