Grading the Top 10 Recruits from the 2016 Under Armour All-America Game
Oh, you think recruiting stars don't matter?
You must have missed the 2016 Under Armour All-America Game.
The Nos. 1 and 10 overall players in the 2016 class, per 247Sports' composite ratings, balled out and won co-MVP honors. Both are defensive tackles, and both looked like legitimate men among boys.
Injuries forced some of the other brightest stars to miss the game, but 10 of the top 30 prospects still played.
Here is a grade on how they performed, based on stats (via Blog and Tackle) and subjective observation.
Note About Missing Players
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Defensive linemen Nick Bosa (the No. 6 overall prospect), Oluwole Betiku (No. 11) and Rashard Lawrence (No. 22) did not play due to injury. They would have made this list if they had played.
Also missing is offensive lineman Patrick Hudson (No. 19). Hudson was not declared out before the game, but I didn't notice him on the field. He left Wednesday's practice with what appeared to be a minor injury, per Luke Stampini of 247Sports, and I can't confirm whether he actually played (as weird as that sounds).
Rather than writing something inaccurate, I played it safe and omitted him.
10. S Eric Monroe, LSU
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Overall Rank: 26 S Rank: 2
Eric Monroe is the top-ranked 4-star recruit in the country. He's come so close to earning that fifth star.
Saturday's performance might help him get there when 247Sports releases its final composite ratings. He didn't light the world on fire, and his team lost 27-0, but Monroe showed good instincts and made a splash play for LSU fans to watch on highlight reels.
That play was especially sweet because it came at the expense of an Alabama commit. Monroe came downhill and laid the lumber on future Alabama Crimson Tide running back B.J. Emmons, who he's likely to see again in the SEC.
All-Star games are not immune from rivalries.
Grade: B
9. CB Saivion Smith, LSU
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Overall Rank: 18 CB Rank: 2
Saivion Smith does not appear on the box score, but things could be worse for a cornerback. No tackles means he probably wasn't picked on.
The tape reinforces that, as Smith spent all day in tight coverage. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he locked up receivers all game.
His best play came on 3rd-and-goal from Team Armour's 6-yard line. Jack Allison threw to A.J. Brown, but Smith was on him like glue, forcing the incompletion and short field-goal attempt.
LSU will love that red-zone defense.
Grade: B
8. DE Marlon Davidson, Auburn
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Overall Rank: 17 DE Rank: 2
Marlon Davidson had a strong game for Team Highlight, posting five tackles and one sack in the victory.
His sack came on a 3rd-and-13 in the third quarter, when he used his big frame (6'4", 260 lbs) to bully through the line and take down quarterback Woody Barrett.
Davidson and Barrett are both committed to Auburn, so the next time they line up together will be in practice. Fortunately for Barrett, that means he'll likely get to wear a no-contact jersey.
Grade: A-
7. S Brandon Jones, Uncommitted
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Overall Rank: 15 S Rank: 1
Brandon Jones had a quiet afternoon.
He failed to record a stat and does not show up in the game summary.
Team Highlight held Team Armour to 86 yards on 20 pass attempts, and for that the safety's range deserves credit. But without knowing the plays or what the quarterbacks saw, it's hard to say how much he affected those numbers.
Sometimes, there just aren't plays to make.
Grade: B-
6. OLB Lyndell Wilson, Uncommitted
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Overall Rank: 13 OLB Rank: 1
Lyndell "Mack" Wilson played a role in Team Highlight's dominant defensive showing.
It's just hard to grade how big that role actually was.
The numbers show just one tackle, and that tackle came on special teams, not defense. However, with the way Team Highlight's line owned the trenches, tackles for outside linebackers were hard to come by.
"They didn't let us make any plays," Wilson joked about Team Highlight's front four, per John Garcia Jr. of Scout.com.
Consider this grade a safe "incomplete."
Grade: B
5. ILB Ben Davis, Uncommitted
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Overall Rank: 12 ILB Rank: 1
Although he didn't post huge numbers (three tackles, one for loss), Ben Davis showed why he's the nation's top linebacker.
He started on a high note with a four-yard tackle for loss on Team Armour's first offensive play. He and fellow 5-star recruit Levonta Taylor, who appears later on this list, planted future Michigan running back Kareem Walker in the backfield, setting the tone for a dominant afternoon.
He also played well in space, flashing excellent lateral quickness for a player with NFL size (6'3", 240 lbs). SB Nation's Bud Elliott was impressed with the performance, calling Davis "an NFL lock if he stays healthy."
Grade: A-
4. DT Ed Oliver, Houston
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Overall Rank: 10 DE Rank: 4
Ed Oliver had his way with Team Highlight's offensive line, notching five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one QB hurry.
His quickness through the hole was too much for opponents to handle, and his motor—which 247Sports rates a 10-out-of-10—was always on full display. Even in an All-Star game, he chased down every ball.
The future Houston Cougar, who committed to head coach Tom Herman despite a long list of blue-chip offers, struck fear in the mind of American Athletic Conference coaches. Who in that league can block him?
He should dominate from day one next season.
Grade: A
3. CB Levonta Taylor, Florida State
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Overall Rank: 7 CB Rank: 1
Levonta Taylor looked the part of a future No. 1 cornerback.
On the first drive alone, he showed completeness against the run and the pass. He and inside linebacker Ben Davis crushed running back Kareem Walker for a four-yard loss on first down, and then, on third down, he closed in the flat for a pass breakup on receiver Tino Ellis.
The future Florida State cornerback earned high praise from Noles legend Deion Sanders, who spent the week watching and coaching practice.
"I expect him to walk in there day one and learn the game and to be able to play and contribute," Sanders said on the broadcast, per Kevin Flaherty of 247Sports. "He has the attitude. He has the swagger. He has the work ethic. And academically, he’s sound. So this guy’s going to make a difference in someone’s life."
Grade: A-
2. OT Greg Little, Ole Miss
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Overall Rank: 2 OT Rank: 1
Greg Little showed well for most of Saturday's game, helping Team Highlight hold Team Armour to one sack.
He did have one high-profile breakdown, allowing Florida commit Antonneous Clayton to blow past him and force Dwayne Haskins out of the pocket, but that error was the exception instead of the rule.
The future Ole Miss tackle has great feet for a man his size (6'5½", 305 lbs) and length. If he sticks with the Rebels, he'll be counted on to help replace Laremy Tunsil.
It looks like he's up to the task.
Grade: B+
1. DT Rashan Gary, Uncommitted
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Overall Rank: 1 DT Rank: 1
It doesn't get much better than that.
Rashan Gary owned Team Armour's offensive line en route to six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. The sacks tied an Under Armour All-America Game record, according to Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com, which is crazy since he recorded all three before the second drive of the third quarter.
What makes Gary unique is athleticism. He's big enough (6'5", 293 lbs) to play tackle but has quickness to rush from the edge, as he did en route to his first sack of the game against Texas commit Jean Delance.
He was rightfully named Team Highlight's MVP.
Grade: A+
Note: All recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite ratings.
