Football: Bartok will take part in Blue-Gray All-American Game
Jordan Bartok's favorite colors, for obvious reasons, are Purple and White.
Come January of 2018, the Harrisburg High School senior will don is second favorite colors, Blue and Gray.
Bartok will be part of the Blue-Gray All-American Bowl Game on January 13 at EverBank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, in Jacksonville, Florida.
Bartok was one of 400 players to take part in the Bowl Game, that will be streamed live on ESPN.
There will be two other Blue-Gray All-American Bowl Games in Dallas and one in Tampa Bay. Bartok's selection to play in Jacksonville came from a June combine in DeLand, Florida at Stetson University.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Harrisburg linebacker took part in the Blue-Gray Super Combine at Spec Martin Memorial Field in DeLand, Florida, a combine that closely resembles the NFL combine, but for prep athletes, judges players on their 40-yard dash time, vertical jump, broad jump and how many reps they can bench at 185 pounds, as well as, a 1-on-1 passing drill.
Bartok's shuttle time at the event in the Sunshine State was 4.62 and at 185-pounds, Bartok had 20 reps on the bench. His broad jump was eight feet and his 40-yard dash time was 4.99.
In the addition, Bartok and members of the staff did numerous 1-on-1 drills.
Bartok said he will play the linebacker position at in the All-American game and considers it a great honor.
"They chose from over 6,000 players from across the country, but only the the top 400 get to play in it. It's a pretty elite list of players and I consider myself blessed to be a part of it."
As a linebacker, Bartok said his speed and hands are what has given him the edge over most of the competition.
"I've got good speed and because most linebackers are heavier, I have the speed and the hands to get past them in drills."
Those drills have been refined as Bartok has attended numerous camps throughout the summer. The most recent will be this weekend at Eastern Illinois University, but previously, Bartok has been to Murray State, Missouri, Southeast Missouri State, McKendree and SIU.
And despite no offers from any of those schools, Bartok knows this senior year will be one of great importance.
"Working with those coaches at these camps have really enhanced my skills. I take the time to talk to their position coach and learn the drills so that I can take that back with me to continue getting better."
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Register, Eldorado Journal & The Gallatin County Democrat. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.