Andy Bauer To Get Under Armour Jersey Friday

A nationwide tour of high schools across the country comes to Creve Coeur Friday morning, when representatives of the Under Armour All-America High School Football Game come to De Smet Jesuit to present senior offensive lineman Andy Bauer with his jersey for the game. The nation's top players will be featured in the contest, to be played Jan. 2 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL and televised on ESPN.

Bauer is the top-rated player in the class of 2014 from the state of Missouri and has made a verbal pledge to play at Mississippi.

It isn't clear how much Bauer, who is out for his senior season because of surgery to correct a congenital hip defect, will participate in activities surrounding the game.

"I feel great, moving around really well. Surgery went very well. it wasn't really as bad as it was made out to be in the media," he said after watching his Spartans defeat Vianney Friday night, despite an outstanding performance from another Mississippi target, running back Markel Smith.

Bauer said he was on a bike the day he had surgery and has already started water jogging, part of what he called an "aggressive protocol."

The time off the field has been tough for Bauer, who said he's played football since he was five years old. The experience has forced him to see the game from a different perspective, while also being supportive of his team.

"He's a very emotional young man," Spartan Head Coach Pat Mahoney said of Bauer coming to grips with not playing in his senior season. "He's a kid who's really passionate about his sport."

"It's tough. Yeah, not going to lie, it's really hard," Bauer said. "But at least I can be there for my teammates and help them. That's all that matters, being a good teammate."