2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl: The Top 50 Recruits Playing In The Game

The 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl is less than a week away and this year's rosters are stacked with some of the best talent in the country. 

One of the highlights of the college football recruiting season, this is one of the last chances for these prospects to showcase their skills before they take their game to the next level.

There will be commitments and surprises in what should be an exciting and entertaining contest. 

Here are the top 50 recruits that will be playing in the game. 

50. Cody Kessler, QB, USC

Commitment: USC

Kessler is Rivals' No. 2 pro-style quarterback and is the second of USC's great haul at the position.

He's got prototypical size and a high football IQ.  On the field he makes good decisions and doesn't force passes.  However, he's also hesitant to go for the big play and often times manages the offense rather than leads it.

Kessler committed to USC in June and should compete with fellow 4-star quarterback Max Wittek for positioning on the depth chart over the next four years.

49. Kris Frost, ATH

Commitment: Uncommitted

Frost is a difficult prospect to gauge because of his size, 6'3" and 210 lbs. He's played primarily as a linebacker in high school, but has shown solid coverage skills and could be a good candidate to switch over to safety at the next level.

He's a turnover machine who has a knack for big plays and big hits, but might not have the coverage skills and instincts to make it work at the position. On that same note, he needs to bulk up a significant amount to be able to have similar production on the college level.

48. Damian Swann, CB

Commitment: Uncommitted

Swann is a very athletic defender who plays receiver and safety, with some time at cornerback as well, but he projects as a defensive player at the next level.

His athleticism is off the charts and there is potential for him to develop into a truly special talent, but he needs to work on his technique to be successful. His footwork and coverage reads are still very raw.

47. C.J. Johnson, LB, Mississippi State

Commitment: Mississippi State

With some prospects, the label of inside and outside doesn't quite fit, but with him there's no question.

Johnson is a middle linebacker.

He plays so well between the tackles and can hunt down a ball-carrier along the sidelines about as well as anyone. He's incredibly instinctive and reads blocks so well that he rarely gets caught up behind the play.

Right now Johnson isn't very strong, though, and often times if a lineman gets hands on him, it's difficult for him to get free. With some fine-tuning of his technique and a few months in the weight room, he'll be fine.

46. Wayne Lyons, S

Commitment: Uncommitted

Lyons will need to work on his backpedal and man-to-man coverage skills but the tools are there for him to develop into an outstanding play-maker. He's got a great pair of hands and is a very smart football player.

He is a true quarterback of the secondary and will get his troops lined up quickly, calling out adjustments like someone born to play this position.

45. J.W. Walsh, QB, Oklahoma State

Commitment: Oklahoma State

Walsh is about as close to a 5-star quarterback as you can get without actually getting that fifth star. He has one of the strongest arms in the country and the beauty is it's only getting stronger as he grows older.

By the time Walsh fills out his frame and gets into a college workout program, he could have a very rare arm attached to his shoulder.

He's got a great spiral on his ball and can lay it out softly or power it into his target depending on the situation. Not many passers at the high school level have such a great touch on the ball and an understanding of how to throw it depending on positioning. 

44. Brian Bobek, C, Ohio State

Commitment: Ohio State

Bobek is the top-rated center of the 2011 class and one of the best overall recruits in the country.

He plays both offense and defense, but scouts agree his future is on the offensive side of the line.

He's got the ideal build of a center and has one of the quickest releases when snapping the ball that you will ever see. He's also very good at recognizing what the defense is doing and calling out adjustments to blocking schemes.

43. Jason Gibson, OLB, Cal

Commitment: Cal

Gibson, like a couple other top 25 linebackers, plays defensive end in high school, but his future looks to be at outside linebacker where he rates as one of the nation's top prospects. 

Gibson has the size, athleticism, speed and agility to be very successful at the next level. As a pass-rusher, he's a real force on the edge. And if he gets a good burst off the line of scrimmage, there's no blocking him. 

At 6'2" and 210 lbs, he's too small to stay in his role as a pass-rushing end at the next level, but if he can successfully make the transition to linebacker, that might be a blessing in disguise.

42. Jaxon Shipley, WR, Texas

Commitment: Texas

The younger brother of former Longhorn, Jordan Shipley, Jaxton will be following in his brother's footsteps and might prove to be even better at Texas in a couple years time. The steam has started to pick up for Shipley as he's now considered a top 10 receiver.

He's been getting a lot of praise based on his exceptional hands and body control. He runs polished, professional routes and is ready to play immediately. All he really needs to do is bulk up and get stronger so college defenders won't outmuscle him.

41. Sedrick Flowers, OG

Commitment: Texas

One thing immediately stands out about Flowers the moment you see him in drills or on the field.

He is almost unnaturally strong and super-athletic for his size.

He's so quick off the ball and has one of the best initial bursts in the country. He hits his man square in the chest on first impact and drives him into the ground.

Flowers' ability to succeed as a pulling guard is what's most intriguing about his game. He can get to the second level of defenders as fast as anyone his size can and has an unstoppable motor.

40. Nickolas Brassell, WR

Commitment: Uncommitted

Brassell is a high-energy, competitive wideout who can get deep in a hurry every play of the game. He goes hard no matter what the situation and, when he's hot, he's one of the best playmakers in the country. 

The problem is he tends to play out of control and needs to refine his route-running skills to be more than just a deep-ball threat. If he can figure that out and play with more consistency, Brassell has the chance to be a potent force on the next level.

39. Bubba Starling, QB, Nebraska

Commitment: Nebraska

Bubba Starling, a top 10 quarterback, is considering bypassing college football for major league baseball and might head to the pros if he's picked in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft.

Seems the baseball scouts are as excited about this kid's pitching arm as football scouts are: That's because it's one of the best in the country. He's one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, ranked as a top 10 prospect at his position.

38. Tyler Moore, OT, Nebraska

Commitment: Nebraska

Moore has the natural frame of an elite talent and could turn out to be one of the best two or three offensive line prospects from the 2011 class.

He needs to perfect his technique and footwork. But the building blocks are there for a dominating tackle at any level.

A strong run blocker, he's inconsistent in pass protection and needs to learn to play with more focus.

Moore has great explosion at the point of attack and superb footwork, though. It's only a matter of time before he's blocking as well against the pass as he already does against the run.

37. Gregory Robinson, OT, Auburn

Commitment: Auburn

Robinson was one of the top performers at the U.S. Army All-American Combine last year.

At 6'5" and 296 pounds, he's a big and physical player with a lot of upside.

He's a workout warrior that really impresses with his strength and agility.

His technique as a blocker is still a bit raw and he often struggles to stay low and doesn't adjust his feet very well.

Robinson relies on his natural ability right now. But that won't cut it in college.

36. Rodney Coe, RB, Iowa

Commitment: Iowa

Coe is the bruiser of the class, weighing in at 240 lbs. Once he gets going, he's a freight train that is nearly impossible to stop in the open field.

He moves so swiftly for his size and even though he doesn't have the breakaway speed or change of direction ability of other elite backs, Coe's field vision, patience and tackle-breaking ability make him a scary option in the backfield.

35. Charles Jackson, CB, Nebraska

Commitment: Nebraska

Jackson needs to bulk up a bit, but he's got the height and long arms that scouts drool over. Not to mention his hip movement and quick feet are really impressive.

He's got a knack for big plays and plays with really strong instincts, but he can play overly-aggressive sometimes and get himself into trouble.

34. Victor Blackwell, WR, USC

Commitment: USC

Blackwell's greatest asset is without a doubt his hands. The ball just sticks to some guys when they go up for it and he's one of them.

He's got great speed and can really adjust to the ball when it's in the air, but he is undersized and needs to bulk up. Rivals ranks him No. 10 among receivers and Scout ranks him No. 12.

Blackwell has USC written all over him: it's a perfect fit. He's a four-star receiver with great change-of-direction ability, acceleration, and has perhaps the best body control of any receiver in the 2011 class.

33. DeAnthony Arnett, WR, Tennessee

Commitment: Tennessee

Arnett is one of the top receivers in the country, but doesn't receive the same attention as the likes of George Farmer or Kasen Williams. The reality is while they might have more upside, Arnett is ready now and could make a bigger instant impact. 

He's great at creating separation from defenders and runs some of the smoothest and most polished routes of any receiver from the 2011 recruiting class. 

He's on the small side at 6'0" and 175 lbs, but he has great elevation and consistently gets up high to make the catch. His body control and catching ability are really impressive, especially when it comes to making plays in traffic.

32. Demetrius Hart, RB, Alabama

Commitment: Alabama

He's an electric playmaker who's faster on the field than his 4.5-second 40-time would suggest.

Hart has great balance, vision, change-of-direction ability, and at 5'9" and 190 lbs, a surprising ability to break tackles. He may be undersized, but he's a compact and strong rusher who can really dish out punishment

31. Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina

Commitment: South Carolina

One of the top offensive tackles in the country, Brandon Shell is a 5-star talent ranked as a borderline top five prospect at his position. 

With great size and athleticism, Shell's footwork and body control make him one of the best pass blockers in the entire country. He's shown vast improvement in his technique in the last couple of years, so the signs point toward him continuing to improve going forward. 

He needs to work on his run blocking, particularly when it comes to engaging his opponent all the way through the play.

30. Mike Blakely, RB, Florida

Commitment: Florida

Blakely might be on the small side, but he makes up for it with an elusive style of rushing and great cutback ability.

He's a 4-star running back, but he's also a serious receiving threat out of the backfield and has great hands that open up the passing game a lot, with constant dump-offs and fade routes that are difficult to contain.

29. Ishaq Williams, DE

Commitment: Uncommitted 

Ishaq Williams is an athletic freak with the potential to be a superb outside linebacker or strong safety on top of his skill along the defensive line. 

He's long and rangy, runs a deceptively fast 4.7-second 40-yard dash and is one of the most intense players you'll ever come across.

28. Kenny Hilliard, RB, LSU

Commitment: LSU

Hilliard has a great power game and seemingly breaks tackles at will. If you're looking for a North-South runner, he's your guy. Hilliard won't make a lot of fancy moves, but he's a smart player with great instincts who hits his holes hard and fast.

He doesn't have the breakaway speed you like to see from top running back prospects, but he's a decisive runner who gets the most out of each carry.

27. Stefan McClure, CB

Commitment: Uncommitted

McClure might not have the speed to be effective at cornerback at the next level and could wind up making a switch to safety.

But he's got such great timing and positioning to make up for it that it wouldn't be surprising to see him overcome the odds. There might not be anyone better at making a play once the ball is in the air.

26. Herschel Sims, RB, Oklahoma State

Commitment: Oklahoma State

He's the definition of a home run hitter and is one of the most exciting players to watch in the country. It seems like he only plays better the bigger the stage is and gains momentum throughout a game rather than wearing down like some backs.

Sims is on the small side at a generous listing of 5'9" and 190 lbs, but when you're drawing comparisons to LaDainian Tomlinson, that isn't something to be too worried about.

25. Colt Lyerla, OLB

Commitment: Uncommitted

Lyerla plays both tight end and outside linebacker in high school, but his future looks like it'll be on the defensive side of the ball.

He's very athletic and displays some of the most fluid movements of any defender of his size in the country. 

At 6'5" and 225 lbs, he moves like a wide receiver with the hitting ability and aggressive tendencies of a linebacker. 

It's a near-perfect combination of attributes for an outside linebacker who can either rush the passer or drop back in coverage depending on the down.

24. Garrett Greenlea, OT, Texas

Commitment: Texas

The second of the Longhorns' 5-star haul along the offensive line, Greenlea has got a ton of upside and a great natural frame for the position.

There's little doubt he'll quickly excel at the next level. 

He's a near-perfect fit for the mold of offensive tackle coaches are looking for. He's tall, lean, athletic, has a great frame and wingspan, moves his feet well, is quick off the ball and can block anyone from a defensive tackle to a blitzing defensive back.

23. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington

Commitment: Washington

Seferian-Jenkins presents a near-ideal target to throw to at 6'7" and 245 pounds. Because of his size, strength and athleticism, he is almost always open and rarely has to beat out his defender for the ball.

His route-running is polished and he does a great job of getting off the line of scrimmage fast, generally embarrassing anyone who tries to jam him.

22. Charone Peake, WR, Clemson

Commitment: Clemson

Peake will join Mike Bellamy at Clemson to form a scary one-two punch on the offensive side of the ball. The 5-star receiver is quick off the line and one of the best deep-ball threats in the country.

He'll score on you at almost any time and has the speed and height to go over the top of defenders with elite ability. He's grown tremendously more consistent over the last year and will have the chance to be one of the top impact freshman in the country.

21. Aaron Lynch, DE, Florida State

Commitment: Florida State

Lynch has the talent to play on either side of the ball. He plays both tight end and defensive end at the high school level and could potentially succeed at either in college. 

At 6'5" and 255 lbs, he's got ideal size for defensive end and has great burst off the line of scrimmage. With his level of athleticism and versatility, Lynch is a very intriguing prospect.

20. Viliami Moala, DT

Commitment: Uncommitted

The 6'4" and 340 lb defensive tackle is by far the biggest of the elite prospects at his position. Moala can play as a run-stuffing, penetrating defensive tackle or clog up the middle with a constant double-team as a nose tackle. 

Even at his size, Moala is very quick off the ball and can make plays in the backfield and on the edges. That's really the key to his game. He's not just a space eater there to take on blockers.

19. Nick O'Leary, TE

Commitment: Uncommitted

O'Leary might be the best tight end in the 2011 class. He's a receiver and lineman mixed into one body.

He has the all-around skills to be an immediate force on the football field. O'Leary is an elite blocker, has a great set of hands, moves downfield well and runs crisp routes.

There really aren't any issues you can find with his game besides his height. Listed at a generous 6'4", O'Leary doesn't quite have the prototypical size for the position.

18. Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State

Commitment: Ohio State

He's got a nasty side to him you love to see in lineman and has an attacker's mentality that allows him to thrive in the trenches and push his body around with intensity.

Bennett is one of the strongest DTs in the class and does a great job of staying low and getting underneath his opponent. Scouts see him as a raw prospect who would need time to develop, though.

17. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

Commitment: Louisville

Teddy Bridgewater is the next great quarterback from Miami Northwestern High School. If you had to compare him to anyone, it would be UM quarterback Jacory Harris, who was the starter at Northwestern before Bridgewater.

They both throw an accurate ball, have great pocket presence, will stand in the face of pressure until the last second, are mobile and can throw on the run when the pocket collapses.

16. Kasen Williams, WR, Washington

Commitment: Washington

Kasen Williams is ranked as the top receiver in the nation by Scout. He's a big, strong receiver who runs very good routes and creates great separation downfield by overpowering and outmaneuvering defenders.

He's also so strong at the line of scrimmage that it's nearly impossible to jam him. When it's attempted, he usually makes the defender pay big time.

Because of his size and strength, he is one of the hardest players to take down. And when he gets loose in open space, he's a threat to take it to the house every time.

15. Ray Drew, DE

Commitment: Uncommitted

Drew isn't the type of player you need to worry about causing problems off the field. He's a hard-worker, a vocal player and a natural leader.

He'll step in from Day 1 and grind it out at 100 percent from the the minute the whistle is blown until the end of the day.

14. Steve Edmond, MLB, Texas

Commitment: Texas

Edmond is a tackling machine who exploded for 184 tackles his junior year, with 34 of them coming for a loss.

He dominates all over the field and at his size, 6'3", 225 lbs, he can play inside or outside linebacker and potentially could bulk up a bit to play end. There are very few prospects as physically ready as Edmond and probably no one in the nation who can tackle with as much consistency.

He reminds me a lot of Sergio Kindle when he rushes the passer, but he's a better tackler in open space and brings more to the table in run support.

A guy who tackles as well as Edmond has middle linebacker written all over him.

13. Jermauria Rasco, DE

Commitment: Uncommitted

Rasco has improved tremendously every year and that's something to take note of when looking at a prospect. He's an elite defensive end with a very high ceiling and he's only getting better as he ages.

He's got great instincts and discipline, but his technique and movements are still on the raw side. If he can learn to add some weapons to his arsenal and get off the ball quicker, he could end up being the best defensive end in the class.

12. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

Commitment: Clemson

Sammy Watkins is one of the best prospects from the state of Florida and a game-breaker at the receiver position.

He's the complete package in terms of size and speed and a dangerous weapon in the return game as well. He's a threat to take it the distance on any play and has that sixth gear you look for in elite prospects.

The only knock on Watkins is that for someone with his size and catching ability, he hasn't been much of a red zone threat to this point in his career and that's a bit troubling

11. Jeoffrey Pagan, DE

Commitment: Uncommitted

Pagan didn't even start playing the position until this past season and immediately he looked like a natural out there who'd been doing it his whole life.

He's strong and athletic and gets into the backfield in a hurry. He's still very raw and needs to be polished, which means a redshirt year might be in his best interest, but the potential is there.

10. Trey Metoyer, WR, Oklahoma

Commitment: Oklahoma

Trey Metoyer is one of the highest-rated receivers of the 2011 class. He's rated top five at his position by both Scout and Rivals and presents a great combination of size and speed.

He doesn't have the breakaway speed of a George Farmer, but he still runs a 4.5-second 40 and has enough quickness to break loose for a big play if you let him get into space.

At 6'2" and 185 lbs, he needs to put some weight on his frame, but he's already a very strong athlete who uses his strength to avoid getting jammed at the line and to ward off defenders downfield and create separation.

9. Brent Calloway, OLB, Alabama

Commitment: Alabama

Calloway is a player that won't wow you in drills or in the weight room, but the game film speaks for itself. Some guys are just gamers. He's one of those guys.

He plays defensive end in high school, but he's better suited as a linebacker in college.

Calloway is a versatile athlete, though, a high-energy guy who led his team to a state championship in 2009 by dominating quarterbacks and bulldozing defenses as a running back. 

8. George Farmer, WR, USC

Commitment: USC

He has the speed to get past pretty much anyone and the size to ward off stronger defenders without much effort.

Farmer has an ideal combination of skills and natural ability, but needs to fine tune his game some.

He'll make the spectacular catch, but then drop an easy one. Some scouts question his level of concentration and desire to go all out on every play. That's troubling. If he can improve on his consistency, though, Farmer has the goods to be a special talent.

7. Curtis Grant, OLB

Commitment: Uncommitted

Grant plays like a professional, which is very impressive for someone his age.

He can play both inside and outside, reads plays and reacts very fast, and can cover a whole bunch of ground as quickly as any linebacker prospect out there.

There are very few players who can defend the field from sideline to sideline as well as Grant can.

At 6'2", 234 lbs, he has the size to play a number of positions. But because of his ability to get in the backfield as well as cover, he's best suited to be an outside linebacker.

6. Aaron Green, RB, Nebraska

Commitment: Nebraska

Aaron Green is the complete package when it comes to running backs. He runs with purpose, can make the first man miss, gets downfield in a hurry and breaks tackles with surprising speed.

He's undersized at 5'11", 185 lbs, so he needs to bulk up or he just won't stay in one piece at the next level, but that's about all there is not to like about this kid.

5. James Wilder, ATH, Florida State

Commitment: Florida State

James Wilder has off the charts strength and, pound for pound, is probably the strongest prospect in the country.

He's a two-way player who projects as a running back, linebacker or defensive end.

He's a leader on and off the field and plays hard every down.

Wilder seems best suited to play defense. He's a ball hawk with great instincts and could do a lot of damage as a pass-rushing outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid—but he insists he wants to play running back.

4. Tony Steward, OLB

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 6'2" and 225 lbs, Steward is one of the most physically imposing prospects in the country.

The kid is built like a body builder, with hardly an ounce of fat. He's incredibly strong and is one of the most athletic prospects in the country at any position, let alone linebacker.

Based on the way he's built and his natural ability to sniff out the football, Steward is likely to make a big impact as a freshman.

What's most impressive about his game is his ability to get out in open space and cover a ton of ground in pass protection.

3. De'Anthony Thomas, ATH, USC

Commitment: USC

Thomas has the potential to play any number of positions, from running back to cornerback, safety and even linebacker.

Most experts agree he'd be a 5-star prospect regardless of the tag put on him. If he wasn't listed at 5'9" and 160 lbs, Thomas would most likely be the top prospect in the country, but even at his size, he has the tools to be a star wherever he lines up. 

2. Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas

Commitment: Texas

Brown is the premier rusher of the class and a near-ideal prospect for the position. He's a powerful rusher who will put his shoulder down and punish defenders, wearing them down as the game goes on.

He won't wow you with his speed, but as a downhill rusher he's about as impressive as they come. Brown explodes into defenders, has great vision, subtle but quick movements, and breaks tackles at an eye-popping rate. 

1. Tim Jernigan, DT

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 6'2", 275 lbs, Jernigan is an athletic big man who moves extremely well for his size and can get into the backfield in a hurry.

He has all the tools to become an elite college defensive lineman. He's strong, stays low to the ground, drives with his legs, and has a relentless motor.