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Under Armour All-America Game 2023: Score, Recruit Commitments and Reaction
January 4, 2023
The Under Armour All-America Game went down on Tuesday from Orlando, Florida's Camping World Stadium, and Team Phantom emerged with a 14-7 victory over Team Speed.
The scoring started when 5-star running back Cedric Baxter Jr., who committed to Texas and should be line to step in for superstar Bijan Robinson, scored on a 13-yard rush to give Phantom a 6-0 edge.
Baxter, who is from Orlando, followed a solid block from 4-star offensive lineman and Florida commit Roderick Kearney
The Underclassman Report @TheUCReport"IT'S MY CITY THOUGH!" 🔥<br><br>Cedric Baxter Jr. (<a href="https://twitter.com/c4era_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@c4era_</a>) opens the scoring in the Under Armour All-America game with this TD run‼️<br><br>Orlando native and Texas signee <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HookEm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HookEm</a>🤘Phantom on top 7-0<a href="https://twitter.com/UANextFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UANextFootball</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UANext?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UANext</a> <a href="https://t.co/BLrvA78loY">pic.twitter.com/BLrvA78loY</a>
Phantom had a chance to increase the lead with another deep drive, but an interception from 4-star safety and Mississippi State commit Isaac Smith ended the threat.
Five-star wide receiver and returner Zachariah Branch ended up giving Phantom the two-score lead, however, with this electric 93-yard punt return:
The USC commit was named the game's MVP.
The Underclassman Report @TheUCReportHE'S LIKE THAT 🥶<br><br>Zachariah Branch (<a href="https://twitter.com/zachariahb03?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zachariahb03</a>) wins MVP honors as Team Phantom defeats Team Speed 14-7 in the 2023 <a href="https://twitter.com/UANextFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UANextFootball</a> All-America game <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UANext?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UANext</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigHaubert?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CraigHaubert</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TomLuginbill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomLuginbill</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DemetricDWarren?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DemetricDWarren</a> <a href="https://t.co/CFJ7ZVacw0">pic.twitter.com/CFJ7ZVacw0</a>
Scott Schrader @Scott_Schrader<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USC</a> Five-Star Plus+ WR signee ZACHARIAH BRANCH is the On3 MVP for the week at the Under Armour All-America Game and Practices ✌🏼<br><br>More top performers from On3 Director of Scouting & Rankings <a href="https://twitter.com/CharlesPower?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CharlesPower</a>: <br><br>➡️ <a href="https://t.co/jAaIdypfHO">https://t.co/jAaIdypfHO</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/On3USC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@On3USC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/zachariahb03?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zachariahb03</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FightOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FightOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z65xtB9enx">pic.twitter.com/Z65xtB9enx</a>
Team Speed got on the board when 5-star signal-caller and Oklahoma commit Jackson Arnold found 3-star wideout and future Utah Ute Mikey Matthews for a nice contested catch from 23 yards out before halftime.
All-America Game @UANextFootball. <a href="https://twitter.com/_JacksonArnold_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_JacksonArnold_</a> ➡️ Michael Matthews for the first TD for Team Speed! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uanext?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uanext</a> <a href="https://t.co/bLfxlP7Hzv">pic.twitter.com/bLfxlP7Hzv</a>
Matthews was very impressive in the lead-in to the game:
Colin Magnusson @ColinMagnussonMultiple reports out of Lake Buena Vista, FL claim that Utah-bound Mikey Matthews (<a href="https://twitter.com/_mjmatt8?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_mjmatt8</a>) was the most impressive wide receiver at UA All-America practice today.<br><br>There's no longer a need to wonder if the kid has "top-end speed" - he's up against the top DBs in the country <a href="https://t.co/135rsmCFik">https://t.co/135rsmCFik</a>
Speed threatened to tie the game midway in the third quarter, but a tip from 5-star defensive lineman and Clemson commit Peter Woods led to a Team Phantom interception from Derek Williams, a 4-star safety and future Texas Longhorn.
All-America Game @UANextFootballWe're going the other way!! Big time interception by <a href="https://twitter.com/derek2_williams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@derek2_williams</a> ‼️‼️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uanext?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uanext</a> <a href="https://t.co/nEIsxKPGv7">pic.twitter.com/nEIsxKPGv7</a>
Woods gave his perspective on the play from the sideline.
This matchup also featured four midgame commitments.
Two players (4-star edge-rusher Cameron Lenhardt and 3-star cornerback Ethan Nation) are headed to Nebraska, which is now led by ex-Temple, Baylor and Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule.
Amie Just of the Lincoln Journal Star reported more on the Nation commitment.
Four-star defensive lineman Ashton Porter is joining Oregon, and 3-star running back Durell Robinson will head to Charlotte.