LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. — Four former Lincoln football players have been selected for the 2009 HHH Metrodome All-American Bowl in Minneapolis, Minn. The event takes place from Dec. 10-12.

Trey Thomas (Canton, GA/Woodstock) (Canton, GA/Woodstock), Frank Lee (New Orleans, La./Langston University), Denorris Griffin (Pompano Beach, FL/Coconut Creek) (Pompano Beach, Fla./Coconut Creek) and Kareem Dennis (Philadelphia, PA/Lincoln) (Philadelphia, Pa./Lincoln) will partake in the three-date event. The bowl includes a combine in front of NFL scouts on Friday morning and concludes with a game at 9:35 a.m. Central Standard Time on Saturday in the Metrodome, home of the Minnesota Vikings.

The LU coaching staff heard about the opportunity, and with their help, they were invited to the event.

“We're starting to see the fruits of our labor with this senior class,” head coach O.J. Abanishe said. “They've succeeded in the classroom and have done well on the field. The all-star game is just a result of them performing in both. It's a good beginning to Lincoln University football.”

Each of the four players has aspirations of playing professionally somewhere, and this game provides valuable exposure as they prepare for the future.

“I'm hoping to get some more looks, impress some scouts,” Dennis said. He will play both quarterback and wide receiver, positions he played in the blue and orange.

Dennis was Lincoln's starting quarterback in 2008, the program's first year of competitive football since 1960. He also orchestrated LU's first win against an NCAA opponent in a come-from-behind effort in the season opener against Cheyney when he came off the bench at the end of the first quarter and threw for a touchdown.

This season, Dennis spent the majority of his time at wide receiver, where he had three touchdown catches including two against Southern Virginia in a 29-8 LU win.

Thomas was Lincoln's versatile running back and wide receiver and led LU in receptions (51), yards (662), and touchdowns (4) in 2009. He had a season-high 82-yard touchdown reception against Southern Virginia.

Thomas also ran for 206 yards on 63 carries an 85-yard day in a 10-0 Lincoln win over Livingstone on Sept. 26. In his two years, Thomas finished with 1,126 receiving yards, 352 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Griffin started every game for Lincoln at right tackle for LU the last two seasons, and Lee anchored the critical left tackle spot. He also played basketball.

The players leave Thursday and will be there in time for practice at 5 p.m., CST.