ORLANDO, Fla. – The 2019 Under Armour All-America Game will kick off inside Camping World Stadium on Thursday and, like any all-star game, will come with the promise of unpredictability. That won’t stop us here at Rivals.com from taking a few guesses at what people can expect once the event gets underway. Below are five predication on what fans might see when the game begins.
MORE UA GAME: Top 10 performers at practices | Possible flips | Day one stock report | Day two stock report | Day three stock report | Three-Point Stance | Programs that should be pleased
UCF will pick up a commitment
Tre’Mon Morris-Brash is set to announce his commitment during Thursday’s game, and UCF has to be seen as the heavy favorite to land the three-star defensive end. Morris-Brash has been solid in the workouts leading up to the contest and will be a nice addition for one of the nation’s best Group of Five programs. Morris could easily help a number of Power Five teams, so UCF should be thrilled with what they might be getting in the Washington D.C.-area prospect. If Morris-Brash chooses any team other than the Knights, it’ll be a massive shock.
A running back will win the MVP award
Offenses are often disjointed in all-star games such as this. Timing between quarterbacks and receivers are off and pass blocking is less than cohesive, so the ground game often rules. Logic dictates that a rusher or two will finish the day with multiple touchdowns, and the game isn’t short on talented tailbacks. Penn State-bound star Noah Cain seems like the best bet to take home MVP honors, but the slippery Sean Dollars could also find himself in the conversation because of his versatility. This is admittedly a bold prediction and probably even a bit of a long shot, but nothing fun comes without risk.
Mississippi State pledge Nathan Pickering will make an impact
Pickering has spent the week showing off his power and flashing a surprising level of athleticism for a defensive lineman. He proved hard to block in one-on-one drills and will likely be more of a problem for offensive guards in the game itself. Pickering is as versatile a defensive lineman as exists in this game, so it seems next to impossible that he’ll be held off the stat sheet. The unsigned Bulldog commit, who can play inside or outside, seems like a good bet to stuff the box score.
Auburn-bound Bo Nix will have the best day of any QB
The quarterback group in Orlando has struggled as a whole, but Nix has been far and away the most impressive member. Nix spent the week showing a level of accuracy that his peers seem to lack. And while he’s had his lapses as well, it’s to imagine him not putting on the best performance come game time. Nix is capable of making any throw he’ll be asked to make and should put the ball on the money down the field. He’ll finish with the best competition percentage of any passer at the event.
Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux will record at least one sack
There’s not a single prospect involved in this event with a higher upside than the imposing Thibodeaux, who boasts a college-ready body and a devastatingly quick burst off the line. When the Oregon signee is engaged, which he will be come game time, he’s nearly impossible for a high school tackle to block on a consistent basis. If Thibodeaux plays significant snaps on the contrast, he’ll get to the quarterback once. If the over-under was set at 1.5, the smart money might still be on the over.