Mount Vernon senior Josh Hof has been selected to play in the 2015 Shrine Bowl game. Josh is one of 92 senior football players across the state of Iowa who will have the honor to play in this Shrine Bowl Classic. The Shrine Bowl game will take place on July 25th at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.

To date the Shrine Bowl has raised $2.6 million dollars for the Shrine Hospitals. This year the Shriners will host a mini-camp on the UNI campus to allow the football players to work with the hospital children. On this day Josh will have the chance to see what his fundraising and the game is for, helping the physically handicap children of Iowa.

Josh was a 1st Team All-State Selection in 2014. Josh earned this award playing over half of the season with an injured hand. Josh was seen dominating offensive lines and was talked about in most scouting meetings as a player they had to try and get blocked. This season Josh tallied 28 solo tackles, 25 assists, and 12 tackles for loss. Josh also played on the offensive line.

Since football season Josh has rested his hand and now some pain still lingers but he has committed himself to the weight room. Josh commented that "I knew I had to be in prime condition to face 280lbs division one recruits, and I definitely couldn't do that at 190lbs."

Josh is currently weighing 213 pounds, gaining 23 pounds since football season with a goal of 225 for the Shrine Bowl game. Josh's college plans include playing football for Simpson College and majoring in Actuary Science and Economics..

Josh will be visiting local businesses in the next month to get sponsors for his football experience and to raise money for the Shriner's Childrens Hospital's. If you would like to help Josh reach his goal of $1,000 and to help a child in need contact Coach Pedersen at lpedersen@mountvernon.k12.ia.us.

Shrine Bowl Link