NATCHEZ — Natchez High School senior Amos James III knows the honor he received earlier this month, and he is excited about the opportunity to show he is deserving.

James, along with junior teammate Lee Jackson III, was selected to participate in the National Underclassmen Combine All-American Game Dec. 22 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

“I was very excited,” he said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Only a few people get to participate. This is a big thing for me.”

The game will be James’ final as a prep football player, and it will give him one more chance to share a football experience with Jackson.

“It’s good to have him coming,” he said. “We are really close. He’s like a brother, and I’m glad he’ll be there having my back.”

Jackson is just a junior and will play in his own All-American game, but he is glad to share the week with James.

“There ain’t nothing like it,” he said. “We’re going to have a lot of fun. It will be good to have somebody that I know.”

Only 100 players across the country in each grade are selected to compete in the game. James will play in the senior game at 6 p.m. on Dec. 22 Jackson will play in the junior scrimmage at 2 p.m.

James said he is happy for his younger teammate to earn the honor.

“I’m very proud for him,” he said. “We’ve been working together hard all year.”

The postseason honor caps off a senior season filled with high points for James, he said.

“We achieved a lot of our goals this year,” he said.

James is excited about the level of competition he will face in South Carolina, he said.

“It will be a good matchup,” he said. “I’m just going to go work hard. It will be very intense, and I think it’s very important to take a win.”

James and Jackson will represent the South region in their games.

Jackson said he realizes how big of an opportunity the game will be.

“I’m proud that I made it,” he said. “To be one of 50 players selected in the South out of however many possible is a great honor.”

Both players will play cornerback in their games, and Jackson said he hopes to learn a lot about playing his position during the practices leading up to his scrimmage.

“It’s hard to play defensive back,” he said. “I just hope to pick up some new things and drills that I can take with me and use for my own.”

The Bulldogs will leave for Myrtle Beach Saturday and start practice Dec. 18.