But last year, he and his brother were among the fans in the stands watching Super Bowl XLVII at the Superdome in New Orleans. The Flint man said he is among the top Madden players in the world. He is among the elite few who earn money and prizes -- like Super Bowl tickets -- by playing the video game in tournaments across the country.

He started playing online in against other players, and found he was beating some skilled competition. These were the tournament players. The best players in the world.

Maddenallstars

Around , he was good enough to qualify for tournaments. He's been averaging about four or five a year, in cities such as Atlanta and Las Vegas. Childress said he can win a couple thousand dollars in a tournament, but hasn't used it as his only income.

He is a husband and father.

He keeps a day job and studies at Baker College. He said he plays the game about 20 hours a week, more when he's preparing for a tournament or after a new edition of the game come out. Some players like to run the ball a lot, others are passers, he said.

Others are experts at managing the clock. But Childress described himself as a more versatile player, but one that likes to run a lot. As long as I'm getting any kind of money, that's great.

Blake Thorne is a reporter for MLive-The Flint Journal. Contact him at bthorne1 mlive.

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You are signed in as. Edit Public Profile Sign Out. The Ann Arbor News The Bay City Times The Flint Journal The Grand Rapids Press Jackson Citizen Patriot Kalamazoo Gazette Muskegon Chronicle The Saginaw News. Flint resident and professional Madden player Devlon Childress plays as the Florida Panthers in Madden in his home on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. He has a group of friends he competes alongside in tournaments, called a Madden crew. French Fry search heads to Northern Michigan Fry poll winners from across the state Five Guys wins fast food French fry poll 9 fast food French fries ranked.

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