Under Armour All-American Game 2015: Top Uncommitted Recruits to Watch

Some of the top college football players in the nation will be in action on New Year's Day participating in various bowl games and the College Football Playoff. They represent the best of what college football has to offer in the here and now, although there are some NFL-bound prospects and graduating seniors who will be playing their last games on Jan. 1. 

Not to worry, as the next crop of football stars will eventually fill that void, and you can catch them in action on the following day, Jan. 2, in the Under Armour All-America Game, the high-profile exhibition featuring some of the top high school senior recruits in the nation.

If you're watching the game, which takes place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, and consider yourself a diehard fan of a big-time collegiate problem, there's a decent chance an eye-popping play will be cause for anxiety. What could be worse than seeing a wideout make a stunning catch, only to see his bio flash on the screen and read: attending [insert rival college program here]. 

Fortunately, not every player suiting up for the Under Armour exhibition has picked a school yet, so observers can at least enjoy some of the prep studs without fear of eventual repercussions. Better yet, the sheer number of offers some of these teenagers get means one's favorite team could very well be in the mix. 

Here is a quick look at three of the top uncommitted recruits set to participate in the Under Armour All-America Game.

Top Uncommitted Recruits to Watch

Byron Cowart, SDE (No. 4 overall, No. 1 position)

Credit: 247Sports

The Florida Gators haven't had much to cheer about over the past couple of seasons, but a recruit like strong-side defensive end Byron Cowart could give the Gator faithful reason to believe the coming years will be full of good cheer and dominant football.

According to 247Sports' Crystal Ball predictions, 80 percent of scouts and experts polled believe Cowart is headed to Gainesville in 2015. However, the Florida State Seminoles aren't far behind at 13 percent, and their current run of dominance could be very attractive to the Florida native.

It's easy to see why top programs are clamoring for Cowart. He's 6'4", 250 pounds and has 24 sacks and seven forced fumbles across his junior and senior seasons.

The Armwood High School product is adept at pass rushing both on the edge and up the gut, pursuing the ball-carrier and he possesses an impressive motor. ESPN's Derek Francis noted Cowart's been vicious in camp preparation for the Under Armour contest:

It's little wonder why Cowart is making plays like this in practice. His NFL idols are some of the most relentless defensive linemen in the game.

"I'm just trying to show people that I'm violent and dominant and aggressive and relentless. If I say I look up to guys like (Ndamukong) Suh and (Nick) Fairley, I have to play just like them," he said, via AL.com's Wesley Sinor. 

The other Under Armour players better watch out on Friday. They don't want to be on the wrong end of a Cowart highlight and show up to campus this summer as damaged goods.

Kendall Sheffield, CB (No. 18 overall, No. 3 position)

Credit: 247Sports

Viewers might not get to fantasize about speedy cornerback recruit Kendall Sheffield's collegiate future for very long during Friday's game. The 18-year-old stud out of Texas says the decision has been made and all that's left is to make the announcement, which will come during the Under Armour All-America Game, per AL.com's John Talty. It appears two colleges stand out above the rest in the recruiting blitz, per Talty:

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The five-star defensive back says all 37 schools that have offered him a scholarship are still in the running. However, most believe it has come down to Alabama and Texas A&M. Texas A&M is expected to name John Chavis as its new defensive coordinator, but Sheffield said Wednesday that it wouldn't have much impact on his decision. His potential position coach, Terry Joseph, is still there, and that's the biggest factor for him.

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Alabama doesn't seem to need much help on defense, but a player like Sheffield could eventually become a star for a program as tough as the one in Tuscaloosa. 

Sheffield posted eight interceptions from his sophomore year through his senior season, along with 12 pass breakups over his past two years. Those stats aren't terribly impressive at face value, but it's likely most quarterbacks, even the Texas-tough ones, simply stayed away from this hyper-athletic cover corner. 

Texas A&M likely holds some sway as a top in-state program, and Sheffield could have a chance to play much sooner considering the Aggies lack the depth and overall skill of Alabama on defense.

Soso Jamabo, RB (No. 27 overall, No. 1 position)

Credit: 247Sports

From one Texas star to another. The rhythmically named Soso Jamabo is coming out of Plano West High School in Plano, Texas, and is a surprisingly tall (6'2.5") power back with a fluid running style and speed to burn once he gets to the outside. Think Alabama's Derrick Henry for a quick comparison. 

Jamabo's future is truly cloudy, even for the prognosticators at 247Sports. According to their Crystal Ball predictions, UCLA leads the way at 33 percent (maybe Myles Jack needs a breather), followed by Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Baylor and Notre Dame, all of whom garnered at least 12 percent of the predictions.

Jamabo has already visited Notre Dame and UCLA and commented on the allure of those two prestigious programs.

"Notre Dame, I liked their unity. They were close knit as a team and when I took my visit they were hot at the time," he said, via ESPN Insider Tom VanHaaren (subscription required). "UCLA, even after they lost they didn’t have any down spirits. They never gave up and they took the loss and went on with it."

Clearly, the 5-star tailback's talents transcend geographic and regional boundaries. His 2014 statistics have copy editors around the country triple-checking the numbers for typos. Jamabo racked up 2,279 rushing yards on 234 attempts, 44 of which ended up in a trip to the end zone.

He might not be too shabby in the passing attack, either. VanHaaren provided a look at the 18-year-old's catching ability in practice: 

Jamabo's high school squad didn't appear to feel throwing him the ball was necessary with the handoffs working so well. He recorded just 16 catches in 2014, although he did manage to turn those into 284 yards and three more scores. This shouldn't be any cause for concern about Jamabo's viability in a pass-heavy attack. Running backs at the lower levels often take time to refine their instincts and utility in the passing game.

Position rankings, measurements, stats and recruiting info courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.