Puyallup Vikings football player Josh Garnett will pack his bags in early January for a trip of a lifetime.

Garnett, who has been a starting offensive lineman for the past three years, was selected to play in the 2012 Under Armour All-America game on Jan. 5 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Garnett was showered with praise for his achievement during a ceremony last Friday morning at the Puyallup High School library, where coaches, teammates, family members and friends watched representatives from American Family Insurance present Garnett with an honorary game jersey which commemorated his selection.

Garnett’s father, Scott, who played in the National Football League from 1984-1987 with the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills, beamed with pride following the ceremony.

“This the ultimate reward for all the hard work and dedication he has put in to be recognized as one of the top players in the country,” Scott Garnett said. “More importantly, it is an opportunity for him to compete against some of the better linemen in the country and will prepare him for that next level of competition.”

Josh Garnett was modest following the festivities.

“I think it’s a great accomplishment,” he said. “I’ve never really thought of myself as some kind of spectacular, All-American football player. Playing in this game is going to be really good for me because I’m not going to be able to just toss kids and use bad technique. I think it is really going to show what kind of technique I have and show whatever I need to work on. That’s why I really want to go play in this game.

“The guys playing in the game are going to be some of the top guys who have a chance of playing defensive end at college. I can see what I need to work on and spend the next four or five months, before I actually go to college, working on honing those skills.”

Garnett is still undecided on which college he will attend next year.

“Since we’ve been in the season, I really haven’t been talking to a lot of (college football) coaches,” he said. “I’ve really been trying to focus on the team this year. We’ve made a good run, and I think we can make it a lot longer. Once the season is over, I will kick it back into gear with the recruiting (process).”

Garnett said he plans to take two official visits in the near future.

“I’m going to the Nebraska-Michigan game, and I’m also going to the Oklahoma-Iowa State game,” he said.

Puyallup High School Principal Jason Smith said that, while Garnett is one of the best high-school football players he’s ever seen, his character is even better.

“Josh is the face of our program,” Smith said. “He has great grades and is a 3.89 (GPA) student who wants to go into medicine. He’s a phenomenal individual with character, integrity and who is a leader on this campus.

“I think, as dads, we all want our sons to be great athletes, but when I talk to my son, I tell him it’s important that you become the kind of person Josh Garnett is. I tell him that’s what you want to aspire to be.”