ORLANDO — The Under Armour All-America game serves as a proving game for many of the nation’s top players. Prospects will be facing elite competition all week in practice and in Sunday’s game (1 p.m., ESPN). For some, this will be the most difficult competition they have faced in their career and excellent preparation for what lies ahead in major college football. The week can serve as a true measuring stick for athletes that are no longer simply bigger and stronger than their high school competition.
Here are five players we are keeping an extra close eye on to see how they perform.
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Wilson was the top player in the Rivals100 from its first release in July 2015 all the way until Najee Harris overtook him in rankings update in August of this year. Instead of trying to showcase his skills against highly talented players in offseason camps or playing against good competition during the high school season, Wilson will finally get a chance to prove himself against top competition in full pads. It will be tough for him to beat Harris again for the top ranking and offensive tackle Foster Sarrell is on his heels. The battle between the three of them for the No. 1 ranking in the Rivals100 is one of the major storylines of the all-star game season.
Last year, Levonta Taylor came into the Under Armour Game to top cornerback in the Rivals100 by a sizeable margin. He had a decent week but almost lost that title. Wade is a similar player and there are a lot of cornerbacks breathing down his neck. AJ Terrell, the No. 2 cornerback in the nation, is Wade’s teammate this week just like they were at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge over the summer. Being able to compare the two of them throughout the week in drills, one-on-ones, and team workouts while wearing full pads will really help sort out the rankings. Keep an eye on five-star Shaun Wade’s performance at the Army game next week. He could push himself into the conversation for No. 1 cornerback.
Moses is one of the best players in the nation. There is no arguing that fact. He has been the most publicized player in this class and has become one of the most polarizing. Moses will have his chance to prove he is a five-star linebacker. Most people didn’t believe he was the best linebacker on the talent-laden IMG Academy roster. Moses is no stranger to the spotlight but dozens of analysts and scouts will be watching him the Under Armour Game practices and in the game.
Making a run at Moses for his title as “Most Polarizing 2017 Player,” Smith’s ranking has been hotly debated for months. A five-star everywhere else in the industry but just inside the Rivals100, Smith will face better competition than ever before. The Under Armour All-America Game, practices, and coaching will test Smith in ways he has never experienced. How Smith reacts to the speed off the edge and the power of the defensive ends that will line up across from him will go a long way to determining what his final ranking should be.
Few players’ ranking have yo-yo’d around the Rivals250 as much as Hines’. Currently No. 176, he’s been ranked as high as No. 107 and as low as No. 231. Some services even have Hines ranked as a five-star. Hines plays pretty good competition in high school but the running backs he will have to track down and the linemen that he’ll have to shed will really put him to the test. Hines’ performance will tell us if he is underrated or overrated.
