Under Armour All-America Top Performers: Day 3

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Under Armour All-America Game practices continued on Sunday afternoon. Around 100 of the nation’s top football prospects from the 2023 recruiting cycle were at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Florida for the week’s second practice. On3 was on hand to take in the action. 

Practices will run until Monday. The game is to be played on January 3 at 5 P.M. eastern at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Full Under Armour All-America Game Roster | Day 1 Eye-Catchers | Day 2 Top Performers

The roster is divided into two teams – Team Speed and Team Phantom. Both teams had simultaneous padded practices on adjacent fields. Sunday’s practice consisted of full-speed 1-on-1, 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 periods.

Here are On3’s top performers for the day, headlined by a Texas A&M signee who turned in a dominant performance on the line of scrimmage

On3 MVP: David Hicks Jr. – Texas A&M

David Hicks Jr. put on a show on Sunday afternoon. The Texas A&M signee demonstrated his raw power at the point of attack along with a nuanced pass rush skill set. Hicks started off strong during the individual portion of practice, bursting off the line of scrimmage and displaying bend and ankle flexion during bag drills. In the 1-on-1 portion he demonstrated an advanced understanding of leverage, consistently bullying pass protectors into the quarterback. The violent hands and explosion at the point of attack were notable. Later during the team period he flashed his get off and change of direction by making multiple stops in the backfield. Hicks made his presence felt from start to finish and looked all of a five-star prospect.

A Five-Star Plus+ prospect, Hicks checks in at the No. 16 overall in the On300.

2. WR Jalen Hale – Alabama

Jalen Hale was the top ‘X’ wide receiver on Sunday, in what is a deep group of pass catchers in Orlando. The Longview (Texas) High product is a smooth, coordinated mover and showcased some outstanding movement skills. Hale drew on his basketball background, displaying a varied release package off the line of scrimmage. He hit defensive backs with a few crossovers in 1-on-1’s and was able to separate within the route. The Alabama signee also finished at the catch point better on Sunday than he did on Saturday, elevating to come down with some high-point grabs. Overall, he showed a well-rounded skill set that should translate well to the next level.

3. CB Ja’Keem Jackson – Florida

Ja’Keem Jackson was the top defensive back for Team Speed on Sunday. The Florida commit has an excellent frame for the position with good stature and plus length. He’s also an athletic cover man with ball skills that were honed as a one-time wide receiver. Jackson was very strong in coverage on Sunday, winning most of his 1-on-1 reps. He locked horns with five-star tight end Duce Robinson in the end zone and came away with a pick after reading and jumping Robinson’s route. The performance from Jackson is particularly encouraging considering his lack of experience and polish as a full-time corner. There’s plenty of room for him to continue improving.

4. WR Johntay Cook II – Texas

Johntay Cook II continued put on a route-running clinic at Under Armour. The DeSoto (Texas) High product won every rep during the 1-on-1 period on Sunday. His savviness and change of direction at the top of his routes was on full display. Cook also showed the long speed to accelerate from defenders. He needs to continue working on attacking the football on contested catches. With that said, Cook had a very strong performance when working in the underneath and intermediate levels of the field during 7-on-7 and team periods.

5. OT Zalance Heard – LSU

After a solid performance in Saturday’s session, Zalance Heard took his game to another level on Sunday afternoon. Heard lost his first rep during the 1-on-1 period and then pitched a shutout for the remainder of the day. His ability to strike defenders first and stay attached is the best we’ve seen at Under Armour. Heard has also shown the ability to beat defenders to the point and stay square throughout the rep. When he’s on time, you have a wall at the tackle position. Heard also shined during the team period burying multiple defenders and consistently finishing his opponents.

6. WR Zachariah Branch – USC

Zachariah Branch continues to show why he’s ranked as the top receiver in the country. The Five-Star Plus+ prospect is borderline unguardable off the line of scrimmage with his change of direction and ability to get in and out of his breaks. The elite long speed was also evident as Branch was able to separate downfield with east. He does not have an overly large catch radius as a smaller receiver, but that is literally the only nitpick of his skill set. Branch has continued to look like a star who gives defensive backs fits out of the slot and on vertical routes.

7. QB Jackson Arnold – Oklahoma

Jackson Arnold was once again the top quarterback on hand at Under Armour. The Five-Star Plus+ signal caller was on the money for most of the practice, delivering accurate, well-thrown passes with zip. Arnold showed the ability to layer his passes in red zone and goal line situations. He had a number of nice fade and back shoulder throws in that area of the field. Arnold also had a strong session in the team period, hitting a touchdown in the flats, catching a pass for touchdown off a ‘Philly Special’ trick play, and running in another score off a zone read keeper. The lone blemish was an interception thrown to Notre Dame linebacker signee Jaiden Ausberry, on what may have been a miscommunication with the wide receiver. Overall it was another impressive day from the Oklahoma signee.

8. WR Mikey Matthews – Utah

Mikey Matthews continued to make his case as the top route-runner at Under Armour. The SoCal product gave Team Speed defensive backs fits in 1-on-1’s. Matthews won in every area of the field – separating deep, working over the middle and breaking off defenders on the goal line. His pace, change of direction and array of double and even triple moves is advanced for this stage. The top end speed and ball skills are good, but the route-running and polish is what makes Matthews such a tough cover in Orlando.

9. TE Duce Robinson – Unsigned

Duce Robinson looked much more comfortable on Sunday. The five-star tight end showed plus movement skills and a large catch radius in 1-on-1’s. Robinson was not shy and took several reps. He ran a nice in-breaking route on the goal line for a touchdown and later flashed the high-point ability in coming down with a fade pass in the corner of the end zone. Robinson has room to continue developing physically and as a technical route-runner and pass catcher, but the upside and natural skills were on display on Sunday.

10. DL Rueben Bain – Miami

Rueben Bain lined up on the inside for Team Speed and lived in the backfield in 1-on-1’s and the team period. The Miami commit has a unique build as a shorter, stockier defensive lineman, looking to be under 6-foot-2 and in the 275 pound range. Despite his non traditional dimensions, Bain has a nuanced pass rush skill set. His quickness off the snap was a considerable mismatch for an overmatched interior offensive line for Team Speed. Bain fires off the snap, stays low and is able to disengage with quick hands. He also showed some speed-to-power in 1-on-1’s. The disruption continued in the team period, with Bain darting into the backfield on several plays.

Additional notes

+ Florida signee Kelby Collins had an outstanding showing in 1-on-1’s on Sunday – the best he’s looked all week. Collins showed the pass rush ability off the edge with his quickness and elevated effort and physicality. Five-star Oklahoma signee Adepoju Adebawore continued to look like a top talent and flashed some impressive power in 1-on-1’s, walking Alabama signee Olaus Alinen back to the bag with a bull rush. Florida signee Will Norman also had a great rep in 1-on-1’s following a good first two days. Alabama signee Jordan Renaud had a solid showing in 1-on-1’s following his On3 MVP nod on Saturday and registered a tackle for loss on a hustle play in team.

+ Ashton Porter was next up on the defensive line for Team Phantom, after David Hicks, showing off his power and punch during the individual period of practice.Porter won multiple reps 1-on-1’s leaving Michigan State offensive tackle Stanton Ramil grasping at air with an impressive spin move to finish off the session.

+ The flashes Nyckoles Harbor showed on Sunday were hard to ignore. He made a great play up the seam on Georgia corner signee Justyn Rhett. Harbor ran on his toes and forced Rhett to flip his hips and run with him – race Harbor won with ease. The top sprinter and two-way prospect also caught the ball away from his frame multiple times Sunday afternoon after body-catching most of his targets on Satruday. Harbor has also displayed some loose hips and change of direction at the top of his routes.

+ Texas signee Malik Muhammad showed his foot speed and his ability to break on the ball during the 7-on-7 and 1-on-1 periods throughout Sunday afternoon. An effortless mover, Muhammad was consistently in phase with receivers and was always around the football.

Alabama signee Desmond Ricks put on his best performance of the week during Sunday’s practice. He displayed good route recognition during the 1-on-1 period, allowing him to use his length to make plays on the ball. LSU signee Javien Toviano showed his versatility in covering tight ends, running backs and wide receivers during the 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 periods. Some of the true burners at the wide receiver position gave him fits when he had to turn and run, but he put in a solid outing throughout practice. For team speed, unsigned Ethan Nation took the most reps of any defensive back. Nation is undersized, but his competitiveness and ball skills were notable.

+ Florida interior offensive line signee Roderick Kearney had a tremendous 1-on-1 period to start Sunday afternoon. He dropped his anchor on Peter Woods, Xzavier McLeod and Ashton Porter to win his first three reps of practice. Kearney also showed the ability to create a push during the team period as well to round off a solid performance. There weren’t a ton of standout offensive linemen for Team Speed on Sunday, but Florida State tackle signee Lucas Simmons continued to look the best of the group. Simmons is smooth and controlled in his pass set and did a nice job of staying in position. Alabama signee Olaus Alinen continued his solid week of work, playing multiple spots on the line. He had wins and losses in 1-on-1’s but fared better than most of his peers in that respect. Alinen also opened up some holes during the team period.

+ Five-star Ohio State wide receiver signee Noah Rogers had the best catch of Team Phantom’s practice he went up and made a snag over Malik Muhammad during the 1-on-1 period. Rogers also continued to show his ability to separate from defenders at the top of his routes but was up and down in finishing plays.

On3’s Cody Bellaire contributed to this article.