High school football games hold an extraordinary place in our youthful hearts.

The games might be fond little memories for some, but it’s a matter of life and death for most. American football is one of the pillars of American culture. Football is taken quite seriously with slews of die-hard fans, palpable tensions between rival teams, and the insanely high stakes of a championship.

The only other thing taken just as seriously in football is singing the national anthem.

The Star-Spangled Banner precedes every American sporting event. It’s far more than just a song; it is an ode to the ideas and values that shape America. So you can imagine how much pressure there is in singing it right. Like so, there have been countless performances—by pop artists, country singers, rappers, and all sorts of superstars—to varying degrees of success.

But sometimes, we’re blown away by an exceptional performance from somebody unexpected.

It was a cold, October night in Bolton, Massachusetts. The football field over at Nashoba Regional Highschool frenzied with players, cheerleaders, coaches, and faculty members. Off-camera the crowd was no louder than usual, chattering and waiting for the game to begin. The announcer, his booming voice blaring from speakers, asked for everyone to stand.

15-year-old player and sophomore Samuel Keith came over to the sidelines, removed his helmet, and grabbed the microphone.

Standing broadly in his gear, wearing a number 59 jersey, Samuel delivered his deep, haunting rendition of the national anthem. For over a minute, the entire field was silent save for Samuel’s soothing baritone voice. Samuel was less like a football player and more like a veteran opera singer on stage as he delivered the timeless lyrics with enthusiasm and grace.

As Samuel reached the song’s crescendo, he and all the players raised their helmets in unity. And right when Samuel finished his delivery, the audience erupted into applause, and the adolescent superstar returned to his teammates.

While it may come across as a shock, it turns out Samuel has a lot of experience singing on stage.

Samuel also performed in his high school’s drama department.

He acted in leading roles in productions such as “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Peter Pan,” and “The Adams Family.”

While the football field is not the same as the stage, Samuel’s performance became a viral sensation. The video already has 1.7 million views and fourteen thousand likes. Samuel Keith graduated from high school in 2021. He is currently attending the University of Cincinnati as a music theater major. And with his exceptional talent, there’s no doubt he’ll go far.

Samuel shows that sometimes people can have more than one talent. Sometimes a jock and a thespian are the same.

Watch the video below!

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Source: YouTube – SamuelJKeith, Fanbuzz