Blue-Grey Jersey Presentation Tour: Kade Warner

Big Sky Conference target Kade Warner and NFL veteran father Kurt Warner recently took part in a stop on the nationwide Blue-Grey Jersey Presentation Tour. (Photo Credit: Steven Paluch)

Contrary to what some of the country’s so-called experts claim, there is no shortage of college-ready recruits in the Grand Canyon State. The talent pool is deep, in fact. More so than in year’s past.

Perhaps that best explains the increased number of stops on the recent nationwide Blue-Grey Jersey Presentation Tour, including one for Kade Warner and Rourke Freeburg from Desert Mountain (AZ).

NFL veteran Mark McMillian was on hand to recognize the senior tandem. Worth mentioning, fellow one-time professional Kurt Warner was in attendance as well, naturally to support his son, Kade.

Warner and Freeburg will soon line up for the West vs. East in the brand’s All-American Bowl on Dec. 22 at Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in game featuring the country’s top prospects in the Class of 2017.

Two other games also take place: Jan. 14 at Jacksonville Jaguars’ EverBank Field and Jan. 21 at Oakland Raiders’ Coliseum. The action will be nationally televised on ESPN3 or the Impact Football Network.

“It’s time to stop sleeping on Arizona, the athletes out here can play, Kade and Rourke are getting the job done too,” said McMillian, undefeated and three-time winning coach of the All-American Bowl.

When it comes to the next level, Warner has options. An offer could come soon for the 6-2 and 205-pound wide receiver, who has been in contact with the Pac-12 Conference and Big Sky Conference.

Same thing can be said about Freeburg. The 6-2 and 200-pound defensive back has a scholarship from North Dakota, and similar to Warner, Northern Arizona appears to be another possible destination.

The varied levels of interest from colleges is not a surprise given the fact that Warner and Freeburg helped to make a name for themselves at the brand’s All-American Combine (Desert Regional) in April.

The plan moving forward for both seems rather simple: Build on the momentum gained by receiving invites to the upcoming All-American Bowl and put a collective best foot forward during the game.

“This is it, once December rolls around, it’ll be time for Kade and Rourke to shine on the national stage and help put Arizona football on the map,” McMillian said. “I’m pulling for them. I’m in their corner.”