All-American Bowl: Previewing position battles, players to watch

Around 100 of the nation’s top prospects are in San Antonio this week to take part in the All-American Bowl. The week of practice begins on Tuesday morning. The game is set to be played on Saturday, January 6 in the Alamodome and televised on NBC.

As usual, the roster is loaded with top prospects. The week of practice should provide a great opportunity to further evaluate the bevy of blue-chippers one last time before they head to college.

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These national all-star games historically prove to be a critical evaluation point for participating prospects. The controlled environment allows us to compare dozens and dozens of top prospects head to head. Between the All-American Bowl and the Under Armour All-America Game (played on Tuesday, we should have a better grasp on top 2023 2024 as we move towards the final rankings release.

Jeremiah Smith leads strong group of pass catchers

Ohio State wide receiver signee Jeremiah Smith (No. 2 in the On300 rankings) is the highest-ranked prospect heading to San Antonio. The Five-Star Plus+ prospect brings an extremely well-rounded skill-set to the table. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds with track speed, Smith pairs readymade physical tools with a nuanced skill set, given his elite route-running ability and strong hands at the catch point. The week in San Antonio will provide opportunity for Smith to show just how elite of a talent he is at the position.

Among the other receivers on hand, the closest within striking distance of five-star status are Notre Dame signee Cam Williams (No. 25) and Clemson signee TJ Moore (No. 33). Williams is a gifted athlete with size and dynamic athleticism. He’s dangerous with the ball in his hands and has a number of positive athletic indicators. We’ll be paying attention to his technical skill for the position and how well he adjusts to the uptick in competition. Moore on the other hand, is a technically advanced wideout with outstanding production at the high school level. We’ll be looking to see how he stacks up athletically among the best at the position.

Speaking of athletic, uncommitted wide receiver Gatlin Bair (No. 62) is likely to be the fastest player in San Antonio. A track star who runs the 100 meters in the 10.2 second range, Bair is an intriguing prospect. We’re excited to see how he stacks up against the nation’s best after dominating the competition in Idaho. A one-time Boise State commit, Bair is trending to Michigan per the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Texas signee Ryan Wingo (No. 66) has an outstanding combination of size and speed. We’ll be watching for his ability at the catch point and his overall position-specific skill set. The All-American Bowl is the first neutral setting evaluation for Alabama signe Amari Jefferson (No. 92). A one-time Tennessee baseball commit, Jefferson is a thickly built wideout with plus tracking ability. Miami pledge Ny Carr (No. 116) and Georgia commit NiTareon Tuggle (No. 163) are two more who had strong senior seasons who we’re eager to see in San Antonio.

Clarity at the top of the tight end group?

Two of On3’s top three tight end prospects are set to be at the All-American Bowl with LSU signee Trey’Dez Green (No. 36) and Penn State signee Luke Reynolds (No. 39) making their way to San Antonio. The battle for the nation’s top tight end is one of the more interesting rankings questions. Could Green or Reynolds challenge Alabama signee Caleb Odom as the No. 1 tight end? A converted basketball player with a 6-foot-6.5, 230 pound frame and high-end play speed, Green is one of the bigger mismatches in the 2024 cycle. Reynolds has a prototypical skill set for the position as a top athlete who can change directions within his routes and has a grittiness to his game.

We’ll also get a key look at Nebraska tight end signee Carter Nelson (No. 89), who plays 8-man football in Ainsworth, Nebraska. Nelson is an elite athlete, but how he looks in San Antonio will be even more telling than what we see from most prospects given his lack of experience in 11-on-11 settings.

Intriguing prospects in the secondary

The safeties comprise one of the stronger and more intriguing position groups at the All-American Bowl. The headliner entering the week is Georgia signee KJ Bolden (No. 17). A top athlete, the five-star prospect was a two-way playmaker at Georgia powerhouse Buford High. Given he played a bunch of wide receiver as a senior, we’ll be watching to see how Bolden stacks up with an increased exposure on defense.

The All-American Bowl could be provide a stage for Minnesota signee Koi Perich (No. 53) to continue what has been a breakout year. Perich, who spurned Ohio State to stick with the Gophers, was a dominant high school player and top athlete as a three-sport star. He’ll see a considerable uptick in competition in this setting and we’ll be watching to see how he measures up.

Oregon signee Aaron Flowers (No. 87) touts one of the more well-rounded skill sets at he position with a strong combination of coverage ability and physicality. Given the array of safety talent on hand, he could make a move with a strong week.

Trajen Greco (No. 127) is another who could impress. The one-time Georgia Tech pledge is set to commit at the game with Missouri trending according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. This will also be the first neutral setting evaluation in some time for Alabama signee Peyton Woodyard (No. 160), an instinctive downhill safety.

Though he’s listed on the roster as a safety, Zay Mincey (No. 24) is ranked as a cornerback by On3 and would be the clear headliner of the group, assuming he practices there in San Antonio. A tall, long corner at 6-foot-2.5, 175 pounds with plus athleticism, he could push for five-star status with a great week. Mincey, who is set to announce at the game on Saturday, is trending to Alabama according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Florida State signee Jamari Howard (No. 99) is one of the more physically imposing corners nationally with elite length. We’re excited to see Alabama signee Zabien Brown (No. 124) in a neutral setting, assuming he takes part after practicing with the Crimson Tide in the lead up to the Rose Bowl. Marcellus Barnes (No. 193) is another intriguing cornerback who is set to commit at the game with Syracuse trending per his On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Pair of 5-stars headline DL group

On3’s top two-ranked defensive linemen – Florida signee LJ McCray (No. 3) and Miami signee Justin Scott (No.11) are set to be in San Antonio. McCray was one of the biggest senior risers in the 2024 cycle, putting together a dominant final campaign en route to leading Daytona (Fla.) Mainland to a state title. Scott is a highly athletic 315-pounder who is the highest-ranked prospect from Chicago in recent memory.

Arkansas signee Charleston Collins (No. 67) is an athletic and versatile defensive lineman who put up elite production as a senior. We’re interested to see how he stacks up in this setting. Ohio State signee Eddrick Houston (No. 68) is another national name along the defensive line.

Auburn signee Amaris Williams (No. 258) and Ole Miss signee William Echoles (No. 280) are two more defensive linemen we’re looking forward to seeing against the nation’s best.

High upside pass rushers at the All-American Bowl

A handful of interesting and high upside EDGE prospects are set to be on hand. Miami signee Marquise Lightfoot (No. 43) is a high-energy, athletic pass rusher who could make a splash. Notre Dame signee Bryce Young (No. 50) was a big senior riser and could continue his ascent with a strong week. At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds with NFL genes, Young is a big, disruptive presence on the edge.

Two of the more intriguing EDGE prospects nationally hail from Arizona in Washignton signee Noah Carter (No. 132) and Kansas signee Deshawn Warner (No. 162). Both are set to be in San Antonio. Carter is a highly athletic pass rusher who doubled as a gifted pass catcher on Friday nights. Warner is a technically advanced sack artist. We’re eager to see how both stack up physically.

Thompson leads OL group

South Carolina offensive tackle signee Josiah Thompson (No. 9) headlines the offensive line group as the lone five-star set to attend. Thompson owns a tall, lean build and is easily one of the best moving offensive tackles in the cycle. We’ll be looking to see how he holds up from a play strength perspective in San Antonio.

The week will provide our first in-person evaluation of Nebraska signee Grant Brix. Ranked as an interior offensive lineman by On3, we should have a better feel for Brix’s future position after seeing him in action. Brix has the physical dimensions of an offensive tackle with a big frame and plus athleticism, but has not had to pass block at the high school level.

Wisconsin signee Kevin Heywood (No. 70) and Michigan signee Andrew Sprague (No. 113) are two more tall, light-footed tackles who could impress.

The headliner along the interior is Penn State signee Cooper Cousins (No. 110), who has the look of an ascending player after a strong senior campaign. Cousins has plus size and versatility along the line with the ability to line up at all five positions.

Quarterbacks

There was significant turnover at the quarterback spot in this game, with several names opting not to play and being replaced. With that said, there are some intriguing signal callers set to attend.

TCU signee Hauss Hejny (No. 192) is the highest-ranked quarterback on the roster. Hejny is perhaps the most athletic quarterback in the cycle with legitimate track speed that transfers over to the field. This setting probably doesn’t play to his strengths, but we’ll be watching to see how he delivers from the pocket.

We weren’t able to see Auburn signee Walker White (No. 199) at the Elite 11 Finals, so we’re eager to see how he stacks up among the best at the position. White is a big, physically developed passer with a strong arm and good movement skills. We want to see how he adjusts to the speed of the game in San Antonio.

Arizona signee Demond Williams, Texas signee Trey Owens, Wake Forest signee Jeremy Hecklinski and Purdue signee Marcos Davila round out the group of signal callers. Owens has the chance to impress with his passing ability, given how he ended his senior year.

Athletic linebackers and running backs look to impress

Five-Star Plus+ Clemson signee Sammy Brown (No. 18) will look to make a case as the top linebacker prospect in the cycle. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more productive two way player this past fall. At 6-foot-2.5, 225 pounds, Brown is a top athlete who makes plays all over the field. We’ll drill down on his ability specifically as a linebacker this week.

Auburn signee Demarcus Riddick (No. 93) is an athletic defender with physical upside. He was inconsistent on senior film, so we’ll be watching to see how he plays in San Antonio. We want to see how Ohio State signee Garrett Stover (No. 151) measures up phyiscally. This will be our first chance to see Notre Dame signee Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (No. 167) in a neutral setting.

The highest-ranked running back in attendance is Georgia signee Nate Frazier (No. 32). He was not the primary ball-carrier at SoCal powerhouse Mater Dei as a senior, so we’re eager for an extended look at him given the limited sample size. Notre Dame signee Kedren Young (No. 73) is a big, physical back who could impress with a great week. Uncommitted running back Daniel Hill is another set to commit at the game, with Alabama trending in his On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.