The sweepstakes for Shahn Alston’s college football services is over. But everyone is going to have to wait until Jan. 11 to find out who the four-star running back from Harvey picks. Alston, a junior, has been chosen to play in the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 11. At halftime he will announce his college intention among the final eight finalists he listed last month — USC, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan State, Florida, Auburn, Nebraska and Missouri. I will be playing in the All American Bowl! (January 11) I also will be committing to one of these schools at Halftime! Where’s home? @AABonNBC @ChadSimmons_ @AllenTrieu @SWiltfong_ @GregSmithRivals @adamgorney @JKampf_NH pic.twitter.com/2GI7fNbLGv — Shahn Alston (@shahnalston3) December 14, 2024 In late November, Alston said he wasn’t in a rush to make a commitment. But with the Jan. 11 All-American Bowl looming, Alston said he has already made his decision, one he will keep silent until the new year. “Deep down, I already knew,” Alston told The News-Herald. “There’s no point in waiting. Why not make the announcement on the biggest stage, on TV during the All-American Bowl?” Alston said while he has made his decision, he won’t tip his hand. “It’s exciting,” the 5-foot-9, 205-pound running back said. “I can’t wait.” In the meantime, Alston is working out rigorously for the Navy All-American Bowl. Generally, all-star games feature seniors, but Alston is one of “six or seven juniors” who have been chosen to play in the game. Harvey’s Shahn Alston looks to evade a tackle Oct. 4 against West Geauga. (Barry Booher – for The News-Herald) Among his teammates in the game will be Shaker Heights senior Trey McNutt, who recently signed with Oregon. “It’s going to be good to get down to Texas and see where I’m at competitive-wise,” he said. “When they asked me, I know I’m only a junior, but it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. These are the guys I’m going to be competing against in a few years. Why not get a feel now what it’s going to be like?” Alston is rated as a four-star (out of five) recruit by 247Sports as the seventh-ranked running back in the nation for the Class of 2026. He is rated four stars by ESPN.com, four stars by on3.com and three stars by rivals.com. Alston finished his junior year carrying 131 times for 1,104 yards (8.4-yard average) and 16 touchdowns, while also catching 14 passes for 184 yards in only eight games. He missed the first two games of the season recovering from offseason knee surgery. “It’s crazy how fast time is going,” Alston said. “It hit me a couple of days ago. I’m playing in an all-star game I grew up watching on TV, and I’m going to make my college commitment. It makes me think about where this all started, back when I picked up a football for the first time. “I’m looking forward to getting down to Texas and playing and making my big announcement.”