Army Bowl matchups to watch

SAN ANTONIO, Tex. -- The U.S. Army All-American Bowl kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday on NBC. The Rivals team has been on-site throughout the week of practices leading up to Saturday’s contest and breaks down which match-ups could prove most critical in the game.

MORE: In-game commitment predictions | Practice No. 3 | Team Reports | Rosters

Breakdown: This should be one of the most exciting match-ups. Jack Jones has been the unquestioned leader of the West defensive backfield and his ability to make plays on the football has been showcased throughout the week of practices. Austin Mack has been the most spectacular playmaker among the East wide receiver corps, but he has also had some surprising drops on easy passes. Passing the football looks to be the catalyst of both offenses, and this match-up could determine the direction of the game.

Prediction: Wide receivers usually win one-on-one match-ups with cornerbacks, but Jones has been so dominant this week, we expect him to take this showdown.

Breakdown: The 6-foot-4, 340-pound Dexter Lawrence has sliced through the East offensive line, but in the 6-foot-3, 267-pound Michael Onwenu, he faces a player who can go blow-for-blow with him in the strength department. This is a Clemson commit vs. Michigan commit battle. Interior defensive line has been the strength of the East team throughout the week, while the quarterback position features two of the top six players in the class. Onwenu needs to keep Lawrence and his fellow East defensive tackles at bay so his quarterbacks can operate the offense.

Prediction: Lawrence is the No. 2 player in the 2016 class and Onwenu is No. 157. While Onwenu can handle Lawrence’s power, he is likely to have trouble with the five-star’s quickness.

Breakdown: Tight end is setting up to be a crucial position for both offenses. The 6-foot-5, 253-pound Devin Asiasi has impressed this week with the natural athleticism he has shown for a player of his size. Carter Coughlin, meanwhile, has been a surprise standout among the East linebacker corps, showing the ability to keep up with slot receiver and running backs downfield, let alone tight ends. The West team has the quarterbacks who can spread the football around, and Coughlin will need to be on his game Saturday to keep Asiasi in-check.

Prediction: Asiasi has impressed with his soft hands and fluidity all week, but Coughlin will be able to match him stride-for-stride. Expect the Minnesota commit to contribute to a quiet day for Asiasi.

Breakdown: As the No. 3 ranked player in the 2016 class, Shea Patterson came in with a lot of expectations on his shoulders –- and delivered all week. The ball jumps off the Ole Miss commit’s hand and he is putting the football on his receiver’s numbers. As a Rivals100 prospect a lot was expected of Trayvon Mullen as well, but he has been very quiet this week. The West coaching staff has the 6-foot-2, 175-pound prospect playing safety and he may be struggling with the adjustment, but his skill set has been well-documented and we expected him to make more plays than we have seen thus far.

Prediction: While Mullen is an immensely talented defensive back, we just haven’t seen the playmaking ability this week that we have come to expect from him, while Patterson is definitely on his game.

Breakdown: There was no adjustment period needed for the 6-foot-7, 298-pound Landon Young. He came to San Antonio ready to play and his length and athleticism is exactly what college coaches look for in left tackles. Brian Burns, though, will test Young’s proficiency in those areas because his 6-foot-5, 217-pound frame provides him with the leverage to work against tall offensive tackles and his quickness has been difficult for East linemen to stop this week. And though Burns is on the lighter side for defensive end, he has surprised several linemen this week with his strength at the point of attack.

Prediction: The key for the West offense on Saturday will be to keep their quarterbacks’ jerseys clean, so expect Young to rise to the occasion and have a strong showing.