UA All-America Game: Six schools that should watch with interest

Under Armour All-America week kicks off this weekend, as FBS-bound prospects from all over will descend on to Orlando for the 2018 installment of the event. As it is every year, the game will be populated by high-level players with bright college futures. Still, some schools should have a more vested interest than others. Today, Rivals.com takes a look at six schools that should be paying close attention to this year’s event.

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Eight Longhorn commits are slated to play in the game, the highest ranked of which is defensive back B.J. Foster. The No. 41 prospect in the 2018 class, Foster boasts the kind of college-ready build that will give him a chance to play early in Austin. In addition to Foster, Tom Herman’s program holds commitments from safety DeMarvion Overshown, wide receiver Al'vonte Woodard, cornerback D'shawn Jamison, defensive tackle Keondre Coburn, running back Keaontay Ingram, tight end Malcolm Epps and linebacker Ayodele Adeoye. The sheer number of commits representing the Longhorns in the game makes the event interesting for anyone wanting a glimpse at the future of football in Austin.

Miami commit Al Blades is one of the more interesting players in the game. The long, rangy defensive back has always had the tools to be a star, but he is still trying to reach his potential. He didn’t have a particularly impressive senior season, and some wonder what he will become at the next level. Blades, who has elite tools, will need to flash excellence in Orlando if he’s to hold on to or improve his No. 45 ranking. The sky is the limit for the 6-foot-1 Blades, but the results haven’t always been there. Fellow Hurricane commit Cleveland Reed, who has battled injury during his high school career, will also play in the game and will want to show himself to be college ready. Offensive lineman Delone Scaife was one of the most dominant forces on the camp circuit a year ago and will be interesting to watch as he runs up against elite competition in a full-pad environment.

The Buckeyes could land some new blood during the game, as both Jayson Oweh and Tyreke Smith will announce their commitments live on the broadcast. Smith seems to be an Ohio State lean and Urban Meyer has to feel good about his chances there. Oweh, on the other hand, is a bit more of a wild card. The undecided defensive end is considering Penn State in addition to the Buckeyes and seems genuinely split at the moment. In addition to the announcements, Ohio State coaches will have an eye on a number of commits, as linebacker Teradja Mitchell, running back Brian Snead, offensive lineman Matthew Jones and defensive back Sevyn Banks are all slated to participate in the event.

Quarterback Joey Gatewood is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the 2018 class, and Auburn fans should be curious to see him get snaps against top-flight competition. Gatewood’s intrigue stems from his impressive build and sky-high potential. He split time as a high school quarterback, which created questions about his viability at the college level. Gatewood has every tool in the world to be an effective dual-threat quarterback, and this is the perfect stage to prove he’s progressing toward becoming the prospect Auburn fans hope to see on campus next fall.

Stanford has just one commit in this year’s game, but the lone Cardinal representative has plenty to prove in Orlando. Quarterback Jack West has been hot and cold during his high school career, and he had an uneven performance at this year’s Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. He’ll be looking to show he belongs among the elite at the Under Armour All-America Game and will find himself under a microscope all week. West has moments of greatness, but is often prone to lapses, so the week will showcase where he stands from a developmental standpoint as he heads into college.

Rivals250 defensive end Jayson Oweh will announce his commitment to either Penn State or Ohio State during this year’s game and that alone is enough reason for Nittany Lions fans to tune in to the broadcast. And while Oweh’s storyline packs the most drama, head coach James Franklin has plenty of other vested interests in the week. Penn State commits Justin Shorter (WR), Ricky Slade (RB), PJ Mustipher (DT) and Shaquon Anderson-Butts (WR) will all participate in the event. Anderson-Butts hopes to use the event to seize a fourth star, which is an attainable goal with an impressive week of workouts.