Army All-American Bowl: Who Are the Top 20 Players Slated to Play?
The Army All-American Bowl is hailed as the top high school football all-star game in the nation.
How big is this game, you ask? So big that the practices are heavily scrutinized, and this is a prime platform for the top uncommitted players to announce their college destinations.
We'll rank the top 20 prep stars who'll be in action January 8th in San Antonio, and if they're uncommitted, we'll give you a peep into where they could land.
Strap on your chinstrap and click begin!
No. 20: Lamar Dawson
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Why he's ranked here: Dawson is a top inside linebacker prospect and the top overall player in Kentucky. Dawson excels against the run with great instincts and strength at the point of attack and has the athletic ability to drop back and be a factor in coverage.
Where he's headed: Dawson has not announced his choice and is currently looking at Kentucky, USC, Tennessee, Michigan and Oregon.
No. 19: Brian Bobek
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Why he's ranked here: Explosive off the ball, Bobek is an old-fashioned Midwestern Illinois football player. He'll hit you in the mouth and play with passion, toughness and technique. He plays with solid knee bend and can get to the second level to make blocks on linebackers.
Where he's headed: Bobek, from Illinois Fremd, has already chosen to head to Columbus and play for the Buckeyes of Ohio State.
No. 18: Sedrick Flowers
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Why he's ranked here: Extremely athletic, Flowers is an offensive guard that can be used to wide pull, short pull, trap, reach, seal, pin and downblock. He's very agile and has fantastic foot quickness. He uses his hands to counter very well and is very productive on the second level and in space against smaller defenders.
Where he's headed: The Texas North Shore attendee will be punishing Big 12 defensive linemen and based in Austin, as he will be a Texas Longhorn.
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No. 17: J.W. Walsh
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Why he's ranked here: Walsh is a top-notch dual-threat QB who can blaze defenders with 4.4 speed. He also is deadly accurate on the run and makes plays outside the pocket with the best of them. A son of a coach, Walsh has a keen understanding of the game.
Where he's headed: Walsh, who reminds many of Zac Robinson, is slated to follow in Robinson's footsteps to Oklahoma State.
No. 16: Sammy Watkins
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Why he's ranked here: Watkins is an explosive receiver out of the state of Florida who makes plays with the "wow" factor. He can beat a defensive back deep or take a smoke screen, shake and bake and go the distance. He's got good size at 6'1", 185 pounds and will be a star.
Where's headed: Watkins is committed to become a Clemson Tiger.
No. 15: Timmy Jernigan
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Why he's ranked here: Jernigan is one of the very best defensive linemen in this year's prep class. 6'2", 275 pounds, Jernigan is a prototypical 3-technique defensive tackle. He explodes off the ball, penetrates gaps and makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. He's athletic enough to where there's talk of him maybe even moving to defensive end at the next level.
Where he's headed: The Columbia Florida star is looking at Florida State, Alabama, LSU and Michigan. He could pull the trigger at the game or wait until National Signing Day.
No. 14: Steve Edmond
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Why he's ranked here: Linebackers who can play all three downs are more valuable these days because defensive coordinators can disguise packages rather than be predictable on third down and deploy nickel and dime coverages. Edmond likely will be able to play all three downs. He can run, cover running backs, fill holes against the run and take on offensive linemen. He's also a devout bone crusher.
Where he's headed: Edmond committed to Texas early in the process and will be in San Antonio to help recruit more players to play for Mack Brown.
No. 13: Austin Seferian-Jenkins
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Why he's ranked here: Seferian-Jenkins is a tall, athletic tight end and a matchup nightmare. He has the speed to get up the seams and hashes and instincts to gain yards after the catch. At 6'7", Seferian-Jenkins can also be flexed on the perimeter in the red zone and win jump ball throws.
Where he's headed: The Washington Gig Harbor recruit has chosen to don purple and play at local U-Dub for Steve Sarkisian and the Washington Huskies.
No. 12: Brent Calloway
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Why he's ranked here: Calloway is a versatile linebacker who can also play safety and running back. He can cover, play with range and challenge ball carriers on perimeter running plays. He's the type of player who can excel at any position he's asked to play and be a difference maker.
Where he's headed: Calloway will take his talents from Russellville and stay in-state to play for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
No. 11: Cody Kessler
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Why he's ranked here: Kessler, out of Bakersfield, California, has the arm strength to attack defenses at all three levels. He can make all the throws and can also put touch on his ball and place it in tight windows. He's also extremely competitive and confident in his own abilities.
Where he's headed: Kessler was ready to commit to Washington, but at the very last minute he received a scholarship offer from USC, which is where he will play next season.
No. 10: Trey Metoyer
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Why he's ranked here: The Texas Whitehouse receiver may have the largest catch radius and strike zone in this year's receiver class. He snatches and plucks balls out of the air and away from his frame. Combine that with body control, great route running, deep speed and a 6'2" frame, and you've got a stud.
Where he's headed: Metoyer will be an Oklahoma Sooner next year and should make Landry Jones a happy man.
No. 9: Teddy Bridgewater
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Why he's ranked here: Miami Northwestern is one of the very elite and premium high school football programs in the United States. Bridgewater is their leader and quarterback and rallies his team to wins using his arm, brain, instincts, athletic ability and speed.
Bridgewater plays with solid presence in the pocket and is at his best when he can extend the play and buy time for his receivers to beat coverages. He has been compared to Miami QB and Northwestern alum Jacory Harris.
Where he's headed: Bridgewater committed to Miami, but with the coaching change of Randy Shannon out and Al Golden in, he has decided to re-open things. He will look at Miami, Georgia, Rutgers, Louisville and South Florida. Look for the 'Canes to stay on him hard, as his school is a known open pipeline to The U.
No. 8: Nick O'Leary
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Why he's ranked here: An intense tight end with size, athletic ability, strength and hands, O'Leary, the grandson of Jack Nicklaus, is the top tight end in high school football. He presents matchup problems for safeties and linebackers and gets after it as a blocker in the run game.
Where he's headed: O'Leary could pull the trigger at the Army game and will decide between Florida State, Alabama, LSU, Wisconsin and Tennessee.
No. 7: Michael Bennett
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Why he's ranked here: Bennett understands how to play with his hands. This is a trait that makes him a bit more advanced than other defenders, as many prep players get by on being bigger, stronger and faster than their peers. Bennett has great initial quickness, leverage and short area pursuit ability to chase players down the line of scrimmage and make plays.
Where he is headed: Bennett has chosen to battle rival teams in the Legends and Leaders divisions, more commonly known as the Big Ten, as a defensive trench player for Ohio State.
No. 6: De'Anthony Thomas
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Why he's ranked here: Listed as an athlete, Thomas could play running back, slot receiver, wide receiver, defensive back and be a return specialist. He has superb quickness, speed, agility and instincts in the open field. Look for him to make a couple "wow" plays in San Antonio.
Where he's headed: The Crenshaw, California native will stay in the metro Los Angeles area and play for hometown USC.
No. 5: James Wilder, Jr.
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Why he's ranked here: There's not a position on the field where Wilder Jr. can't play and play well. 6'2", 220 pounds, Wilder Jr. has amazing strength and power. He's a very good straight-line athlete and plays fast and furious all over the gridiron. Linebacker and running back look to be his best two spots.
Where he's headed: Wilder Jr. will be at the Army All-American game with the aim to get other stars to join him in Tallahassee to be a Florida State Seminole.
No. 4: Curtis Grant
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Why he's ranked here: Grant is the top linebacker in the land. Big, physical, instinctive and fast are all adjectives that describe Grant of Hermitage High School (Virginia). Grant attacks the line of scrimmage downhill in the run and can also rush off the edge on third down from the perimeter. He reminds many Virgina natives of 49ers linebacker/defensive end Ahmad Brooks.
Where he's headed: Grant is another player who will be a hot commodity to the committed players at the Army game. Many players will be in his ear trying to get him to join them at the schools they are committed to. Grant is considering Florida, Virginia Tech, Alabama, UCLA, Clemson, Nebraska, Florida State and a hoard of other top-notch programs.
No. 3: Malcolm Brown
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Why he's ranked here: Brown is a man-child playing running back. He has incredible size and play ratio and runs with great power, quickness, balance and vision. He revs up his motor in the red zone to finish runs in the end zone. He is a punishing runner and impossible to bring down alone.
Where he's headed: Brown has a chance to make Longhorn fans get sentimental by reminding them of Ricky Williams, as he will run for Texas next year.
No. 2: George Farmer
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Why he's ranked here: Farmer, of Serra High School in California, is the most polished and college-ready receiver in the country. He has a large catch radius, great hands, deep speed, explosion, quickness in and out of his break and playmaking ability. Standing at 6'2" and weighing nearly 200 pounds, Farmer has all the makings of a college All-American performer.
Where he's headed: Considered a USC lock since birth, Farmer recently made it official by announcing for Troy. Matt Barkley and best friend Robert Woods will welcome him with open arms.
No. 1B: Demetrius Hart
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Why he's ranked here: Hart is a very quick, shifty running back that will surprise you with his strength. He's ranked here because in All-Star-type games, these types of backs usually make the most plays that buzz the crowd. Hart can shake and bake in the open field, use his instincts and catch the ball out of the backfield, as he is a dynamic offensive weapon.
Where he's headed: Hart will don maize and blue and and play in the Big House for Michigan next autumn.
No. 1A: Ray Drew
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Why he's ranked here: Drew, a 6'5", 245-pound defensive end from Georgia Thomas County Central, has it all. Strong at the point of attack, Drew can toss blockers aside to play the run, explode off the edge and bend to finish on quarterbacks for sacks. He leaves it all out on the field and plays each play like it's his last. He's the top player in Georgia and will see early playing time wherever he ends up.
Where he's headed: Auburn, Clemson, LSU and Georgia look to be the front runners. Drew could use the grand stage of the Army game to announce or wait to pull the trigger on National Signing Day.
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