Under Armour All-America: Previewing position battles, players to watch

There will be 85 of the nation’s top prospects gathering in Orlando this week to take part in the Under Armour All-America Game. The week of practice begins on Saturday evening and will be held at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. The game will be played at Camping World Stadium on January 3.

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.

FULL 2024 UNDER ARMOUR ALL-AMERICA GAME ROSTER

National all-star games historically prove to be a critical evaluation point for participating prospects. The neutral setting allows us to compare dozens and dozens of top prospects head to head. Between the Under Armour All-America Game and the All-American Bowl next week, we should have vital context and added perspective on 2024 prospects as we move towards the final rankings release in January.

Five-star quarterbacks set to duel

Both of On3’s five-star quarterback prospects – Alabama signee Julian Sayin (No. 7 in the On300 rankings) and Florida signee DJ Lagway (No. 16) – are set to be in Orlando. They’ll play on opposing teams, providing a head-to-head matchup in the game.

Sayin, who On3 considers to be the most accurate quarterback in the 2024 cycle, is coming off a senior season that saw him play in a very efficient manner. He completed over 75% of his passes at 11.2 yards per attempt as a senior at Carlsbad (Calif.) High. The Five-Star Plus+ prospect has played with an impressive consistency in every setting, earning the Elite 11 MVP and On3 MVP at Overtime’s OT7 Finals over the summer. The high skill level and accuracy gives him what we believe to be the highest passing floor among 2024 signal callers.

Lagway has long been considered to be one of the more physically-gifted 2024 quarterbacks, checking in at 6-foot-2.5, 230 pounds with a plus arm and rushing ability. The future Gator, took off as a senior, posting a monster final prep campaign. Lagway was the most productive top 2024 quarterback by a fair margin, completing 72.1% of his passes while accounting for 5,591 yards from scrimmage and 74 touchdowns. His play on Friday nights at Willis (Texas) High has put him in the conversation as the cycle’s top quarterback prospect. A strong week in Orlando could add further intrigue into the battle for the top quarterback spot.

Penn State signee Ethan Grunkemeyer (No. 108) is the other On300 quarterback on the Under Armour All-America Game roster. He was a senior riser after showing encouraging improvement over the course of the fall.

Elite receivers could make a statement

Wide receiver is the most top-heavy position group in the 2024 cycle, with a historic array of talent at the position. Much of that group will be represented at Under Armour, with four On3 five-star pass-catchers set to participate.

Auburn signee Cam Coleman (No. 5) is the biggest freak of the bunch, touting an elite combination of size, athleticism and technical ability. We saw his considerable physical gifts on display as a senior, as Coleman led his team to a state title in Alabama’s highest classification, while catching 61 passes for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. The multi-faceted player with the ability to take the top off of defenses with his outstanding burst along with what is arguably the largest catch radius in the cycle makes for a matchup nightmare. Could Coleman feasibly make a push as the top receiver in the cycle? The setting in Orlando against top cornerbacks will provide opportunity for the future Auburn Tiger to make a case.

A one-time 2025 prospect, Alabama commit Ryan Williams (No. 8) made news in December, announcing his reclassification into the 2024 cycle. The dynamic pass-catcher is in the process of ending his high school career on a high note. He had a magnificent showing in the state title game, followed by an MVP performance at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game. The track star has shown lethal long speed as a deep threat to go with advanced ability after the catch. Williams has been a highly productive player on Friday nights, culminating with a 2023 season that saw him reel in 70 catches for 1,353 yards and 18 touchdowns. Under Armour will give Williams another chance to impress. The long-time Alabama commit is set to sign in February, with in-state Auburn and others pushing for the Five-Star Plus+ prospect.

Few 2024 receivers made big plays at a higher rate this fall than Texas Tech pledge Micah Hudson (No. 10). The 5-foot-11.5, 195-pounder made eye-popping plays on a weekly basis as a senior at Temple (Texas) Lake Belton. Hudson has a well-rounded game with the ability to come down with acrobatic grabs in traffic along with maximizing yardage after the catch. We haven’t seen as much of Hudson at national events as compared to Coleman or Williams, so we’ll be looking to compare his play speed and consistency as a catcher in the all-star setting.

Ohio State signee Mylan Graham (No. 14) is the fourth five-star wide receiver on the Under Armour roster. The New Haven (Ind.) High standout is a highly technical wideout who has a case as the top route-runner in the cycle. Graham wasn’t quite as productive as a senior when compared to his five-star peers, so we’re looking to see how he stacks up among the group in a setting that should cater to his skill set. There’s a large group of wide receivers capable of pushing for a fifth star, so this week could be big for Graham and others who are looking to make a statement.

One of the receivers who could push for five-star status is Clemson signee Bryant Wesco (No. 29). The Midlothian (Texas) High product is a twitchy, bouncy athlete with outstanding movement skills and route-running. Wesco proved to be productive at the high school level despite playing in an option offense. He certainly looks to have five-star upside, but given the loaded nature of the group, splitting hairs is required. We’ll be watching Wesco’s play strength, catching technique and his ability to finish through contact throughout the week.

Tennessee signee Mike Matthews (No. 46) and Auburn signee Perry Thompson (No. 55) are two more gifted wideouts set to be on hand. Matthews was a two-way star on Friday nights, showing the ability to make plays as a receiver and safety. We’ll be watching to see where Matthews stacks up from a technical perspective along with his overall consistency. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Thompson figures to be one of the more physically imposing receivers on hand.

Defensive backs to be tested

The loaded receiver group should provide a huge test for the touted defensive backs on hand.

The headliner among the defensive backs is Georgia signee Ellis Robinson IV (No. 4). The Five-Star Plus+ corner is a polished defender with plus ball skills. Robinson has seen the technical elements of his game improve over the past two seasons at IMG Academy. It will be interesting to see if his long speed tested by the athletic group of receivers on hand.

The week of practice could be most illuminating for the evaluations of Alabama signee Jaylen Mbakwe (No. 23) and Texas A&M commit Terry Bussey (No. 30). Both are on the roster as athletes, but project as defensive backs at the college level. Each has spent much of their high school careers on the offensive side of the ball, but have the high-end athleticism and playmaking ability to be top prospects as defensive backs. Mbakwe starred as a quarterback while leading his team to a state title as a senior. Bussey did the same, lining up as a quarterback and safety, capping off a historic prep career with a state championship. Hopefully, we’ll get to see both Mbakwe and Bussey in coverage over the course of the week at Under Armour. The positive indicators are certainly there for both, but seeing them at their future positions would add clarity to where they stack up within the group. Similar to Ryan Williams, Bussey has yet to sign and is expected to take visits, with LSU, Alabama and USC involved.

Ohio State signee Aaron Scott (No. 26) could make a push for a fifth star with a great week in coverage. The Springfield (Ohio) High product is a polished cover corner with good size, athleticism and skill at the position. We’re interested to see how he stacks up when facing the bevy of talented receivers on hand.

Texas signee Kobe Black (No. 97) and Tennessee signee Kaleb Beasley (No. 103) are two more cornerbacks of note set to be at Under Armour. Black is a big boundary corner and Beasley has a case for one of the most technical coverage players in the cycle. We’ll be closely watching how both run in coverage against elite receiver talent.

Texas signee Xavier Filsaime (No. 61) is the clear headliner among the safety group. A well-rounded player, we’ll likely be comparing his performance at Under Armour to other top safeties at the All-American Bowl for rankings purposes.

Sorting through the cycle’s top pass rushers

After receiver, EDGE represents the most talent-rich position group at Under Armour. Assessing how this group plays will provide important context in not just the EDGE position pecking order, but the overall rankings.

Eyes will be fixed upon On3’s top-ranked prospect, Missouri signee Williams Nwaneri. At 6-foot-6, 260 pounds with arms that measure in over 36 inches, Nwaneri enters the all-star games believed to be the most physically-gifted prospect in the cycle. He pairs that massive frame with high-level functional movement skills. Nwaneri is an explosive, flexible athlete with the ability to bend the edge at his considerable size. While the physical gifts are readily apparent, we’ll be watching to see how Nwaneri measures up when facing top offensive linemen. He’s not proven to be a totally dominant player at the high school level, but can he elevate his play when the competition increases?

South Carolina signee Dylan Stewart (No. 12) is another EDGE prospect with immense upside. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Stewart has readymade size and burst as a pass rusher. His high ceiling is evident, but we’ll be keeping an eye on the physicality and effort level on a snap-to-snap basis.

Texas signee Colin Simmons (No. 13) is arguably the most accomplished pass rusher in the 2024 cycle. A dynamo off the edge for Texas powerhouse Duncanville High, Simmons is a pure speed rusher with a plus first step. He’s not the biggest, checking in at 6-foot-2.5, 225 pounds, so we’ll be looking to see how he holds up against bigger offensive linemen.

Tennessee signee Jordan Ross (No. 38) has the opportunity to make a move with a strong week at Under Armour. An athletic presence off the edge, Ross showed improvement as a senior and turned in a productive season, totaling 23 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He’ll be playing alongside highly-ranked peers all week and will have ample opportunity to impress.

Big defensive linemen looking to separate from the pack

The defensive front will be further bolstered by a talented group of defensive linemen.

Oklahoma signee David Stone (No. 19) enters as the highest-ranked player in the group. The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder is battle-tested having played against top competition on a daily basis at IMG Academy. This setting should not be quite as new to Stone relative to others. Stone’s length and quickness have proven to give interior offensive linemen trouble. With tight competition and little separating that top group of defensive linemen, Stone could cement his status as a top prospect at the position with a great week.

If there’s a favorite to make a move among the defensive linemen, it might be Georgia signee Joseph Jonah-Ajonye (No. 27). The Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge product is a high upside prospect who looks to be just scratching the surface of his potential. Jonah-Ajonye is newer to football and young for the class, as he should technically be a 2025 prospect. The future Bulldog turned in a double-digit sack season as a senior and has an intriguing combination of power and athleticism.

We’re eager to see Dominick McKinley (No. 37) in person as this will be the first national event for the the Lafayette (La.) Acadiana product. A physically-gifted, athletic presence on the interior, we’ll be looking to see how McKinley fares with the increased level of competition. The Texas A&M commit is unsigned, with LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas working to complete the flip.

Under Armour also provides a key evaluation point for Oregon signee Aydin Breland (No. 94). Seeing prospects who play specific roles at top high school programs in these neutral settings can be very helpful in the evaluation process. During his career at Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei, we saw Breland work as a rotational defensive lineman. While he showed flashes of ability, the sample size and production simply is not the same relative to other top defensive linemen. The week in Orlando should give us a clearer picture.

Seaton headlines offensive line group

Colorado signee Jordan Seaton (No. 6) made his fair share of headlines during the Early Signing Period. The Washington D.C. native has a chance to make more headlines with a strong week of play at Under Armour. Seaton enters as the clear top offensive lineman on the roster and could solidify his status as the top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2024 cycle. The IMG Academy standout is the most technically-advanced and ready to play prospect at the position and should play well in Orlando given his advanced skill set.

While the All-American Bowl looks to have a more offensive line-heavy roster, Texas Tech signee Ellis Davis (No. 34) is the clear favorite to make a statement among offensive tackles set to be at Under Armour. A polished and skilled right tackle, Davis has put together strong film over the past two seasons at Prosper (Texas) High. The week in Orlando will be informative as to how his length holds up against top pass rushers.

Under Armour represents the first national event for Georgia signee Michael Uini (No. 158), an interesting prospect who could play tackle or guard long-term.

Three of the cycle’s top interior linemen and true center prospects are set to be in Orlando – USC signee Jason Zandamela (No. 147), Texas signee Daniel Cruz (No. 149) and Clemson signee Elyjah Thurmon (No. 224). All three worked as centers as seniors, decreasing the learning curve for the college level. The week should provide insight into how the group stacks up.

Athletic linebackers heading to Under Armour

Several top linebackers are slated to be at Under Armour.

Georgia signee Justin Williams (No. 15) enters all-star season as the top linebacker prospect in the On300. The five-star has shown outstanding play speed and range with his ability to run sideline-to-sideline.

Cole’s fellow Georgia signee Chris Cole (No. 42) is another headliner at the position. The Salem (Va.) High product is one of the more physically-gifted prospects at the position, with a high-end combination of size, length and athleticism. We’re looking forward to seeing how Cole plays with the uptick in competition.

Florida signee Myles Graham (No. 123) looks to be a stock up prospect at the position, on the heels of a strong senior season at Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz. The Gator legacy looks to have the skill set of a modern linebacker, with adavanced range and cover skills to go with physicality and striking ability. A strong week at Under Armour could solidify his status as an ascending prospect.

Miami signee Adarius Hayes (No. 101) is an imposing presence as a downhill thumper. We’ll be watching to see how he fares when operating in space and playing in coverage.

All-star practices don’t offer the ideal setting to evaluate running backs, as contact is limited, but we are able to assess body types, movement skills and pass-catching ability. Tennessee signee Peyton Lewis (No. 131), Florida State signee Kam Davis (No. 150) and Texas signee Jerrick Gibson (No. 171) lead the running back group.