All-American Bowl Top Performers: Day Two

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Wednesday marked the second day of All-American Bowl practices.

The two teams are geographically split into East and West. The game is set to be played on Saturday, January 7 at 12 P.M. in the Alamodome and televised on NBC.

FULL 2023 ALL-AMERICAN BOWL GAME ROSTER | DAY ONE TOP PERFORMERS

Each team took part in a morning practice then came together for a joint afternoon session in the Alamodome. On3 was on hand at both practices.

Here’s On3’s top performers for the day, headlined by a Georgia signee and an uncommitted versatile defender.

On3 MVP East: DL Jordan Hall – Georgia

Jordan Hall was the most disruptive defensive lineman during Wednesday’s practice. During the 9-on-7 period in the morning, he consistently knifed through gaps, blowing up plays in the backfield. Later in the morning, he continued to disrupt the opposing offense’s timing and forced quarterbacks to rush passes throughout the day. Later in the afternoon, Hall turned in a very strong 1-on-1 sessions, showing off a powerful bull rush and twitch as an interior pass rusher. He capped off the strong day with a would-be sack during the 11-on-11 period. In all, it was a complete, dominant performance for the Georgia signee. Hall ranks as the No. 29 overall prospect and No. 4 defensive lineman in the On300. – Cody Bellaire

On3 MVP West: LB Jelani McDonald – Uncommitted

Uncommitted linebacker/athlete prospect Jelani McDonald is working at defensive back at the All-American Bowl. The high school quarterback could project at a number of positions at the next level – including linebacker and safety. No defensive back had a better day on Wednesday. McDonald is the biggest defensive back for the West, checking in around 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. Even at his size, McDonald was able to run with receivers while lining up at corner. The Waco (Texas) Connally stuck with TCU wide receiver signee Cordale Russell on a vertical route. He later made a nice pass break up on Malik Elzy during the morning’s team period. In the afternoon McDonald locked horns with Carnell Tate. While both had their wins, McDonald got the edge in the matchup. The fact McDonald holds up so well in coverage despite his size and lack of experience on defense is a testament to his pure athletic ability and points to a high upside. The top 100 prospect ranks as the No. 82 overall prospect in the On300. – Charles Power

Remaining Top Performers

3. RB Rueben Owens – Texas A&M (West)

No running back at the All-American Bowl has shown more juice Rueben Owens. The Texas A&M signee looked like the most explosive skill player on the field during the afternoon’s joint practice. During 1-on-1’s, Owens showed why he’s considered to be the best pass-catching running back in the 2023 cycle. The 5-foot-10.5, 195-pounder blew by every linebacker and safety he was matched up against, showing the ability to get vertical with ease. Owens is a natural pass catcher with ball skills that are better than several wide receivers in attendance. He later flashed the burst as a ball carrier in 9-on-7 work, popping through a hole for what would’ve been a long gain. Owens ranks as the No. 50 overall prospect in the On300. – Charles Power

4. EDGE Yhonzae Pierre – Alabama (West)

Yhonzae Pierre looks like one of the top EDGE prospects in San Antonio. The Alabama signee is an instant eye-catcher in drills with his quickness, effort level and attention detail. We didn’t see Pierre take a ton of reps in 1-on-1’s in the morning, but he did turn in an impressive rep while lining up inside. In the afternoon, Pierre put put Monroe Freeling – arguably the top offensive tackle on hand – on skates during the joint 1-on-1 period. Pierre will need to add pop and power at the point of attack against the run, but his elite burst and athleticism from the edge kept the East’s offense on their toes during the joint team period. The burst and natural feel for leverage just sticks out. Pierre is a functional mover with high-end reactive quickness. He has a quick jab step that gives offensive linemen trouble. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder should see his build and strength improve significantly with time in Alabama’s strength program. Pierre ranks as the No. 34 overall prospect and No. 6 EDGE in the On300. – Charles Power

5. QB Dante Moore – UCLA (East)

Dante Moore was the top quarterback on the day, by a fair margin. After a solid showing on day one, Moore elevated his game on Wednesday. The 6-foot-1.5, 210-pounder had a number of strong throws during the afternoon joint practice. He threw a strike to Carnell Tate over the middle of the field for a long gain and later hit Brandon Inniss in the corner of the end zone on a designed roll out in 11-on-11. Moore was comfortable in facing the pass rush and working from within the pocket. He got the ball out quick and with good accuracy and zip. We also some nice throws from Moore in the quick game. He’s able to drop his arm slot and quickly flip the ball out to the boundary. Moore ranks as the No. 55 overall prospect in the On300. – Charles Power

6. OT Spencer Fano – Utah (West)

Spencer Fano had the best 1-on-1 session of any offensive lineman during the joint practice. The Utah signee has been working at right tackle and center the last two practices for the West team. He put on a bit of a pass protection clinic on Wednesday. Fano displayed his ability to anchor, winning his rep against Brennan Vernon, dropping his weight with ease. The quick feet and overall athletic ability was on display all afternoon, as Fano effortlessly pulled and climbed to the second level during the 9-on-7 period in both sessions. Fano ranks as the No. 173 overall prospect in the On300. – Cody Bellaire.

7. LB Whit Weeks – LSU (East)

Whit Weeks continues to look like the most comfortable operator in space among linebackers at the All-American Bowl. The LSU signee backed up his strong first day with another stellar showing in coverage on Wednesday. Weeks won the majority of his 1-on-1 reps during the afternoon, showing fluidity and feel while covering running backs. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder is controlled and quickly reacts and closes on routes. We’ve also liked what Weeks has shown in 9-on-7 drills, flashing the ability to diagnose plays quickly. Weeks ranks as the No. 233 overall prospect in the On300. – Charles Power

8. OT Monroe Freeling – Georgia (East)

Monroe Freeling has looked like a prime developmental left tackle prospect at the All-American Bowl. In the morning, he was passing off defenders during the team period and looked very comfortable in both the run and pass games. Freeling continued to look like one of the top offensive linemen in the 2023 cycle during the afternoon. He had a few nice 1-on-1 reps and continued to play at a very high level in 11-on-11, working to the second level with ease and holding up in pass protection. The Georgia signee’s footwork and balance at 6-foot-7, 295 pounds is extremely impressive. Even though Freeling will need to add mass throughout his frame, he already possesses the raw strength to anchor in pass protection. The Isle of Palms (S.C.) Oceanside Collegiate product ranks as the No. 27 overall prospect and No. 4 offensive tackle in the On300. – Cody Bellaire

9. EDGE Keon Keeley – Alabama (East)

Keon Keeley was not quite as dominant in 1-on-1’s on Wednesday, but still won reps against some overmatched offensive linemen. The five-star pass rusher turned things up during the 11-on-11 period in the joint practice with a dominant sequence. Keeley flew off the ball, dipping around the edge for a would be sack on the first play. He was in the backfield two plays later, with his pressure forcing an incompletion and a three-and-out. The Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep pass rusher is a patient pass rusher who reacts to opposing offensive linemen and uses precision and impeccable timing to generate pressure. Keeley ranks as the No. 3 overall prospect and No. 1 EDGE in the On300. – Charles Power

10. WR Carnell Tate – Ohio State (East)

All things considered, Carnell Tate was probably the most consistent wide receiver on Wednesday. The Ohio State pledge may not be overly flashy, but he has a well-rounded skill set with good routes and a sizable catch radius. Tate drew a tough assignment, with Jelani McDonald covering him for much of the afternoon. Still, the Chicago native came down with a number of nice grabs in 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 work. Tate’s ability to separate with his routes and come down with contested catches has made him a top target for the East quarterbacks. The IMG Academy product ranks as the No. 65 overall prospect in the On300. – Charles Power

Additional notes

+ No wide receiver had more high-end flashes than TCU signee Cordale Russell. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder has considerable burst and length. He had a number of ‘wow’ plays on Wednesday, separating from defensive backs both off the line of scrimmage and with vertical speed. Russell’s hands and tracking skills were hit or miss. Had he finished more plays, the Dallas area standout would’ve been an obvious Top Performer and the top receiver on the day. Nebraska signee Malachi Coleman has also flashed a high ceiling with his top end speed, good size and ability to change directions. – Charles Power

+ We didn’t see Caleb Downs tested a ton over the day, but he still held up very well in coverage on the reps we caught. The Alabama signee looks like one of the better cover men on hand in San Antonio – Charles Power

+ No receiver stuffed the stat sheet more than Ohio State signee Brandon Inniss. The South Florida native was a high volume target for the East quarterbacks, while working out of the slot. Inniss caught a touchdown from Dante Moore in 11-on-11 and won his share of reps in 1-on-1’s. While others made more impressive individual plays, Inniss was steady and productive on Wednesday. LSU signee Jalen Brown had perhaps the catch of the day, coming down with an acrobatic grab in 1-on-1’s. He later showed off his top-end speed, catching a quick hitter and running up the sideline for a long gain. Brown would’ve been in contention to be a Top Performer were it not for a few drops. – Charles Power

+ For the second straight day, Clemson EDGE signee Tomarrion Parker was a standout in 1-on-1’s on the West. Parker won every rep during the morning practice, lining up at both end spots and even inside one one rep. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder is a nuanced, polished pass rusher with a quick first-step, flexibility and an innate feel. In the morning Parker won reps against both Alabama signee Kadyn Proctor and Utah signee Spencer Fano – two of the top linemen for the West. Parker ranks as the No. 148 overall prospect in the On300. – Charles Power

+ Oregon defensive line signee Johnny Bowens was a late add to the West roster, but quickly made his presence felt on Wednesday. The local San Antonio product was outstanding in 1-on-1’s lining up both on the interior and end. Bowens flashed some high-end first-step quickness. – Charles Power

+ Penn State offensive line signee Jven Williams may be one of the freakiest athletes regardless of position at the event. His ability to pull and climb to the second level was on full display during Wednesday’s practice. He was a consistent people mover during the team and 9-on-7 periods. – Cody Bellaire

+ Utah offensive tackle signee Caleb Lomu lined up on the interior in the morning practice. Lomu has bouncy, light feet and had one of the better 1-on-1 sessions for a West offensive front that was a bit overmatched. – Charles Power

+ Michigan State EDGE signee Bai Jobe put together an up-and-down performance during Wednesday’s practice, but his high’s were extremely high. He was relatively quiet in the morning session not making many plays. Jobe picked things up during the joint 1-on-1 period, beating Jven Williams with an inside stab, arm-over combo He followed it up with a nice win against Texas signee Payton Kirkland on a bull rush. – Cody Bellaire

+ After Jelani McDonald, Ohio State corner signee Calvin Simpson-Hunt looked like the top pure cover man for the West team in Wednesday morning’s practice. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder was reactive and sticky in coverage, showing the ability to read and react to receivers’ routes. After a good morning session, he was a bit up and down in the afternoon. Simpson-Hunt may not have ideal pure stature, but his length, build, speed and coverage chops make him one of the top defensive backs on hand at the All-American Bowl. -Charles Power

+ Specialists often operate in the background at national all-star games, but Texas A&M punter signee Tyler White deserves mention. Simply put, I can’t recall seeing the ball come of a high school punter’s foot like it does White’s. The Southlake (Texas) Carroll product is a big lefty punter at around 6-foot-3, 200-pounds. The distance and hang-time on his punts is among the more impressive things we’ve seen this week. At times it felt like his punts were going to hit the roof in the Alamodome. The Aggies have a big-time specialist coming to College Station. – Charles Power