Khairi Fortt made it official this afternoon: he will be spending the next four years playing football at Penn State. He made the announcement in the Stamford High School gymnasium, during a ceremony in which the linebacker was officially selected to play in and awarded his jersey for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
While most people have been excited to see a local player have the opportunity to play at one of the country’s elite programs, Fortt has also been the subject of a lot of criticism both from skeptics who have wondered if he is good enough to play at that level — he is the No. 2 high school prospect at his position according to some scouting services — and accused him of being overly cautious since being sidelined by an injury to his right knee in the season opener against Ridgefield.
I spent some time with Fortt prior to today’s event, when Fortt told me why he selected Penn State and answered his doubters.
Congratulations Khairi! This is such a tremendous honor and I am very proud that Stamford High School opened their doors to share your exciting moment with the community at large. Your mother’s speech was inspiring and I hope that at least one person walked away from your invitation to the All-American Bowl with a story to share of what someone can accomplish through hard work and dedication.
Comment by TNT — October 5th, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
Khairi- you are a wonderful role model to all kids in this community, you have demonstrated excellence in the classroom, community service, and on the football field. 37 full scholarships is quite an accomplishment, and Penn State is a great choice. Congratulations to you. It’s unfortunate many Stamford High School teachers did not recognize the value in this honor and denied their students the opportunity to experience this event.
Comment by Sandy — October 6th, 2009 @ 8:49 am