Army Bowl Game: Team reports
SAN ANTONIO – The 2016 Army All-American Bowl has come and gone with the West squad winning 30-9 over the East. Shea Patterson took home MVP honors, but he was not the only one who stood out. It is time to take a look at which college programs had commitments shine the brightest on the big stage.
1. Stanford
Stanford's four Army Bowl commits (Clark Yarbrough, Simi Fehoko, K.J. Costello and Curtis Robinson) represented the Cardinal well. Simi Fehoko caught the opening score for the West and finished as the West’s receiving yardage leader with 50 yards and a TD on two receptions. Quarterback K.J. Costello started slow. His second pass was picked off, but he ended the day completing 6 of 10 passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, Curtis Robinson was tough in coverage and came up big with the first turnover of the game. His first quarter fumble recovery to set up Sewo Olonilua’s touchdown run was his biggest highlight.
2. Miami
Represented by only two commitments, the Hurricanes gave the Cardinal the completion for the No. 1 spot. Tyler Byrd put the first points on the board for the East after he blocked the PAT, celebrated, and then returned it the length of the field for the two-point conversion. He also had a one-handed interception of Costello. Shaquille Quarterman also had a big game. He finished as the East’s leading tackler and always seemed to be around the ball. He had 6 tackles (3 solos, 3 assists) on the day.
3. Michigan State
Michigan State added receiver Donnie Corley to its commitment list in the third quarter and also get his diving 39-yard reception up the seam. Wide receiver Cameron Chambers led the East with five receptions for 36 yards, and defensive end Josh King was consistent presence off the edge for the West squad. It was not a flashy performance, but a strong all around effort by the Spartan commitments.
4. Ole Miss
Five-star quarterback Shea Patterson entered as the nation’s No. 1 QB, and he was everything he certainly lived up to the hype. Patterson completed 6 of 9 passes for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns and took home MVP honors. He put the West on the board first with his pass to Fehoko and threw strikes throughout the contest. He also showed off his wheels with a nine-yard run early in the contest.
5. Ohio State
Urban Meyer’s group was well represented. DeMario McCall finished as the East’s leading rusher with 33 yards on 9 carries, and showed some explosive power. Wide receiver Austin Mack showed some skill on the outside and finished with 37 yards on 3 receptions. Michael Jordan had a good showing at right tackle, and Jonathan Cooper was a menace for the defense with four tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
6. LSU
Erick Fowler carried the banner for the LSU Tigers on Saturday, and if there was a defensive MVP he might just be the winner. His speed and range and explosive hits kept offensive players on edge throughout the game. He recorded five tackles and a quarterback hurry and made impact plays all over the field.
7. TCU
Gary Patterson and his crew added defensive tackle Ross Blacklock to the class early in the game, and he showed what he could do on Saturday. He only finished with a quarterback hurry, but he worked inside and outside throughout the contest and was able to get pressure on the pocket. Running back Sewo Olonilua was a powerful presence out of the offensive backfield. He scored the West’s only rushing touchdown on the day with his 1-yard run in the first quarter. He finished with 5 carries for 24 yards and a touchdown.
8. Florida State
Josh Brown made a lot of noise early and made the West realize he was someone they needed to deal with. He had a forced fumble, a tackle for loss and three solo tackles. When he was not making plays he was constantly around the football. Defensive back Jamel Cook tied Jonathan Cooper for the East’s second leading tackler with four total tackles during the contest.
9. Clemson
Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence entered as the top rated prospect in the game and he showed why on Saturday. He commanded multiple blockers and he was able to record three tackles in the contest. He was active up front in the trenches, collapsed the pocket and also made plays downfield. Defensive end Xavier Kelly was very active for the West squad, creating pressure and playing with a high motor. Running back Tavien Feaster only recorded one rush for four yards.
10. Georgia
The Bulldogs had a big group and added another playmaker to the class in Isaac Nauta. Jacob Eason had an up and down effort, but did finish as the East’s leading passer. He completed 6 of 13 passes for 71 yards and an interception.