Hope College football player Dean DeVries has accepted an invitation to play in the seventh annual Tazón de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) on Saturday, Dec. 19 in Baja, Mexico.
The senior punter from Grandville, Michigan (Grandville HS) will be on Team Stars & Stripes. DeVries is one of a record 27 NCAA Division III players on the team.
Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Don DeWaard of Central, Iowa, Teams Stars & Stripes will train at the Mexicali, UABC and CETYS University campuses in Tijuana, Mexico.
Team Stars & Stripes will take on the CONADEIP All Stars selected from the CONADEIP private universities in Mexico at the Margarita Astiazrán de Fimbres Stadium in Baja. The Tazón de Estrellas series is tied at three wins apiece.
DeVries is the Flying Dutchmen's all-time leader with a career punting average of 40.5.
DeVries averaged 40.5 yards per punt on 49 attempts as a senior. He landed 23 inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
DeVries earned All-MIAA First Team honors as a junior, sophomore and freshman and All-MIAA Second Team honors as a senior.
DeVries is one of five players from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association on the Team Stars & Stripes roster. He joins Kalamazoo defensive back Octavius Sanders and linebacker Dylan Zerki, Adrian defensive back Mitch Osadchuk and Albion offensive lineman Chris Wilson.