Under Armour Game Preview
By Christopher Lyke
Texas HS Football Chief Editor
ORLANDO - The 2008 edition of the Under Armour All-America High School Football Classic will be held at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando on Saturday afternoon and will televised before a national television audience on ABC at 2:00pm ET/1:00pm CT. In all, the game features 67 players listed in the ESPN 150 player rankings for 2008. Players from 22 states are represented including 15 from Texas, 14 from Florida, 12 from California and nine from Alabama. Unlike other All-Star games, the UA All-Star Football Classic wont feature players split between their geographic locations, thus striving for a competitive balance of talent on both sides of the ball.
Below is a list of 11 players to watch for both sides of the ball:
Team Click-Clack (White Jersey, Silver Helmet)
# 6 QB Nick Crissman – Edison HS (Surfside, CA)
Commit: UCLA
Nick is a very accurate passer who is smooth, consistent and has excellent size to boot. He is the ideal college quarterback and is one that will be very tough physically and mentally. Look for Crissman to be a very versatile in the pocket and be very efficient.
# 4 WR Aldarius Johnson – Northwestern HS (Miami, FL)
Commit: Miami, FL
Aldarius is probably one of the most talented receivers in the nation and has a solid combination of size and quickness. Look for Aldarius to be a solid threat down field and be a very aggressive and a possible deep threat early in the game.
#88 TE Blake Ayles – Orange Lutheran HS (Orange, CA)
Commit: USC
Ayles is a player who will create mismatches on the spot with blocking and receiving, plus he is one of the nation's top catching tight ends. Look for Ayles to have a big impact on the end result of the game.
#30 RB Aundre Dean – Katy HS (Katy, TX)
Commit: UCLA
Dean, coming fresh off a state championship game, is an aggressive style of running the football with solid speed and power. Look for Dean to be very quick on the pivot and hard to tackle down the middle.
#48 FB Michael Matt – Jeanette HS (Jeanette, PA)
Commit: Undecided
Michael is a very scrappy, aggressive and quick player coming out of the backfield. Expect Matt to get a few touches as a receiver and build up a few blocks to open the running game. He is a very passionate and could very well be the ace in the hole for Team Click-Clack.
#93 DE DaQuan Bowers – Bamberg-Ehrhandt HS (Bamberg, SC)
Commit: Clemson
Bowers is a player with amazing size and agility on the defensive side of the ball. Look for Bowers to be very aggressive on the end and force some plays to happen before the get a chance to develop. Do not allow his size fool you as he is very quick on the ball and the opposition.
#16 OLB Nigel Carr – First Coast HS (Jacksonville, FL)
Commit: Florida State
Carr is a very explosive player with the potential to change the course of the game in an instant. Expect Carr to be blitzing constantly and causing problems for the offensive lines. Also, if the game comes down to short yardage, Carr could the be difference a win or a loss.
#54 OT Mark Buchanan – Austin HS (Austin, TX)
Commit: Texas
Buchanan has great size and is a very quick offensive lineman. Look for plenty of holes to be made for the running game and Buchanan to be aggressive down field.
#3 S Dee Finley – Auburn HS (Auburn, AL)
Commit: Florida
One of the top safeties in the national class of 2008, Finley has plenty of size and is very aggressive in the backfield. As a very hard hitter, Finley could heard from early in the game and is a momentum changing player with great range and versatility.
#8 QB Kyle Parker – Bartram Trail HS (Jacksonville, FL)
Commit: Clemson
What Parker lacks in size, he makes up for in speed and will not be afraid to make the big play. Look for Parker to use his feet and will power create a new play on the fly after the snap. Management of the game could be Parker's biggest strength.
#11 OLB Keanon Cooper – Skyline HS (Dallas, TX)
Commit: Undecided
Cooper can play at just about every defensive position on the field and is very quick and aggressive in every sense of the word. Look for Cooper to excel in blitz packages and lay a hard hit or two every few plays.
Team Undeniable (Red Jersey, Black Helmet)
#3 S Will Hill – St. Peter's Prep (West Orange, NJ)
Commit: Florida
Hill has a very solid instinct and could be a difference maker in zone coverages. Look for Hill to be very physical with opposing receivers and make some solid hits. He will be tough to miss in the open field and should cause some frustrations with opposing quarterbacks.
#6 WR Blake Cantu – Carroll HS (Southlake, TX)
Commit: Oregon
Cantu is a solid possession and fundamentally sound receiver that should more than make up for his size and speed. Look for Cantu to be an impact in the zone and run in sharp routes. He is not afraid to put his body on the line for his team.
#12 QB Landry Jones – Artesia HS (Artesia, NM)
Commit: Oklahoma
Jones will showcase a very live and strong arm but knows how to manage the game. Look for Jones to coordinate the timing of the defense to make the plays deep in the field. He is a very passionate and mechanically sound when it comes down to the grind of the game.
#14 K/P Carson Wiggs – South Grand Prairie HS (Grand Prairie, TX)
Commit: Purdue
Wiggs will be difference between winning and losing the game if it is a close contest. Look for Wiggs to be the impact player when it comes to field position off the kick off. His strength and timing could also have an impact on the momentum of the game.
#35 OLB Sean Spence – Northwestern HS (Miami, FL)
Commit: Miami, FL
Spence is one of the most aggressive players in the country and can lead by example on the field. Look for Spence to be a play maker on the field and become a key weapon for the defense. He should be very quick on his feet and use the field to his advantage.
#82 WR Julio Jones – Foley HS (Foley, AL)
Commit: Undecided
Jones is probably the most complete packaged wide out in the nation with size, speed and power. Look for Jones for have a big impact in the passing game and cause problems for opposing defensive backs and linebackers. He could be doubled up at times, thus opening up the running game.
#88 TE/DE Tyler Westphal – Menshasa HS (Menshasa, WI)
Commit: Wisconsin
Westphal should be playing on both side of the ball as he possesses great size and is able to make the plays to change the direction of any particular drive. Look for Westphal to bring speed and a nose for the ball early. He could be very tough to stop offensively.
#4 QB Braden Hanson – Charlotte Latin HS (Charlotte, NC)
Commit: North Carolina
Hanson is likely one of the best pocket passers in the nation. With solid height and a solid release point, Hanson could bring in the highlight reel early on. Look for Hanson to use his footwork and arm strength to help the receiving core make a bigger impact on the opposing defense
#31 OLB John Major – Ponderosa HS (Parker, CO)
Commit: Colorado
Major is a very physical and quick linebacker with solid size and is a player that will make the players around him much better. Look for Major to be an impact on the timing of the opposing quarterback's rhythm. He will be very explosive in the short areas of the field and should have plenty of tackles to boot.
#9 RB Kye Staley – Guthrie HS (Guthrie, OK)
Commit: Oklahoma State
Staley has the ability to be a multi-threat asset at the running back position with plenty of speed and power. Look for Staley to be very consistent as rusher going down the field and should be afraid to attack the middle of the field. He can and will be very explosive if he is left untouched early in the play.
#93 DT Omar Hunter – Buford HS (Sugar Hill, GA)
Commit: Notre Dame
Hunter could very well be the very best on the defensive side of the trenches for either team. Look for Hunter to use his size and ability to bring the opposing offensive lines out of sync and could impact the timing of a play of two to develop. He could be seen maneuvering the offensive backfields early.
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