Army All-American Bowl 2016: Top 5 Players to Watch

College football fans around the nation will get a glimpse of a number of the game’s future stars as a handful of the nation’s elite 2016 recruits will take part in Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl. 

The nation’s top three quarterbacks, including 5-star and current Georgia pledge Jacob Eason, will be in San Antonio competing this week. 

Additionally, a handful of players are set to announce their college destinations during Saturday’s game—including 5-star tight end Isaac Nauta.

Those players are sure to get the attention of fans, as are a few other players who will be tasked with proving their standing among the nation’s elite at their respective positions.

Which prospects represent the five most intriguing players worth monitoring this week in San Antonio?

*Players listed in alphabetical order.

5-Star QB Jacob Eason

No player in San Antonio generated more headlines in recent weeks than Eason. 

Now that his recruitment is settled, and he’s officially bound for Athens, his next task will be showing the country why he’s billed as the top overall passer in the 2016 class. 

As Barton Simmons of 247Sports notes, Eason was impressive in the East squad’s first practice.

If Eason can continue to display his poise and accuracy all week long, he’s likely to leave San Antonio with his ranking in tact.

5-Star ATH Mecole Hardman Jr.

As the nation’s top-rated athlete, 5-star Mecole Hardman Jr. will be working out as a corner this week—which could be a preview of where he will end up on the college level.

As detailed by BamaOnline’s Hank South, Hardman admits he’s leaning toward playing defense regardless of which school he chooses. Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee are among the schools in the running for his commitment.

He also lined up as a corner at The Opening and propelled his squad to the seven-on-seven tournament title. 

If he puts on the same type of performance in pads all week long, Hardman will erase any concerns about his ability to transition to the secondary at the next level.

5-Star DT Dexter Lawrence

The highest-rated prospect in San Antonio this week is 5-star defensive tackle and current Clemson pledge Dexter Lawrence. 

The 6’4”, 327-pounder is the No. 3 player overall in the 2016 cycle, and like fellow 5-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary at last week’s Under Armour All-America Game, Lawrence is looking to validate his ranking as one of the nation’s top overall players with a strong week. 

If his performance during the first practice on Monday is any indicator, the offensive linemen he will compete against are in for a long week, as noted by Simmons. 

Assuming he continues to dominate, the hype surrounding Lawrence’s abilities will only continue to grow.

5-Star TE Isaac Nauta

Either Alabama, Georgia or Michigan fans will be celebrating Nauta’s commitment on Saturday. 

As the nation’s top tight end, Nauta brings a college-ready frame and the athleticism and skill set of a jumbo receiver to the festivities this week. 

Nauta has shined on the field and in camp settings throughout his prep career. He’s simply too big to be checked by defensive backs, and he’s too athletic for linebackers to stick with him in coverage. 

The argument can be made that no single player on the field can create a bigger mismatch than Nauta, which is what makes him such an interesting player to monitor this week.

4-Star WR Tyler Vaughns

While some players have established themselves as the nation’s best at their respective positions, one spot that could see plenty of movement before signing day is wide receiver.

Tyler Vaughns, a 4-Star California native and current USC commit, holds the distinction of being the nation’s top pass-catcher—a distinction he will look to hold on to by week’s end. 

However, a host of fellow 4-star receivers such as Binjimen Victor, DeKaylin Metcalf, Austin Mack and Tren’Davian Dickson could make a push toward the top spot.

If Vaughns, who hauled in 83 passes for 1,578 yards as a junior, fares well against a loaded crop of defensive backs at the event, he will have a great chance of staying atop the receiver rankings and potentially adding a fifth star to his resume.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani