Winston, Cooper shine at UA Game
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Team Blur dominated Thursday's Under Armour All America Game, 49-16, but standouts emerged on both sides of the ball. Here were the stars of each team.
QB Jameis Winston (Hueytown, Ala.) -- Named the event's overall MVP, Winston finished 8-for-9 passing for 178 yards and two touchdowns. A potent dual-threat quarterback, Winston looked poised and confident, and remains committed to Florida State.
WR Amari Cooper (Miami) -- The Alabama commit scored twice, on a 75-yard pass from Winston and a 93-yard punt return in the fourth quarter. He displayed unmistakable explosiveness and field vision -- qualities that should bode well for his career with Nick Saban and Co. moving forward.
CB Brian Poole (Bradenton, Fla.) -- Poole matched Cooper for longest play of the game with a backbreaking 93-yard pick six, the longest interception return in Under Armour All-America Game history. A dynamic 5-foot-10, 190-pound safety, Poole is committed to Florida.
DE Channing Ward (Aberdeen, Miss.) -- Ward, a pass-rushing phenom that committed to Ole Miss during the game, bulldozed his way past opposing linemen into Team Highlight's backfield all night. He collected six tackles and two sacks, showcasing the speed that makes him so dangerous off the edge.
DE Noah Spence (Harrisburg, Pa.) -- A blue-chip Ohio State commit, Spence, led Team Highlight's defense with a game-high three sacks. He flashed speed and playmaking ability, living up to every bit of his lofty All-America reputation.
TE Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (Rocklin, Calif.) -- A USC commit, Cope-Fitzpatrick led his team with three catches for 34 yards and touchdown. He showed great athleticism for a large target (6-5, 235), a trait that should translate well at the next level.
DE Jordan Jenkins (Hamilton, Ga.) -- The lone uncommitted prospect among the top performers, Jenkins spearheaded his squad with eight tackles and two sacks. The pass rusher has narrowed his consideration set to four schools -- Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Georgia -- and plans to announce his decision on Jan. 9.
RB Duke Johnson (Miami) -- The shifty feature back set up Highlight's first touchdown with a winding 83 yard kickoff return, and served as one of the game's few effective rushers, cutting in and out of holes to finish with 47 yards on seven carries. He remains committed to Miami.
