Under Armour All-America: Stock up prospects

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tuesday saw nearly 100 of the nation’s top prospects play in the nationally-televised Under Armour All-America Game at Camping World Stadium. The game was the culmination of a week of action which included several practices.

On3 was on hand to take in the action. Several prospects turned in strong showings over the course of the week. Here are six prospects who turned in ‘stock up’ performances.

Day 1 Eye-Catchers | Day 2 Top Performers | Day 3 Top Performers | Overall Top Performers

WR Jalen Hale – Alabama

The group of wide receivers in Orlando was flush with top talent. Jalen Hale stacked up well with the bevy of top pass-catchers.The 6-foot-0.5, 180-pounder flashed a nuanced skill set over the course of practice. Hale impressed with his ability to separate as a route-runner. The Alabama signee is a smooth, coordinated mover capable of stacking cornerbacks off the line of scrimmage with his release package. Hale consistently created separation while running routes to multiple levels of the field. While he’ll need to continue adding mass and strength, he also showed the ability to win at the catch point. Hale ranks as the No. 81 overall prospect in the On300. – Charles Power

CB Ja’Keem Jackson – Florida

Ja’Keem Jackson looked to have one of the higher upsides among the cornerback group at Under Armour. The Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola product brings plus size, length, athleticism and ball skills to the table. Jackson’s skill set was evident in Orlando, where he had the best total week of all cornerbacks on Team Speed. He was a Top Performer on Day Three, after turning in a strong afternoon in coverage. Jackson’s play was particularly encouraging considering his lack of experience as a corner after spending much of his career on offense. Jackson has the look of a player who could take off with further coaching and development at the college level, but he’s already a very good player at this stage. The Gator signee ranks as the No. 91 overall prospect in the On300. – Charles Power

WR Mikey Matthews – Utah

Mikey Matthews put on a route running showcase throughout the week in Orlando. The dynamic Utah signee consistently put defensive backs on skates during the 1-on-1 periods and came down with multiple contested catches. His ability to manipulate his body at the catch point and adjust to the football in mid-air also stood out throughout the week. Matthews continued his strong play in the 7-on-7 setting, consistently taking the top off of defenses while also showing good ball tracking. His lack of catch radius and true top-tier long speed may ultimately place a cap on his ceiling, but from what we were able to see at this event, his floor is much higher than we originally expected. The SoCal product ranks as a three-star prospect according to On3. – Cody Bellaire

DL Kelby Collins – Florida

Kelby Collins got better over the course of the week in Orlando. He had a very strong showing in 1-on-1’s on Day Three, feasting on the Team Speed offensive line. Collins backed that up with a stellar performance in Tuesday’s game, earning Defensive MVP honors from the broadcast. The Gardendale (Ala.) High product showed the ability to create disruption as a pass rusher, both on the interior and off the edge. His quickness and length were on the high-end among defensive linemen at Under Armour. When Collins is locked in, he’s shown dominant tendencies. The Florida signee ranks as the No. 133 overall prospect in the On300. – Charles Power

DL Ashton Porter – Oregon

Ashton Porter appears to have added substantial mass to his frame and looks to be carrying it well. He matched up better from a physical perspective than we anticipated. The new Oregon commit was the main defensive lineman who gave five-star LSU offensive tackle signee Zalance Heard trouble in practice. Porter showed some of the best burst off the line of scrimmage amongst the defensive line group at Under Armour. His flashes during the 1-on-1 period were outstanding as he displayed multiple impressive spin moves that showed his balance and understanding of leverage as a pass rusher. He also was able to reset the line of scrimmage during the team periods in the run game, flashing the the skill set of an every down defensive lineman.  Porter ranks as a three-star prospect according to On3. – Cody Bellaire

DL Xzavier McLeod – South Carolina

Xzavier McLeod showed some disruptive ability and quick movements for a 6-foot-4.5, 325-pounder. The South Carolina signee’s ability to sink his hips and play with low pad level at his stature stood out during individual periods. He carried that athleticism over to the 1-on-1 periods, winning with finesse moves and remaining balanced to finish sacks. McLeod showed signs of being an immovable object during the team periods throughout the week. He may have not finished a ton of plays in the backfiel during those periods, but flashed violent hands when stacking and shedding. McLeod ranks as a three-star prospect according to On3.- Cody Bellaire