NORCROSS, Ga. -- ESPN 300 cornerback Micah Abernathy was presented with his Under Armour All-America Game jersey Friday afternoon in a ceremony sponsored by American Family Insurance. The ceremony took place in front of family, friends, teammates, classmates and school faculty on the campus of Greater Atlanta Christian School.
Being selected to play in the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game is a humbling experience for Abernathy.
"Of course, you have to think about the competition aspect of who got selected for the Under Armour Game," Abernathy said. "I know a lot of players that wanted to get selected but didn’t, and I know they are great players, too. For me to be selected to the Under Armour All-America Game is a humbling experience."
For Greater Atlanta Christian School head coach Tim Hardy, it’s a big day for his star player, the school and community.
"It really is exciting," Hardy said. "You look at the Under Armour Game and it’s elite. It really is premier. To have one of our players there ... first and foremost we are excited for Micah. He’s a tremendous young man and obviously a fantastic player, but just a real quality young man that represents so many of the ideals that we want in our young men today. In addition to that, he can really run. We are also excited for our school. To have ESPN and Under Armour on our campus, and to have the opportunity for Micah to go and have this experience and what it means for our program, the whole team walks a little bit taller today."
While Abernathy will play defensive back in college, Hardy has got the chance to watch a dynamic playmaker up close for the past three years.
"The word is used a lot, but he is really dynamic. He can just make things happen. He’s going to be a DB in college, that is where his passion is, but he’s our running back and a really good one. With the ball in his hands, he’s explosive and he just makes things happen. When he runs, he sort of glides, but is not a long-strider. He just cruises above the turf, which allows him to put his foot in the dirt and change direction full speed and really quick."
Abernathy’s growth on and off the field has been aided by attending Greater Atlanta Christian School.
"GAC is definitely a family environment. I have been here four years, there are kids that have been here their whole life and I don’t feel like I’m even a step behind. It’s a community here, and that is what we pride ourselves here on. I feel like I’m in the family, and it’s a tight nit group of Christians here. It’s really cool."
Abernathy will officially visit Tennessee this weekend after making an official visit to Georgia last weekend. Though he also visited Oregon in September, his decision will come down to the two SEC East universities close to home.
Abernathy has got to attack the recruiting process in a different way than many. He can lean on his older brother, Cincinnati senior running back and return specialist Ralph David Abernathy IV, for advice and guidance.
"He’s been through it, so I get to lean on his wisdom that he gives me after visits. He basically gives me what is real and what is recruitment. He knows a lot of coaches in the coaching world, so he tells me what they are really like off the field."
Under Armour @AllAmericaGame CB Micah Abernathy speaking after receiving his 2015 game jersey. #Vols #UGA https://t.co/avPBDH0q6l
— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) October 3, 2014.
Eight questions with Micah Abernathy
What one player are you looking forward to competing against?
Abernathy: Right now, I don’t really have anybody. I’m definitely not going to back down from anybody that steps up to the line.
If you were to start a team with any other player in your class, who would it be and why?
Abernathy: I would probably go with Darius Slayton. He's one of the most competitive people I know. I’ve been around him so much that I know his competitive edge and his work ethic. I know that he’s the type of person that would go a long way for you, and I trust him.
Who is the best player to ever play in the Under Armour game that you know of?
Abernathy: Julio Jones. He’s just dominant. When you think of Julio Jones you think of dominance. You can’t stop him with one, you have to double-team and triple-team. He’s still going to get his yards and receptions.
What is your earliest football memory?
Abernathy: Playing park league. My mom has a picture of me when I was seven or eight doing the Heisman pose wearing No. 7 because I was a Michael Vick fan, I have that picture on my phone. That was probably my earliest memory.
Which football player did you idolize or want to be like when you were a kid?
Abernathy: I played a lot of positions when I was younger, so it was always quarterbacks. A teammate of mine and I always used to fight over who would get No. 7 or No. 5, Donovan McNabb. I got No. 7 and it’s still one of my favorite numbers to this day. Michael Vick, he just got the job done. I liked him when he was with the Falcons because it’s where I grew up, I would go to games and he just got the job done.
If you could take on any pro player in their sport, who would it be?
Abernathy: LeBron James. I feel like people are scared to go against him and whatever, and I will take on any challenge that is given. I feel like that is the biggest challenge in sports now.
What number do you wear and why?
Abernathy: I wear No. 4 now. When I was a freshman one of the seniors wore it, and he didn’t just want to give it to anybody. I didn’t know what number I wanted, and one day he told me at track practice he wanted me to wear it, and I have worm it ever since.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Abernathy: I watch Animal Planet and Discovery Channel a lot. I like the Animal Kingdom stuff and the wild a lot. I just find it really interesting.