News-Record.com

Wallburg's Madison Hedgecock wasn't so much wowed by the Hula Bowl experience, or the hula girls, when he went to Maui last month to showcase his game for NFL scouts as he was by the celebs he saw while there.

If you catch my story in Friday's News & Record on Hedgecock's trip to the NFL Scouting Combine, you'll notice a passing reference to the "highlights" of his Hula Bowl voyage. Unfortunately, space limitations wouldn't allow me to digress and elaborate on his celebrity sightings in the newspaper.

But there are no such space restrictions in blog world, so for the curious, I'll elaborate here. Hedgecock, who played fullback at Ledford High and North Carolina, ran into beach volleyball star -- and swimsuit model -- Gabrielle Reece at the Maui airport baggage claim. He also saw Yankees manager Joe Torre (a good guy, even if you hate his employer as I do) and country singer Randy Travis, whose music Hedgecock said he enjoyed when he was in elementary school. He also added that Travis' wife is from Kernersville, but our fact-checkers haven't verified that claim yet.

It'll be interesting to see how far Hedgecock's blocking skills and all-around toughness can carry him in the NFL. Even if he's not drafted -- and he probably will be -- he can look to fellow Ledford grad Brad Hoover for inspiration. Hoover was undrafted but has become an invaluable member of the Carolina Panthers, as a ball-carrying and blocking fullback and as a big hitter on special teams.