Tracking Top Practice Performers from 2017 Army All-American Bowl
SAN ANTONIO — The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is one of the nation's most prestigious events for college football recruits from all over the country. The Alamodome will feature roughly 100 athletes competing in a nationally televised game Saturday on NBC.
Some of the U.S. Army bowl alumni include NFL notables Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings), LeSean McCoy (Buffalo Bills), Odell Beckham Jr. (New York Giants), Patrick Peterson (Arizona Cardinals) and Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys). Collectively, 330 NFL draft picks have played in the game, according to All American Games, the producer of the bowl.
The players arrived in San Antonio on New Year's Day and began practicing Monday morning. Last year's game drew an attendance of 39,121 and featured quarterback Shea Patterson, who is now the quarterback at Ole Miss. The game hasn't drawn fewer than 25,000 fans since 2003.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
"Put on for our country #ArmyBowl #teamadidas pic.twitter.com/VEdfiFmQOb
— adidas Football US (@adidasFballUS) January 2, 2017"
Want to know which players are standing out in practice sessions? Interested in the latest news on the nation's top college football recruits? Stay tuned throughout the week as we highlight the action.
Thursday
Is the Najee Harris saga ending?
On the final public practice day for U.S. Army All-Americans, the soap opera that has involved Alabama running back commit Najee Harris appears to have come to a conclusion.
The nation’s top-ranked player, per multiple reports, will remain committed to Alabama and board a flight to the Yellowhammer State in time to be on campus starting next week, according to John Garcia Jr. of Scout.com. Harris is an early enrollee.
Multiple rumors have fluttered the West team practice since Harris’ arrival in San Antonio. Was he still an Alabama commit? Would he flip to Michigan? As an early enrollee, would he fly directly to Alabama? Or Michigan? Or back home to California?
"Najee Harris on a decision being made on flying to Oakland after the Army Bowl:
— John Garcia, Jr. (@JohnGarcia_Jr) January 5, 2017"
"It's not true." https://t.co/NsmrvNShpd
Per Garcia, Harris squashed a rumor of heading home to California after the bowl game. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, also an Alabama commit, told Hank South of 247Sports that he and Harris were on the same flight to Birmingham, Alabama, for Sunday.
If all that's written comes to fruition, the Crimson Tide will soon have yet another dominant running back to work with. Harris is a 6’3”, 225-pound locomotive who also is an excellent receiver out of the backfield.
Okudah's decision involves plans after football
Ranked as the nation's top athlete, Jeffrey Okudah is ready to make his verbal commitment Saturday. He reconfirmed with Bleacher Report that Ohio State, Florida State and Oklahoma are his top three schools, but he added that he’s made a decision.
The winning school? Okudah said he chose the university that, in his mind, was best suited for life after football.
"Not a lot of schools have a plan set up for life after football," he said. "For some, it's what you can do for them for four years, and then you're out of there. A school that can actually return the favor, that carries a lot of weight with me."
"CB Jeffrey Okudah knows where he is going.
— Damon Sayles (@DamonSayles) January 5, 2017"
Do you?#GoBucks #GoNoles #Sooners#ArmyBowl pic.twitter.com/lhKMZoccGE
Okudah said the decision was a lot harder than some may assumed, but he is comfortable with his choice. He's looking forward to being in a program that "provides a real plan set in place for me."
UCLA DE pledge: 'Iron sharpens iron' vs OTs
UCLA defensive end commit Jaelan Phillips has been one of the most consistent players during Army bowl practices. Part of his success comes with understanding who he’s lined up against each day.
Phillips, the nation's top-ranked defensive end and the No. 7 player overall, has had plenty of time to hone his craft competing against some of the best offensive tackles in the country. As a member of the West team, Phillips has battled Foster Sarell, Stanford commit Walker Little and Austin Jackson—three 5-star prospects who also are three of the top-six ranked tackles in the 2017 class. Sarell and Little are Nos. 1 and 2 overall according to Scout.com.
"The experience has been amazing. Everybody's been awesome, and I've been able to compete every day," Phillips said. "It really challenges me. It makes me better being able to utilize different parts of my skill sets to try and beat them."
Phillips will get to line up against guys like Georgia commits D'Antne Demery and Andrew Thomas and Notre Dame pledge Josh Lugg on Saturday. His teammates have given him excellent practice reps throughout the week.
"Whether I'm winning reps or losing reps, this all is making me a better all-around player," he said. "Iron sharpens iron. That's what's going on out here."
Coach remembers 1st encounter with OSU pledge
West team coach Todd Dodge is excited about the team he's working with for Saturday, but he's especially excited about being reunited with Ohio State linebacker pledge Baron Browning.
A few years back, Dodge visited the Browning household as the head coach of North Texas. He was recruiting Baron's older brother, Barry, who ultimately went to Stanford. Dodge remembers Baron as a young athlete in elementary school but full of potential in his age group.
"When I was there [at North Texas], we had an offer out to [Barry] and thought we had a decent chance," Dodge said "At the time, he had offers from us, SMU and Tulsa. Then all of a sudden, Stanford figured out what an outstanding player and student he was. They gave him an offer, and he went to Stanford.
"Baron was about 8 or 9 years old, and I remember him sitting in that living room listening to everything that was going on. He took it all in. I'm sure he was thinking one day, it'd be him."
Fast forward to Browning the U.S. Army All-American. He's a 6'4", 230-pound, do-it-all linebacker and, according to Dodge, one of the captains for Saturday's game.
"He's one of the absolute top linebackers in the nation," Dodge said. "And he's as good a kid as he is a player."
Iowa DE commit peaking at right time
At 6'5" and 260 pounds, Iowa defensive end commitment A.J. Epenesa can be an intimidating athlete. It only benefits the East team that he appears to be reaching his peak just in time for Saturday's Army bowl showdown.
Epenesa showed signs of dominance during Thursday's practice and arguably had his best day competing in San Antonio, using his speed to get into the backfield and his length to disrupt both run and pass plays. Barton Simmons of 247Sports defined Epenesa as a "physical specimen who continues to look like a future force for Iowa."
During Tuesday's combined practice, which featured East players against West players in 1-on-1 drills, Epenesa held his own against some of the West's elite offensive tackles. He's been committed to Iowa since January of last year and has high expectations as a freshman.
"I assume I'll be out wider and rush the passer and play the run," Epenesa told Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. "I talk to [tight ends] Coach [LeVar] Woods, who is my recruiter, and they expect me to contribute as a true freshman."
Wednesday
Wednesday was an off day for the U.S. Army All-Americans, as no practices were scheduled. A short media session late Wednesday morning helped prove what many already may assumed about the uncommitted athletes who will announce their verbal commitments during Saturday's game.
They not only know where they're headed, but also solid with their pledges.
Seven athletes, as 247Sports first reported, will announce their verbal commitments Saturday. Bleacher Report caught up with five of the seven during the allotted, 30-minute media window on Wednesday (5-stars Foster Sarell and Jeffrey Okudah were unable to be reached).
'Life decisions' playing a role in Holmes' choice
When it comes to football, Darnay Holmes knew that he couldn't go wrong with any of the schools in his top four—USC, UCLA, Nebraska and Ohio State.
For Holmes, Saturday's commitment will come down to what he called "life decisions." He said his decision focused more on the man he could become outside of football.
"When I look at these four schools, I want to make sure my brand is at another level and that I'll be able to build my brand to be capable of taking care of my mother and sister," he said. "I don’t want to make a commitment that's only going to help me three or four years. I want to be sure wherever I go, the alumni network and connections after football are there."
Holmes is a 5-star cornerback who also could see sporadic time as a wide receiver. His numbers as a California senior at Calabasas High School were just impressive on offense as they were on defense, according to MaxPreps. Holmes' versatility is what makes him such an intriguing recruit.
His life decisions, he said, will be what makes him a complete individual overall.
"You have all these schools coming at you, and they all provide different things," he said. "Only some of them can provide lifetime connections. That’s what I’m looking at with my family."
From high school to college: RB Benjamin reflects
Texas 4-star running back Eno Benjamin is one of the many early enrollees at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Once he finishes the game, Benjamin said he will return home briefly and then head to the school he chooses Saturday.
The concept of starting the next chapter in his life, he said, hit him during his last day of high school last month.
"I was hanging out with friends, and we're all laughing, but I also was thinking how different things were going to be after that day," he said. "It was kind of a bittersweet moment, but I'm ready to attack the future."
Benjamin will choose from Texas, Baylor, Arizona State, Utah and Michigan on Saturday. The winning school gets a running back who rushed for more than 2,600 and 32 touchdowns as a senior.
The potential of duplicating or topping his personal highs statistically, however, played a back seat in his decision.
"There were a lot of similarities with all the schools," he said. "It was just being able to see myself not playing football. You only get a certain amount of weeks, and after that, you have to be a regular student. I think that was one thing that really made the difference with me."
Upcoming decision more than football for OT Filiaga
Fresh off winning a Texas state championship at Aledo High School, 4-star offensive tackle Chuck Filiaga admitted to a final decision, and he said he was excited about Saturday. He will choose out of Michigan, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
Filiaga said his winning choice revolved around an academic state of mind. He is looking to major in either business or marketing and has aspirations of living a comfortable lifestyle—if he doesn't end up in the NFL.
"We had an investor speak to us, and he talked about making your money work for you," Filiaga said. "Academic support is big to me. Football is going to be good everywhere I go, but academics is what's most important to me and my family. I want a great degree that can help me be set for life."
All three schools have their respective academic reputations, and Filiaga said he is looking forward to putting on a college uniform. He can play tackle or guard at the next level.
WR Calvin about relationships, opportunity
Los Angeles 4-star wide receiver Jamire Calvin admitted that while he's pretty firm with his forthcoming decision, there are still some questions he has before finalizing his commitment.
He will choose from Nebraska, Notre Dame, Alabama and Washington State on Saturday, and when it involves his commitment, he said player-coach relationships and early playing time were two major factors.
"It's the relationships and where I felt most comfortable," he said of the potential winning program. "I just thought I'd have the best opportunity to make it to the next level from there.
"[Playing time] had a really big impact. Most of the schools wanted me to play early. You have to go in and earn your position regardless, but playing early was a big thing for me."
Calvin said he's being recruited to play all over the field. He can line up as a slot receiver, but he also has enough speed to play outside receiver, despite being [height].
Is USC the obvious favorite for S Bolden?
There are many who believe Bubba Bolden will recommit to USC on Saturday. Ohio State is the team not named USC with the best chance to land him, but many feel this race is comfortably in the hands of the Trojans, primarily because of the relationships he's built with the coaching staff.
Bolden wouldn't tip his hand Wednesday, but he did mention he decommitted from the Trojans in July to give himself a chance to test the waters with other programs.
"It's been pretty tough, honestly. With me decommitting from USC, and then seeing how they played the first four weeks, it was kind of bad," Bolden said. "But USC started building the relationship with me, and they started building their program.
"Ohio State is a great program, a winning program, too. I can't say that USC is the decision I'm making. I can't say that Ohio State is, either. Everybody will see Saturday."
Bolden added that he has spoken with his family about his decision, and he's excited about next-level football.
Look for additional updates from the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Thursday.
Tuesday
UGA Commit LeCounte Goes Viral with Play
Believed to be the first time since the U.S. Army Bowl was held in San Antonio (it was held in Dallas in 2001), the East and West teams competed against each other in a combined practice. Players participated in 7-on-7 drills, as well as individual drills where receivers lined up against defensive backs, running backs ran routes against linebackers and linemen battled in the trenches.
Georgia stud safety Richard LeCounte III, who competes for the East team, made a play during the practice that may prevent the teams from combining efforts again. LeCounte defended 5-star receiver Devonta Smith in a 1-on-1 drill and not only bullied him out of bounds but drove Smith to where he fell over a seated bench.
LeCounte was dominant throughout the day, and entering early Tuesday evening, the video has been retweeted more than 6,000 times. It should be noted that Smith, the nation's No. 2 receiver, had a solid day outside of the one play. He was a playmaker in 1-on-1 drills and made a push for the top spot at his position.
All Eyes on Impressive OU Pledge Phillips
Oklahoma 4-star linebacker pledge Jacob Phillips has been consistent since putting on the Army bowl practice uniform. He was just as sharp on Tuesday as he was Monday—if not more.
Phillips, who measured in at 6'3" and 235 pounds, showed great speed and lateral movement in drills, and he made plays aggressively throughout the day.
Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports described Phillips on Monday as an athlete who "ran very well, was physical against the run and also has soft hands." Wiltfong's video from Monday shows his skill set.
Phillips committed to Oklahoma on Oct. 12, but he told Wiltfong on Sunday that LSU is a team to watch as national signing day approaches.
CB Holmes Backs Down from Nobody
If we learned anything from Tuesday, it's that Darnay Holmes doesn't back away from any challenges. Even as the nation's top-ranked cornerback, he was just as much the hunter as he was the hunted in practice.
Holmes competed in 1-on-1 drills against a myriad of receivers, including 4-star Oliver Martin and the Michigan-bound duo of 5-star Donovan Peoples-Jones and 4-star Tarik Black.
Holmes will be one of the athletes announcing his verbal commitment during Saturday's game. His ceremony will include hats from Big Ten foes Nebraska and Ohio State and Pac-12, crosstown rivals UCLA and USC.
"They've been recruiting me the hardest during the four-year process," Holmes told Brandon Huffman of Scout.com. "I'm going to make sure I acknowledge their recruitment of me and it would be disrespectful if I don't put those hats on the table the way they've recruited me. I want to show them my respect."
Can Stanford Get the Ultimate OT Duo?
Watching 5-star offensive tackles Foster Sarell and Walker Little dominate in lineman drills has to make Stanford fans hoping and wishing for their own happy ending with recruiting.
"#Stanford could wind up with the No. 1 & No. 2 recruits in the country: five-star offensive tackles Foster Sarell & Walker Little. pic.twitter.com/zNDhz8hKPC
— Ryan Bartow (@RyanBartow) January 2, 2017"
The Cardinal scored Little's commitment on Dec. 16, and on Saturday, Sarell will make his verbal commitment known during the game. He will choose out of Stanford, Washington, USC, Notre Dame and Nebraska.
Sarell and Little—ranked Nos. 1 and 2 among offensive tackles nationally by Scout.com—have worked extremely well together during the Army bowl practices, keeping the quarterbacks away from defenders and making holes for the running backs. Stanford would love to have the two manning down the left and right tackle positions.
Both are playing well enough to challenge for early playing time in college, and Saturday, the world will find out if they will be teammates. Washington is believed to be Stanford's biggest competition in the race for Sarell.
Monday
Chasing Harris for the RB Throne
Alabama commit Najee Harris is the nation's top-ranked overall player in the 2017 class, per Scout.com, and looked the part of a 5-star running back in the opening practice. He's a big, strong, physical specimen who will only benefit from a talented offensive line.
As good as Harris is, he must watch his back, as the quest for the top running back spot in the country is on—and it's competitive. Harris, who plays for the West team, has teammates in USC pledge Stephen Carr and 4-star Eno Benjamin, who had their own highlights Tuesday.
On the East team, the running back of the day might have been Georgia pledge D'Andre Swift, who dazzled coaches and those in attendance, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.
Harris, Florida State commit Cam Akers, Carr, Swift and Khalan Laborn, another Seminoles pledge, make up Scout.com's top five running backs. Laborn showcased his skills at the Under Armour All-America Game on Sunday. The other four will be on notice Saturday at the Alamodome.
Ohio State-Bound QB Martell Shines
The West squad has a solid trio of quarterbacks for Saturday in Ohio State commit Tate Martell, Michigan pledge Dylan McCaffrey and TCU-bound Shawn Robinson. The quarterbacks had their highlights, but Martell threw the ball almost as if he had a point to prove.
The Bishop Gorman senior—who never lost a varsity game in three seasons—made tough throws look easy, playing the role of surgeon in his first day of practice. He also was the first player on the field Monday morning, according to Greg Powers of Scout.com.
"Day 1 In The Books! #WestSide pic.twitter.com/OomIYbjnrS
— Tate Martell (@TheTateMartell) January 2, 2017"
It will be interesting to see if Martell can continue his hot streak throughout the week. It also will be interesting to see if McCaffrey and Robinson—who also had decent days—step their games up a notch before Saturday.
Race for Top WR Is On
The race for the nation's top wide receiver spot had its share of entries Sunday at the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando, Florida. Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl will have a few candidates gunning for that top spot as well.
One person looking to show he's the best is Donovan Peoples-Jones. The 5-star talent and recent Michigan pledge had his share of moments during East team workouts.
One of those moments came on a beautiful pass from Alabama commit Tua Tagovailoa.
Peoples-Jones is ranked as the No. 4 receiver in the 2017 class, according to Scout.com. The No. 1 spot is held by Joseph Lewis, and he'll be looking to keep that position secure. This one-handed snag caught by Scott Schrader of Rivals.com didn't hurt his argument:
The O-Line: Scary on the West Side
Both the East and West squads feature talented offensive linemen, but one look at the West makes you wonder how many yards the impressive stable of running backs can get Saturday.
When the West lined up for 11-on-11 play, the initial line featured 5-star Stanford pledge Walker Little at left tackle, the nation's top-ranked lineman in 5-star Foster Sarell at left guard, 4-star USC commit Brett Neilon at center, 5-star Ohio State pledge Wyatt Davis at right guard and 4-star Chuck Filiaga at right tackle.
For those counting, that's 23 (out of 25) stars protecting the quarterbacks and making holes for the running backs.
What's even scarier is that the West also has guys like 5-star tackle Austin Jackson and 4-star Colorado pledge Jake Moretti to help move the chains Saturday.
Look the Part of an All-American
Gear. There's no better feeling than knowing your efforts on the football field come with perks.
The U.S. Army All-Americans will all play in new Adidas gear, and several athletes decided to showcase what they received on Twitter.
"You gettin' mad, I'm gettin' rich #ArmyBowl #Cleathead pic.twitter.com/XP98zh1L0j
— adidas Football US (@adidasFballUS) January 2, 2017"
Let's see if the new gear helps their games on Saturday.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of Scout.com. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
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