All-Americans celebrate, talk trash after CFB Playoff semifinals

TUESDAY TAKEAWAYS: Army Bowl | Under Armour Game

College football fans around the country were glued to their TVs on Monday night as games between Georgia and Oklahoma and Alabama and Clemson played for a spot in the College Football Playoff Championship Game. Whether it was at the games live, in sports bars around the country or social media, everyone had a take on how things played out.

But how about at the two major high school all-star games, where some players will be on campus for the playoff teams as soon as next week? Well, there was plenty of opinions and trash talking between the participants.

In San Antonio, a large contingent of Georgia signees had an extra bounce in their step as they celebrated the Bulldogs victory over Oklahoma. Five-star signee Jamaree Salyer said that while the future Dawgs had no official watch party on Monday night, once things became final they started their celebration.

“I was watching with [fellow Georgia signee] Trey Hill and as soon as the game ended we ran out in the hall celebrating,” Salyer said. “We went straight to [Oklahoma] signee Brey Walker’s room and started banging on the door.”

Salyer said several the Sooners faithful took it in stride, even though Walker claimed the Sooners were “cheated.”

“The Georgia guys have been on my case this whole trip,” Walker said. “You’ve got to rep your team and they won so what can you say? Hopefully next year we are back in there again and we can see them and change it.”

One of the guys giving Walker the hardest time was recent Georgia tight end signee Luke Ford. Because Ford is on the West team with Walker, running back T.J. Pledger and Oklahoma defensive line signees Ronnie Perkins and Ron Tatum, he had to hear plenty of Sooner talk over the past few days. On Tuesday it was his chance to gloat.

“There was a lot of trash talk this week,” Ford said. “So you know I had to give it back to them once we won. We were talking a lot during the game but I knew Georgia was going to come back. Now it’s my turn to celebrate.”

In Orlando, Alabama signee Xavier Williams said the future Tide players gathered to watch the game in the players lounge and were also communicating via phone calls and text messages.

“"I watched a lot of the game and I was on the phone talking with other commitments during it,” Williams said. “ I knew Alabama was going to win, but we got out of our game a little in the second half. The defense was great all game. We will have to play better against Georgia.”

With the final set, Salyer said he expects there to only be more trash talk between now and Monday’s game.

“We are going to be ready,” Salyer said. “We’ll be letting the Alabama guys know that we’re coming for them.”