2024 All-American Bowl: Overall Top Performers
SAN ANTONIO — The 2024 All-American Bowl is in the books. Event organizers split up numerous high school all-stars into two teams: East and West. West took the victory 31-28 over East, and fans of teams from all around the country got a glimpse at the talent that’s set to arrive in the college ranks in the very near future.
FULL All-American Bowl Roster | Day 2 Top Performers | Day 3 Top Performers
On3 was on hand to take in the action throughout the week. Here are our top performers from the week, which is a cumulative look at what we saw in the week’s practices and in Saturday’s game.
On3 MVP: WR TJ Moore — Clemson
TJ Moore put on a technical show all week at the All-American Bowl, capped off with a sensational showing in Saturday’s game. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder was a nearly impossible cover all week for defensive backs, due to his combination of elite ball skills and refined route-running. No receiver at the All-American Bowl showed stronger ball skills than more The Tampa (Fla.) Catholic product. Moore’s feathery soft hands and ability to pluck the ball in contested situations was evident on each day of practice. He was a standout on Day 1, drawing audible gasps from onlookers with several emphatic 1-on-1 reps. If the ball was thrown up for grabs, Moore nearly always came down with the catch.
With that said, the Clemson signee is far from a one-trick pony. We saw outstanding route polish over the course of the week. Moore has a deep bag of double moves. He’s an easy, functional mover and changes directions well. A prolific receiver on Friday nights with a good athletic profile, Moore has a strong overall resume, cemented by a sensational showing in San Antonio. Don’t be surprised to see him get on the field and make an impact early as a true freshman at Clemson. – Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power
2. WR Jeremiah Smith — Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith entered the All-American Bowl as the top-ranked player on hand and more than lived up to that lofty billing. The Five-Star Plus+ Ohio State commit was dominant in practice. We did not see him effectively covered all week. At 6-foot-3 and over 210 pounds, Smith looks like a wide receiver created in a lab. The combination of size, athleticism and technical polish is as good as we’ve ever seen from a high school receiver prospect in this setting. Smith has an elite release package and immediately had opposing cornerbacks in a blender off the line of scrimmage. The ability to stack corners off the line is rare. Once the corner was out of phase, we saw Smith display an array of double moves to further confuse hapless defenders. The long speed and plus ball-tracking skills were also regularly on display. He’s also able to drop his weight and change directions on a dime, creating a dangerous threat on comeback and in-breaking routes. We even saw Smith show off his ability after the catch in a setting that allows for minimal contact. Smith wasted no time getting going in Saturday’s game, scoring the game’s first points, getting vertical for a touchdown.
Coming into the event with little to prove, it’s also notable how hard Smith practiced throughout the week. He was at the front of every line and took a bunch of reps. It was apparent the touted prospect is all about business. He was in San Antonio to work – a great sign for his overall approach and mindset. – Charles Power
3. IOL Cooper Cousins — Penn State
Cooper Cousins was the most dominant offensive lineman throughout the entire week of All-American practice and he shined during the game on Saturday afternoon. Cousins was one of the more physically dominant players throughout practice using his leverage to get underneath defenders’ pads and create lanes in the run game during team periods and the game. The Penn State signee showed excellent burst off the ball and was striking defenders with power and precision. He was the most consistent people mover along the offensive front and if today’s game is a glimpse into his future as a Nittany Lion, he will be a problem for years to come at the next level. – National Scout Cody Bellaire
4. Safety Koi Perich — Minnesota
Koi Perich built on a good week of practice with a dominant showing in Saturday’s game. The Gopher commit exploded on Saturday, making a ton of plays en route to being named the game’s MVP. Perich had a diving interception at the goal line in the first half, leaving his feet to fully extend for the pick. He later blocked a punt. Perich flew around the field all afternoon. The high-level athleticism, instincts, effort level and overall playmaking ability popped in a big way. Perich had another strong play in coverage in the second half with a pass breakup on a pass intended for Miami signee Ny Carr. We saw the Minnesota native make big plays in every phase. He triggered and closed quickly as a run defender and showed strong tackling chops. We saw him bring down Jeremiah Smith on a kick return as the first cover man down the field. An initial On3 outlier dating back to July, Perich has seen his stock continue to rise with a dominant senior season to go with a very strong athletic profile. PJ Fleck and the Gophers were able to hold onto his commitment, despite efforts from blue-blood programs down the stretch. If Saturday’s showing was any indication, he’s bound to make a big impact in Minnesota. – Charles Power
5. EDGE Deshawn Warner — Kansas
Deshawn Warner was arguably the most dynamic pass rusher on hand in San Antonio – particularly notable as EDGE was one of the deeper position groups at the even. The Arizona native’s first step and get-off allowed him to win the majority of his reps during the 1-on-1 periods throughout practice. His explosiveness was on full display during the All-American Bowl, as he tallied two tackles for loss and two sacks. The electric edge defender lived in the backfield and gave offensive tackles fits with his bend and speed rush ability. The Kansas Jayhawks are getting a defender who has a nuanced pass-rush skill set and a motor that doesn’t stop until the opposing ball carrier is on the ground. Warner had definitely increased his stock with the performance in San Antonio. – Cody Bellaire
6. Safety Aaron Flowers — Oregon
Aaron Flowers had a strong case as the most consistent defensive player over the week of practice at the All-American Bowl. His ability in the back half of the secondary stood out in every practice. Flowers showed considerable versatility. He can thrive in man coverage on the outside or in the slot. During 1-on-1s, he showed excellent hip fluidity and ability to mirror in coverage. Flowers was constantly in phase and was making his fair share of plays on the football. During the team periods, he was able to slide to safety and make plays on the ball as a deep half defender. We also saw him come downhill to make plays in the run game. Flowers also appeared to be the most physically-developed safety on hand, at a well-built 6-foot, 200 pounds. While he was relatively quiet during the game itself, his presence was felt throughout the week of practice. Look for Flowers to be a staple in the secondary in Eugene. – Charles Power
7. CB Zay Mincey — Alabama
No cornerback in San Antonio showed more traits or pure upside than Zay Mincey. The Daytona (Fla.) Mainland pairs plus size and length at 6-foot-1.5, 185 pounds with an 80-inch wing span with strong athleticism and movement skills. Mincey was good in coverage throughout the practice and seemed to get better as the week wore on. In Saturday’s game, we saw him make a great play in coverage, intercepting pass in the end zone. Mincey was able to stay in phase with Gatlin Bair – likely the fastest player in the cycle – and turned to locate the ball and come down with the pick. We also like his ability in run support. Cornerback is a traits-based position and he has that type of high-end ability in spades. Mincey, who committed to Alabama during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game, gives the Crimson Tide another top talent at corner. – Charles Power
8. EDGE Marquise Lightfoot — Miami
While several pass rushers had their moments over the course of the week, Marquise Lightfoot had the most consistent flashes. The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder’s first-step quickness gave offensive tackles fits. Lightfoot was borderline unblockable during Saturday’s game. His initial get-off and ability to get skinny allowed him to have a regular presence behind the line of scrimmage. With the West building a big lead, we saw Lightfoot pin his ears back and get after the East quarterbacks at a high rate. He had a big sack off of a vicious up-and-under move and found forced hurried throws. The Chicago native plays with a dogged effort level – both in practice and in Saturday’s game. His combination of quickness, motor and developmental frame points to a high upside in Coral Gables. – Cody Bellaire
9. CB Zabien Brown — Alabama
While Zay Mincey looked to be the most gifted cornerback at the All-American Bowl, his fellow Alabama signee Zabien Brown made a case as the most technical cover man. Brown, who starred at SoCal powerhouse Mater Dei, came to San Antonio with an easily recognizable polish in coverage. He was the On3 MVP on Day 3 of practice, turning in a very strong showing in 1-on-1’s and 7-on-7. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Brown has good stature and length. He operates in a controlled and coordinated manner and rarely found himself out of position throughout the week. We saw the Crimson Tide signee get his hands on several passes in practice and he made a few plays in coverage during Saturday’s game, as well. He had no trouble adjusting to the speed of the top wide receivers on hand. The technical acuity and experience along with his good size points to a high floor and a prospect who could push for early playing time at the college level if necessary. – Charles Power
10. LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa — Notre Dame
In a position group that usually struggles to shine in All-American settings, linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa managed to put on a very strong showing during practices and the game. To say that Viliamu-Asa was flying all over the field is an understatement. His ability to trigger to the football is special. The Notre Dame signee’s ability to sniff out the play before the snap is elite. During the 9-on-7 and team periods at practice, Viliamu-Asa was playing downhill at a different speed than the rest of the defense. He was constantly bringing down ball carriers in the backfield and was beating offensive linemen to their spots in the run game. Despite the first couple practices being without pads, Viliamu-Asa was making noise and knocking helmets with ball carriers. His physicality and violence will fit right in at Notre Dame and he will be making plenty of noise in South Bend. – Cody Bellaire
Additional Notes
+ The quarterback group had a tough showing to start the week due to poor weather and getting acclimated to their new receivers, but the group as a whole ascended as the week of practice went on and we saw some excellent performances during the All American game to cap off a great week. Texas signee Trey Owens fought the conditions early on putting on an incredible performance on Day 1 during a downpour at Trinity University. He was able to carve up the defense during team period and was an accurate thrower even with a wet football. He was one of the top passers throughout the week of practice. Auburn signee Walker White is as physically impressive as it gets at the quarterback position coming out of high school. He made several big time throws throughout the week and was arguably the best deep ball thrower of the bunch. He capped off an impressive showing by throwing a dime to Georgia RB signee Nate Frazier for a touchdown on a wheel route during the All-American game. Arizona signee Demond Williams shined during the All American game and used his legs to collect multiple first downs and create time for him to make big time throws down the field. Early on in the week it took Williams some time to get used to his receiving corps. But he progressed throughout the week and showed that he could deliver accurate passes at every level of the field with timing and pace. He was one of the more complete quarterback prospects at the event and it showed on Saturday afternoon.
+ Both teams had their own flavor of running backs for their respective units. Team East had physical and violent running backs that thrive between the tackles. Team East running backs Kedren Young (Notre Dame), Chauncey Bowens (Georgia) and James Peoples (Ohio State) all look like ready-made backs right now. Each of them made strong runs between the tackles and gave defenses fits when meeting them in the hole. Team West running backs Jason Brown (Arizona State), Nate Frazier (Georgia) and Daniel Hill (Alabama) were the more explosive bunch that made some splash plays in the passing game and were dynamic throughout the week of practice. Both teams had players who made impressive plays all week long in a setting that doesn’t particularly shine the spotlight on running backs.
+ Missouri WR signee Courtney Crutchfield was a player that was right on the fringe of the top performers list. He had so many flash plays during practice and was one of the more dynamic players on the outside during the competitive periods throughout the week. Gatlin Bair is another wideout that we felt had a shot at making the list. A slow start on the first day of practice due to the rain was quickly overshadowed by a dominant performance on Day 2. He showed he can run and separate from some of the top defenders in the country and proved just how talented of a playmaker he can be at the next level. LSU signee Kylan Billiot that was constantly making plays during the competitive periods of practice. It felt like every rep he took during 1-on-1’s was some sort of highlight play. He is definitely a stock up player for us after this week. Other receivers that had their moments this week were Jordan Shipp (North Carolina), Nitro Tuggle (Georgia), Ny Carr (Miami), Zion Ragins (Oklahoma) and Ryan Wingo (Texas).
+ The tight end group is usually one that is undervalued during All American settings. Traditionally they are primarily asked to be used as blockers, but with the evolution of the position, they are asked to play a bigger role in the passing game and that paid dividends for players like Nebraska signee Carter Nelson and Clemson signee Christian Bentancur. These two were some of the more consistent pass catchers out of all the offensive skill players at the event. They showed excellent catch radiuses and confident hands at the catch point. They also showed some physicality after the catch and were dragging defenders for extra yards during the practices and the All American game.
+ The offensive lines at this event were strong and physical. Not a lot of finesse was in this group of offensive linemen as they were mean and violent every day of practice this week. Players like Williams Echoles (Ole Miss), Andrew Rosinski (North Carolina), Kevin Heywood (Wisconsin), Grant Brix (Nebraska) and Bennett Warren (Tennessee) all had moments where they were physically dominant against defenders during the competitive periods. Nebraska signee Gibson Pyle and Mississippi State signee Jimothy Lewis showed up in a big way during the All-American game as well with Pyle leading the way in the run game and Lewis being a big factor in keep quarterbacks off the ground in the passing game.
+ The interior defensive line was a physically stout unit throughout the week of practice and showed up big time during the All American game. Miami signee Justin Scott and Florida signee LJ McCray are two of the most physically impressive defenders in the entire country. Both of them showed violence at the point of attack and tremendous overall athleticism throughout individual periods and team periods. Players like Hevin Brown-Shuler (Clemson), Eddrick Houston (Ohio State) and Xadavien Sims (Oregon) had splash plays during competitive periods of practice or during the All-American game and were difficult to move off the line of scrimmage.
+ The EDGE group at the All-American Bowl was very deep. Though ranked as a defensive lineman, Arkansas signee Charleston Collins primarily lined up on the edge all week. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder showed one of the more versatile and varied pass rush skill sets with quick hands and an active motor. We saw him make a number of plays in Saturday’s game. Washington signee Noah Carter was dynamic off the edge in practice, presenting a considerable mismatch with his first-step quickness. Notre Dame signee Bryce Young had some very nice flashes during practice. The future Irish defender has a big frame to go with athleticism and strong hands. Auburn signee Amaris Williams showed outstanding first step quickness, particularly in Saturday’s game. The future Tiger is a plus athlete and he gave offensive tackles issues with his get-off.
+ Outside of Notre Dame signee Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, NC State pledge Elijah Groves had the most flashes during the game at linebacker. The 6-foot-4, 210 pounder immediately stuck out among the group from a physical perspective. On Saturday we saw Groves make a great play in coverage, staying in-phase with a running back on a wheel route. We also saw very nice range, as Groves made plays from sideline to sideline. Oregon signee Kamar Mothudi also showed encouraging range and movement skills to go with a readymade build throughout practice.
+ This was an extremely strong group of defensive backs and they were constantly making plays on the football throughout the week of practice. Michigan signee Jo’Ziah Edmond and Florida State signee Jamari Howard were physical and dominant in man coverage. Their ability to reroute receivers at the line of scrimmage and play the football in the air was on full display during practice. USC signee Marcelles Williams and Syracuse commit Marcellus Barnes were some of the stickier corners in coverage throughout the week and had some of the better ball skills from the corner position. The safety group was also dominant as players like Georgia signee KJ Bolden and Alabama signee Peyton Woodyard were flying to the football ball week long and making plays in the back half of the secondary.