ORLANDO – Orlando Predators quarterback Collin Drafts spent his Friday afternoon last week filming a segment for the Lockhart Middle School "Cover to Cover" reading program.

The program is a response to the 2008 Reading on the Rise report published by National Endowment for the Arts, which revealed that 45 percent of Americans had never read a single book cover to cover.

Next week Lockhart will make an impact in its community. They have invited 880 people, including the 340 students at the middle school who have never read a book cover to cover, to simultaneously read "Mudshark" by Gary Paulsen in one sitting on Monday, Jan. 30.

The Lockhart Middle School students will read alongside each other in the gymnasium while the remaining members of the Lockhart family participate via live stream from around the campus.

Drafts was among those asked to participate in the filming of the book reading prior to the gathering. The film will run throughout the reading of "Mudshark" and act as narration for the event.

"Whenever a kid takes the time to read a book it gets them one step closer to success in life," Drafts said.

Drafts is one of a number of local celebrities who will be included in an edited video compilation of "Mudshark", joining Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, numerous members of the police and fire departments, and local business leaders.