Worcester native and former St. John's football star Eamonn Dennis will be on the field Monday night with his Michigan teammates battling for college football's national championship against Washington. 

Dennis played Pop Warner football in Worcester for both the Cowboys and Vikings before going on to star at St. John's, leading the Pioneers to a state championship. He is now a star on special teams for the Wolverines. 

Dennis said he hasn't fully grasped yet that he is playing in college football's ultimate game Monday night. 

"I mean, it hasn't hit me yet," Dennis said. "I would say this is a great opportunity, especially being from a small city. I mean, I played at Gillette and that was pretty nice, but every game from week 1 to 12, I play in front of 100,000 fans. On Monday, I'm going to be playing in front of millions, so this is really big. It hasn't hit me yet, I feel like it will hit me in pre-game. This is a great opportunity." 

Dennis is excited not only to earn the championship for himself and his teammates, but for his hometown of Worcester as well.

"It would be really nice, I feel like I'm the first person from Worcester to even play in the FBS national championship game," he said. "This is a great opportunity being from Worcester. This is big for me, my family, my friends, St. John's, all my teachers."