Former Yelm High School linebacker Brayden Platt represented his hometown on national television in the 2024 All-American Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 6 in San Antonio, Texas.
The University of Oregon signee was one of 108 high school athletes from around the country chosen to participate in the all-star game and one of only four from Washington state.
January is a busy month for Platt, as he enrolled at UO and joined the football program. Later this month, he will travel to Hawaii for the 2024 Polynesian Bowl, another high school all-star game featuring more than 100 of the nation’s top football players. Platt is one of four Washingtonians participating in the game on Friday, Jan. 19.
Platt’s most notable play in the All-American Bowl was a fumble recovery on an onside kick attempt. He flashed his running back experience, scooping up the football in the third quarter and returning it 20 yards near the red zone. After the play, NBC showed a graphic with Platt’s name and hometown. He also appeared at middle linebacker in the second quarter and was involved in a couple of tackles on special teams.
Before the game, Platt spoke with Ducks Digest publisher Max Torres and said he enjoyed being around the caliber of talent in San Antonio.
“It’s been a lot of fun getting to know everyone and also playing against them, especially with them being better than what I usually see,” he told Torres.
Platt, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound inside linebacker, is preparing for his transition from Yelm Tornado to Oregon Duck. He said he feels prepared for the ride thanks to the development from his coaches in Yelm, namely head coach Jason Ronquillo.
“I’ve developed quite a bit, especially because coming into high school, I was playing safety or defensive lineman. I didn’t really have a position,” Platt said in the interview with Torres. “Getting to know not only schemes and reads, but also building my instincts over time, has definitely helped.”
Platt joins a 2024 signing class that ranks sixth in 247 Sports’ rankings, second in the Big Ten behind Ohio State. Oregon, led by head coach Dan Lanning, recruited the two-sport athlete early, and Platt chose the Ducks over Oklahoma. He said he is excited to join the program and the 2024 class.
“I think Oregon is in a really good spot, especially with Lanning bringing them up. I feel like he’s going to continue to build,” he said. “It’s going to be a really good group. We’re going to build each other up and push each other.”
Platt said Oregon is a special program because of its coaches and the culture they’re building in Eugene as they head to the Big Ten next season.
“The coaches can really develop people. The culture is like a family,” Platt said. “Everybody’s building each other up. There’s one goal, and everybody’s going for that same goal.”
The 2024 Polynesian Bowl airs at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 on the NFL Network. Platt will make his Oregon Ducks debut on Saturday, Aug. 31 against Idaho.
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Ducks Digest Publisher Max Torres contributed to this report
