Ashland University senior offensive lineman Justin Magruder is not just an NCAA Division II football player, he’s a Division II football fan. That’s what made his recent appearance in the Cactus Bowl so special.

The Cactus Bowl is the annual NCAA Division II all-star game.

This year’s game was played in Kingsville, Texas, Jan. 8, in front of 4,200 fans.

Magruder played on the Red Storm team that defeated the Blue Devils, 28-6.

“It was fun and it was exciting,” Magruder said, who was tabbed as a preseason All-America twice in his career. “It was exciting to just get out and play with guys you see on websites across the country. You get to put a face with a name.”

Magruder’s Red Storm team was led by Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski, the 2010 Harlon Hill Award winner. The CMU quarterback was named the outstanding offensive player in the game.

He completed 8-of-13 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns.

During his career, Magruder played against some of the top Division II players in the country. The GLIAC is considered one of the most competitive leagues in the nation and the fact that AU advanced to the NCAA playoffs during Magruder’s career gave him the chance to see some of the best teams and players in the nation.

But the Cactus Bowl environment brought prime talent from around the country together in one meeting place. That made for a competitive week of practice in front of professional scouts.

Players arrived in Texas one week prior to kickoff.

“We practiced in helmets and pads every day,” Magruder said. “I was lifting over break. If you’re going to fly all the way down to Texas you don’t want to show up and not be able to perform. I felt good going in.”

Magruder has suffered some bumps and bruises late in the season.

Those had healed by the time it was time to go to Texas. The 2010 season saw the AU guard earn first team All-GLIAC honors.

Magruder missed all of the 2009 season due to injury.

Magruder is the third AU offensive lineman since 2007 to appear in the Cactus Bowl. In 2007, center Vince Cashdollar played in the game and in 2008, guard Nate Hollins earned a spot in the game.

“It took me by surprise when I got to go,” Magruder said. “You see the names like Nate Hollins and Vince Cashdollar up there on the wall and to be up there with them is an honor. I was excited and honored.”

Ashland has had 15 players appear in the Cactus Bowl. The all-star classic began in 1993 as the Snow Bowl. Since Lee Owens became AU’s head coach, four AU players have been selected for the Cactus Bowl. Three of those players have been offensive linemen.