Army All-American Bowl 2015: Top Recruits Announcing Commitments at Game
The social media age has turned every recruit's commitment into a spectacle. Whether via tweet, televised press conference or skywriting, players make their decisions known in the most public of fashions. Hell, even the announcement of the date of the announcement gets coverage.
The Army All-American Bowl provides one of the best platforms. Not only will the nation's best high school players be in action, but many of them will be playing in a nationally televised game for the first time. There's really no better place possible in terms of the number of eyeballs headed your direction.
As such, there has become something of a deluge of scheduled commitments for Saturday's contest. No fewer than five players will take the plunge, and the list could reach double digits by kickoff. That creates something of a chilling effect akin to national signing day. If so many people are announcing at the same time, it takes away from the attention each individual can receive.
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It's a cost-benefit analysis that recruits must run but nonetheless builds excitement around what would otherwise be a shrug-worthy exhibition game. With that in mind, let's check in on some of the highest-profile names who are confirmed to be making their decisions Saturday.
S Marvell Tell
The nation's No. 4 safety appears headed for Los Angeles, with USC emerging as a favorite. Tell's Crystal Ball predictions at 247Sports give him a 76 percent chance of becoming a Trojan, with UCLA coming in second at 18 percent. UCLA and USC have long been favorites for the Encino, California, native's services.
Listed at 6'2" and 175 pounds, Tell will need to put on weight before getting on the field, but he has pro-level talent. He is ranked No. 57 on 247Sports' composite rankings and is the ninth-best player in the state of California.
While he doesn't possess elite top-end speed, Tell makes up for it with excellent instincts and strong overall performances against the run and pass. Tell moves decisively and with intelligence, particularly when stopping the run. He is a little less polished against the pass, particularly when it comes to creating turnovers.
But those are things that can be taught. Tell has all the physical tools necessary to be a star wherever he goes. If he doesn't develop into at least a two-year starter, it'll be a pretty big surprise.
ATH Stanley Norman
Another guy who needs bulk to expect any long-term success, Norman is listed at 180 pounds but looks smaller in uniform. He's also a guy who put on a good deal of extra weight over the last year, which could mean his frame is finally starting to fill out.
If that's the case, he'll be a pretty significant addition to his next stop. Norman is an excellent all-around athlete who will move to cornerback or wide receiver full time in 2015, changing a bit of how we evaluate his talent. As a wideout, the frame and general size issues may be more important. As a cornerback, he might be able to start as a freshman.
Norman is a threat to make big plays any time he's near the ball, using his quickness to jump routes on defense and to make gains after the catch on offense. It's possible he could play both sides of the ball. Odds are he'll probably start out on defense given that's where he's more polished and where he could get on the field faster.
Norman's recruitment is a bit up in the air, with UCLA and Arizona State standing out as the early favorites. The Sun Devils and Bruins are tied at 44 percent on his 247Sports Crystal Ball meter. USC and Louisville are relative dark horses at six percent.
Looking deeper, it appears Arizona State has an edge. Seven of the last eight analysts to make their predictions have given the nod to the Sun Devils.
DT Neville Gallimore
We're down to a two-horse race for Gallimore, who will choose between Oklahoma and Ohio State on Saturday. 247Sports' Crystal Ball currently gives the Sooners an edge at 63 percent. The Buckeyes are second at 37 percent, and there are only two teams listed as potential options. Florida State had been in the running but appears to have dropped out.
The best word to describe Gallimore is "beast." Listed at 6'3" and 300 pounds, Gallimore already brings a pro-ready body and is one of the class' best defensive linemen off the ball. He's gone a little underappreciated through the process because he's Canadian—only three players from Ontario even have 247Sports pages—but could become an instant contributor.
That said, Gallimore is a bit raw in terms of his technique and has played against subpar opponents for most of his career. He's lightning quick whenever the ball is snapped but tends to get a little lost in the shuffle when his initial burst doesn't create headway.
Developing more consistent fundamentals will be key, as will working with more intensity. It wouldn't be fair to call him lazy, but he can rest on his physicality at points. Whenever he learns to meld his physicality with consistent technique and effort, he'll be something special.
It'll be interesting to see if his coaching staff forces a redshirt year for those purposes.
Among others expected to make their announcements: WR Lawrence Cager, TE Devonaire Clarington, DE Kyle Phillips.
List of recruits announcing at the game courtesy of 247 Sports.
Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.
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