Sussex Tech senior to play in Blue-Grey game

Sussex Tech High School senior Teddy Letonoff will be participating in the Blue-Grey All-American Football Bowl to be played Dec. 18 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The game will be shown on ESPN3.

Letonoff, 17, is one of only 90 high school football athletes chosen from a pool of more than 7,000 nationally. He is also the only participant from Delaware this year and the first Delaware football player to participate since 2014. 

Teddy’s family has a long history in Delaware. His grandfather, artist Victor Letonoff Sr., had one of his original paintings displayed in then-Vice President Joe Biden’s official residence at the Naval Observatory; Teddy’s father, Victor Letonoff Jr., has been a police officer in Delaware for the past 19 years, and now Teddy (who is technically Victor Letonoff III) hopes to create a little history of his own at the All-American Football Bowl. His hope is that this opportunity might open the doors to a possible football scholarship in college and fulfilling a long-held dream.   

“Ever since I started playing football, I’ve hoped that I could continue through my college years,” Teddy said.

“He’s really worked for this,” said Victor Letonoff Jr. “It’s not just about talent. Teddy often gets up at 5:30 or 6 a.m. to get in an extra workout before school. He’s become highly conscious of his diet, eating to build muscle, not fat, and he’s become a more diligent student as well.”

The road to the All-American Game was also paved by determination on the part of Teddy’s parents. His mother, Karen Letonoff, drove him to the initial Blue-Grey combine in June in New Jersey, resulting in Teddy being invited to a super combine in Canton, Ohio, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Teddy had just broken his finger in practice, and the invite came only four days before the event, but Teddy and his dad hit the road, driving eight hours each way to make the event. Two months later, the invitation came to participate in the All-American Football Bowl in Dallas.

Players from all over the country are divided into East and West teams. After just two days of practice and getting to know teammates, Teddy will be playing linebacker for the East team.

“No matter what happens, this is a great opportunity,” he said. “I feel incredibly lucky and thankful to my parents and my coaches at Sussex Tech for helping me to have this chance.”