Brampton’s Josh Palmer excels at U.S. college football showcase

Brampton’s Josh Palmer made a strong statement for a professional career after he scored a touchdown and impressed scouts during his performance at the college football Senior Bowl on Saturday.

The annual all-star game for top U.S. college players, and the practices leading up to the contest, are considered to be one of the final proving grounds for elite young athletes before they head into the National Football League draft this spring.

Palmer, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound receiver for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, hauled in one of his two receptions in the game for the touchdown as his American squad defeated the National team by a score of 16-13.

But it was his performance during practice drills all last week that really caught the attention of NFL scouts. Many analysts said he was one of the stars of the showcase which could propel him into a high draft position.

Palmer got his start as a 6-year-old with the minor football Brampton Bulldogs and came into his own while attending St. Roch Catholic Secondary School where he also excelled in basketball and track. He finished off high school in Florida to prepare for his football career.

He finishes off his college football career at Tennessee with 96 catches for 1,459 and seven touchdowns.

(University of Tennessee photo)