Best of the Army Bowl
The US Army All American Bowl -- played this year on Saturday, Jan. 9 -- has a tremendous history of great players who have participated in the game. So putting together an all-time top 10 list combining success in high school, college and the pros is quite the challenge. But we never shy away from a difficult task as Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell breaks it down.
1.) RB Adrian Peterson -- Palestine, Texas (2004, Five-star)
The Skinny: No. 1 overall, the No. 1 running back and the No. 1 recruit from Texas in the class of 2004, Peterson committed to the Sooners after taking official visits to Norman, UCLA, USC, Miami and Arkansas. After an amazing freshman season with the Sooners, injuries slowed Peterson down in 2005 and 2006. Despite the injuries, he was still selected seventh overall by Minnesota, where he has dominated the league since 2007. Already rushing for almost 12,000 yards and 100 touchdowns, Peterson will go down as one of the top running backs in NFL history when his playing days are over.
Farrell’s Take: Peterson had an amazing career in high school, a good college career and he’s an NFL legend. He also had a great Army Bowl and goes down, at least in my mind, as one of the top five prospects I have ever seen. Peterson is also, arguably, our best No. 1 player ever as well, Despite the amazing names below Peterson, he’s an easy choice.
2.) CB Patrick Peterson -- Pompano Beach (Fla.) Blanche Ely (2008, Five-star)
The Skinny: No. 5 overall, the No. 1 cornerback and the No. 1 recruit from Florida in the class of 2008, Peterson was originally committed to Miami, before flipping to LSU at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. After being a unanimous first-team All-American in 2010, Peterson declared for the NFL Draft and was selected fifth overall by Arizona. Chosen for the Pro Bowl in each of his five seasons in Arizona, Peterson is one of the true lockdown cornerbacks in the league.
Farrell’s Take: Known as Patrick Johnson back in the day, Johnson is one of the best pure cornerbacks I’ve ever seen. He not only had good size and instincts, but his ball skills were off the hook and he was a special teams standout at times. Peterson had a great career at LSU, was a first rounder and is a future NFL Hall of Famer.
3.) WR Percy Harvin -- Virginia Beach (Va.) Landstown (2006, Five-star)
The Skinny: No. 1 overall, the No. 1 wide receiver and the No. 1 recruit from Virginia in the class of 2006, Harvin committed to Florida over USC and Miami. Harvin flourished with the Gators, but slipped to the 22nd overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft after testing positive for marijuana at the NFL Combine. Injuries have severely hampered Harvin’s career in the NFL. First with Minnesota, then Seattle and now Buffalo, where he was placed on injured reserve in November because of knee and hip injuries.
Farrell’s Take: Harvin is the fastest player turning the corner I have ever seen and he’s one of our most dynamic No. 1 players ever. His run to the state title as a senior is a thing of legend, he was instrumental at Florida in winning national titles and he was a first-rounder. His NFL career hasn’t gone as well as hoped but his success in high school, college and how rare an athlete he was puts him up near the top here.
4.) QB Vince Young -- Houston (Texas) Madison (2002, Five-star)
The Skinny: No. 1 overall, the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 1 recruit from Texas in the class of 2002, Young committed to Texas over LSU, Florida State, Miami, Arkansas and Kansas State. Young dominated during his time with the Longhorns, but after being drafted with the No. 3 overall pick by Tennessee in the 2005 NFL Draft, he was never able to meet the same level of success with the Titans. He then played in Philadelphia for one season and saw short stints with several other teams, before retiring in 2014.
Farrell’s Take: When you think of the Army Bowl you think of Young who was the No. 1 player in the country in the first ever game. He high school career was amazing, his college career was off the hook and he was one of the most dominant players in college football history. His NFL career never panned out, but as a former No. 1 and amazing college star, he belongs up here.
5.) OT Joe Thomas -- Brookfield (Wisc.) Central (2003, Four-star)
The Skinny: Thomas was a four-star who was the No. 18 offensive tackle and the No. 3 recruit from Wisconsin in the Class of 2003. Thomas committed to the home-state Badgers over Notre Dame, after also taking official visits to Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Virginia Tech. Thomas was selected with the third overall pick by Cleveland in the 2007 NFL Draft by Cleveland, where he has spent his entire professional career. With his recent naming to the 2015 Pro Bowl, he has earned the honor in each of his nine seasons.
Farrell’s Take: The first four star on this list, Thomas was a very good player in high school but we never foresaw his level of success at the NFL level. He’s a surefire Hall of Famer in the NFL, had a great college career and was a top five pick in the NFL Draft. Offensive linemen never get enough credit but Thomas deserves it.
6.) RB Reggie Bush -- San Diego (Calif.) Helix (2003, Five-star)
The Skinny: No. 2 overall, the No. 1 running back and the No. 1 recruit from California in the class of 2003, Bush waited until the U.S. Army All-American game to make his commitment to USC, which was expected by most. With the Trojans, Bush was one of the more exciting college players in recent memory. After his time at USC, he was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in 2006 by New Orleans. Bush had varying degrees of success with the Saints, and then Miami and Detroit. Now with San Francisco, the injury bug that has slowed his career resurfaced again, as he has been placed on injured reserve after a knee injury.
Farrell’s Take: You could make the case that Bush belongs above Young and Thomas here and that he should have been the No. 1 recruit in 2003 and I’d have a hard time arguing with you. His high school film is as good as it gets for a running back, his college career was amazing and Heisman-worthy -- he won it but they took it away for NCAA infractions -- and his pro career has been average. But as a top two NFL pick and based on his high school and college career, he’s right here at No. 6.
7.) QB Tim Tebow -- Ponte Vedra Beach (Fla.) Nease (2006, Five-star)
The Skinny: No. 22 overall, the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 3 recruit from Florida in the class of 2006, Tebow took official visits to Florida, Alabama, LSU, Michigan and USC before committing to the Gators. Tebow won two National Championships and a Heisman Trophy during his legendary four-year run in Gainesville. He was selected with the 25th overall pick by Denver in 2010 where he experienced some success before making his move to the New York Jets in 2012. After two short stints with New England and Philadelphia, Tebow has spent a majority of his time as an analyst while waiting for another shot in the NFL.
Farrell’s Take: Tebow was a five star out of high school, won two national titles and a Heisman and was a first rounder. His NFL career however keeps him down on this list a bit, although you could argue he had as much success or more than Vince Young in a shorter time. This is a tough list to compile because Tebow won a Heisman Young didn’t and more national titles but Young was a better high school prospect. He could be higher here but I like him at No. 7.
8.) DT Ndamukong Suh -- Portland (Ore.) Grant (2005, Four-star)
The Skinny: Suh was a four-star, who was No. 51 overall, the No. 6 defensive tackle and the No. 1 recruit from Oregon in the Class of 2005. Suh committed to Nebraska over Oregon State, Cal, Miami and Mississippi State a few days before National Signing Day. Selected with the second overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft by Detroit, he quickly became one of the more dominant interior defensive linemen in the league. After five seasons in Detroit, he made the move to Miami before this season and currently has 36 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
Farrell’s Take: Suh was nearly a top 50 recruit out of high school, had one of the most dominating college careers you can ask for from a defensive tackle and became a first rounder and NFL star at the highest level. His intensity and physical nature carried him far and his overall athleticism pops him on this list ahead of a guy like Haloti Ngata who was also considered.
9.) CB Eric Berry -- Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside (2007, Five-star)
The Skinny: No. 3 overall, the No. 1 cornerback and the No. 1 recruit from Georgia in the class of 2007, Berry trimmed his list down to Tennessee, Auburn and Georgia before finally committing to the Vols. One of the top safeties in the NFL, Berry had to deal with an unforeseen opponent over the last year when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma late last year. He battled back from the illness and returned to the field this fall, earning yet another Pro Bowl invitation.
Farrell’s Take: Berry was one of the best athletes I’ve ever scouted overall and his instincts on defense were off the charts. He could tackle in space, he liked to hit and he could cover on an island with good size. A top NFL Draft pick and an NFL star, Berry is a special player and has been for a long time.
10.) WR Odell Beckham Jr. -- New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman (2011, Four-star)
The Skinny: Beckham was a four-star, who was No. 43 overall, the No. 6 wide receiver and the No. 4 recruit from Louisiana in the class of 2011. Growing up a fan of LSU, Beckham trimmed his favorites down to the Tigers and Miami before making the decision to stay in-state. After three very productive seasons with LSU, Beckham took the NFL by storm as a rookie last season. This season he has continued to put up big numbers for the New York Giants, as he has firmly established himself as one of the top wide receivers in the NFL.
Farrell’s Take: Beckham is off to one of the fastest starts in NFL history for a wide receiver and was a top 50 prospect out of high school. He had a very good college career but it’s his NFL success that lands him on this list over some others. Despite the recent hit his public image took after the Carolina game, he’s still a superstar and an elite talent.