Four years of desire and hard work came to a historic head Tuesday afternoon for D.K. Metcalf.

Oxford’s standout senior receiver was presented with his 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl jersey during a ceremony at the Oxford High School gymnasium as part of the bowl’s selection tour. Metcalf, who will be a member of the East team, will be one of 90 top prep players nationwide to participate in the annual game, which will be played Jan. 9 at noon local time at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

But the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Metcalf is the first Oxford player ever to represent the school in the game.

“It feels great just to know that I was the first one,” Metcalf said. “It’s real great and just a major honor.”

Metcalf, an Ole Miss commit, has been starring for the Chargers’ varsity team since his freshman season. It was then that he found out how big the game was and some of its past participants, which include NFL stars Adrian Peterson, Andrew Luck, Jamaal Charles and Odell Beckham Jr. Metcalf is one of two Mississippians who will play in next year’s game, joining Noxubee County defensive end Jeffery Simmons.

“In the ninth grade, I had something in my head that said you can’t stop working,” Metcalf said. “Ever since then, when I heard about the game, I’ve been trying to make it ever since.

“I just thank God. It feels great. Just to be called a U.S. Army All-American, it’s a dream come true.”

Watching Metcalf slip on the jersey for the first time was also a treat for his family, including his father, Terrence Metcalf, who knows a thing or two about being highly sought after in the prep ranks. Much like his son, Terrence was one of if not the top recruit coming out of Mississippi during his senior season at Clarksdale before turning into an All-American offensive lineman at Ole Miss and a Super Bowl champion with the Chicago Bears.

“It’s just a blessing from God, man, just to see his name being called with some other elite guys in the country,” the older Metcalf said.

Oxford coach Johnny Hill, who’s in his 20th season with the Chargers, said he couldn’t think of a better selection for Oxford’s first representative.

“He’s one of the top receivers in the nation,” Hill said. “If there’s one better, I’d like to see him.”

Metcalf is a consensus four-star recruit by the major recruiting services. He’s ranked as the nation’s No. 3 receiver by Rivals.com, No. 7 receiver by 247Sports.com and the No. 11 receiver by Scout.com.

See Wednesday’s edition of the EAGLE for more from Tuesday’s ceremony.