Final thoughts from Under Armour All-America Game Week
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The work week leading up to the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game and the event itself is now in the rear-view mirror. Plenty of impressions were made on and off the field, including what could be shaping up to be the top recruiting story of the year.
The game itself was actually a back-and-forth affair with big plays made by both Team Pressure and Team Savage, with the former holding on for a 30-24 win. Six verbal commitments were made during the game but much of the buzz will remain on the prospect who did not go public with a decision.
Before winning offensive MVP of the game with 83 total yards from scrimmage (64 rushing) and a touchdown on the ground, Texas native and running back Zach Evans made waves by not going public with his long anticipated decision. SI All-American first reported the news Thursday morning before the underclassmen event, the Future 50 Camp, kicked off. UA staffers would later confirm his change of plans.
[Evans comments on his recruitment following UA All-America Game]
All week leading up to the game, Evans told SIAA he signed his Letter of Intent in December with the plan to go public during the game's broadcast on ESPN2. The industry assumed the pick was Georgia as the Bulldogs would begin to put touches on what it expected to be the top close of any program headed towards the traditional signing period.
During the television broadcast of the game, Evans was interviewed and began apologizing for the back-and-forth with his recruitment down the stretch. He was joined by Team Pressure coach Deion Sanders, who vouched for a "second chance" for Evans after he made a "stupid" mistake. The senior didn't play with his Houston (Texas) North Shore teammates during the state championship game for reportedly violating a cell phone policy. He was then sent home. Was that the full context, though?
When asked after the game about whether or not he signed, Evans said "I can't answer that right now." He also declined to clarify exactly why he did not announce.
The senior later admitted he was only communicating with one school of late, Georgia, having checked in with Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart "a couple of nights ago."
Evans hopes to put an official end to his recruitment "anytime soon."
Prospect Performance Notes
On any other normal all-star game week, SIAA would be digging deep on top performers from the good-on-good competition witnessed in practice and during the game itself. With a lot of big plays Thursday night, the buzz should have been on Evans' on-field ability, the dominance of defensive linemen Jalen Carter (Georgia signee), Gervon Dexter (Florida) and linebacker Trenton Simpson (Clemson), among others. We'll opt for quick-hitters.
Carter - The most powerful force in the game, he worked at defensive tackle and even some tight end with strong production at either spot. Carter penetrated at will with his drive, even getting multiple offensive linemen on their backside en route to the ball carrier. The future Bulldog registered four tackles, including one for loss.
Dexter - Three tackles and a would-be sack are the official stats but Dexter was dominant all week leading up to the game and looked the part Thursday night as well. The Florida signee and SI All-American selection faced constant double teams and held the point well when he wasn't able to split the pair.
Simpson - This was the prospect the most casual fan would have noticed during the game. The Clemson signee and SI All-American closed better than most secondary prospects when the football was on his side of the field and he finished with force for a team-high six tackles, including one for loss. Simpson has it all from the second level, with sideline to sideline tracking ability, pass-rushing experience and enough pop to play in the muck.
Evans - When the uncommitted (and apparently unsigned) back got out in space, it was easy to see why most of the SEC and beyond had been battling for his signature. He's an effortless accelerator with a good frame and nose for getting vertical. Evans' decisive style plays well as a receiver out of the backfield, too.
Haynes King - The future Texas A&M quarterback flashed his dual-threat skill set with elite defenders unable to track him down at times. His game can use refinement in terms of pocket presence and overall consistency, but that big arm and athleticism will make his margin for error in college a bit wider than most. King completed a 30-yard pass and added a 20-yard rush Thursday.
Kayshon Boutte - The next wave of LSU pass catchers should begin with the in-state star. He has a great frame and is known for playing with some physicality but Thursday it was about his pure athleticism and polish. Both before and after the catch, Boutte was able to create consistent separation on the way to a game-high seven catches for 73 yards. He even had a score called back because of an ineligible man downfield penalty.
Dontae Manning - The Missouri native committed to Oregon during the broadcast following a great week of showcasing his coverage skills. When coupled with a great 6-foot frame and above-average length, Manning looks like a contributor very early on for the Rose Bowl and Pac-12 champion Ducks. Few DBs played with his consistency in the leverage and technique department this week.
EJ Smith - Talk about a three-down back. We knew he could play in space and make plays on the ball because of his time as a prep wide receiver, but the Stanford signee isn't just serviceable in the role -- he's a play-maker. Smith showcased as much through the work week and he added a 24-yard reception during the game. But his highlight moment was on a gashing run up the middle in which he made a defender miss near the line of scrimmage before spinning and winning to break a back-seven player's tackle thereafter.
Joshua Karty - Look, we don't spend a ton of time on kickers but this Stanford signee out of North Carolina was booming kicks in warmups and added makes from 54 and 45-yards out with pressure on him in the game itself. We'd bet he would have boomed a few touchbacks should kickoffs been apart of the game.
Jordan Burch - How good was the D-line group all week? We're bringing up the top unsigned prospect in America not named Kelee Ringo at the tail-end of our analysis. Burch had some great battles with Georgia commitment Broderick Jones Thursday night and flashed when he was able to get the better of him. The South Carolina verbal pledge, who after the game told us his mother wasn't allowing him to be interviewed any longer, was the only defender in the game with multiple tackles for loss and he added a sack on top of that. In fact, only Texas A&M defensive back signee Jaylon Jones ended up with more total tackles than Burch, with seven.