Tracking Top Practice Performers from 2016 Army All-American Bowl

SAN ANTONIO — Saturday's the big day for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but the city of San Antonio will be treated to some of the best football players in the 2016 class in practice settings throughout the week.

Ninety of the nation's best will suit up Saturday not only for a worldwide televised audience but also for some of the nation's finest soldiers of the U.S. Army viewing the East vs. West matchup live. The annual event has served as a platform for athletes who have made it to the NFL over the last 15 years, including Andrew Luck, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Peterson, Ndamukong Suh, Odell Beckham Jr. and many others.

Every athlete on this year's rosters is hoping to have similar collegiate and professional success as the aforementioned. Before they make it to college, however, they will be focused on making an impact Saturday at the Alamodome. Here's a daily rundown of those who shined during practice sessions.

MONDAY, JAN. 3: WEST TEAM PRACTICE

Jack Jones: Do-it-all athlete shines

There were several athletes who were fairly consistent in their play Monday, but Jones may have been the most versatile player—and, perhaps, the best player overall. It didn't matter what Jones did; he excelled in every aspect. Jones lined up at cornerback and participated in special teams as a returner. In short, he was near flawless.

At 5'10" and 170 pounds, Jones portrayed the shutdown cornerback every coach wants. The 4-star talent—who also can play wide receiver if necessary—made route running difficult for wide receivers in short, medium and deep routes, and if he wasn't picking up an interception, he was getting a hand on the football.

As disruptive as Jones was at cornerback, he also was resourceful on special teams. He fielded kickoff returns and served as an explosive option for a team looking to score in ways other than offensive run and pass plays.

Jones recently announced his top five by way of an exclusive Bleacher Report video. He reconfirmed his top five, in alphabetical order, of Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, UCLA and USC on Monday.

Shea Patterson: Making a case for No. 1 QB

The battle for the No. 1 quarterback spot most likely will be decided on Saturday. Patterson is ranked the No. 2 pro-style quarterback and the No. 5 overall player, and he'll have a chance to show his worth against Georgia commit Jacob Eason, Florida pledge Feleipe Franks and Louisville commit Jawon Pass, as well as his West teammates, Stanford-bound K.J. Costello and Michigan-bound Brandon Peters.

Patterson, a 5-star, Ole Miss commit, did his part on Monday, completing pass after pass and showing off his arm strength and accuracy. His quick release in seven-on-seven drills ultimately made for a pretty ball thrown, and his ability to scramble and make the pass on the run in 11-on-11 workouts gave West coaches reason to nod their heads in approval.

Patterson, who measured at 6'2" and 195 pounds, committed to Ole Miss in February, choosing the Rebels over LSU, Alabama and a host of other schools. Patterson additionally was named the Elite 11 MVP over the summer in Oregon.

If Patterson can produce on Saturday the same way he produced for IMG Academy during the 2015 season, look for him to take over the top quarterback spot. The quarterback race is a tight one, but Patterson loves the challenge of thriving under pressure.

Mark Jackson Jr.: Size doesn't matter

Forget the fact that he's 6'2" and only 226 pounds—undersized to be classified as a defensive end. Jackson made believers out of the handful of critics who still exist. In addition to being a pass-rushing force on Monday, the 4-star standout also arguably was the most consistent player on the field for the West roster.

On a team featuring a solid defensive line, Jackson was a constant distraction to the offense. He wasn't allowed to touch the quarterback in 11-on-11 drills, but if he were given the green light, he would have finished practice with multiple sacks.

Ranked the No. 15 weak-side defensive end, Jackson committed to Texas A&M in May. Per his stats on 247Sports.com, he finished the year with 57 tackles, 10 sacks and two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns.

Jackson is a player the Aggies hope to keep in its 2016 class. He recently took an official visit to Baylor and has upcoming official visits to Texas (weekend of Jan. 15) and Oklahoma (Jan. 29). Jackson will take his official to Texas A&M the weekend of Jan. 22.

Jordan Elliott: A force on the defensive line

Defensive linemen aren't supposed to win every one-on-one matchup, and while Elliott didn't, he definitely won way more than he lost. The Michigan commit showed nice quickness off the ball and a first step that will get him early playing time in Ann Arbor.

Elliott was a pass-rusher from the inside, making himself a menace to the opposing offensive line and someone who got acquainted with the quarterbacks and running backs in 11-on-11 workouts. He showed himself as a big man who plays with athleticism and someone looking to make the play every time.

Ranked the nation's No. 13 defensive tackle in a 2016 class loaded with elite-level talent at the position, Elliott committed to Michigan on Nov. 28. He chose the Wolverines over Texas, USC and a host of other programs. He is Michigan's top-ranked defensive pledge in its 2016 class.

At 6'4" and 305 pounds, Elliott has the size and skill set to be a solid college contributor. He's looking to use the rest of the week to show that he's the future for Jim Harbaugh's defensive line. Saturday could be a huge day for the 4-star talent.

EAST TEAM PRACTICE NUGGETS (Courtesy of 247Sports.com)

• Dexter Lawrence is a 5-star player, the nation's No. 3 overall player in the 2016 class and the nation's No. 2 defensive tackle for a reason. The Clemson pledge was dominant on the line, physical yet deceptively quick and light on his feet.
• Jacob Eason, the No. 4 overall player and the top-ranked pro-style quarterback, had a solid first day of practice. The Georgia commit showed his worth in 11-on-11 drills, particularly with the accuracy of his intermediate throws.
• Jamel Cook is one of those playmakers you can stick anywhere in the secondary. At 6'3" and 200 pounds, he has excellent length, which equated to his range in one-on-one coverage. The Florida State commit's athleticism and versatility stood out.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports.com's composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles