Handful of five-star Alabama signees to participate in All-American Bowl on NBC
For the second time this week, several future members of Alabama’s football program are set to participate in an anticipated all-star game. After Tuesday’s Under Armour All-America Game that featured seven Crimson Tide signees, five more signees will play in Saturday’s All-American Bowl.
LIVE UPDATES: 2023 All-American Bowl
Today’s contest, which will be broadcasted on NBC, is slated to kick off at 12:00 p.m. Central.
All-American Bowl Combine Top Performers
No program has more five-star prospects representing them in San Antonio (Tx.) than Alabama. Four Bama five-stars, including last month’s additions of Kadyn Proctor and Keon Keeley, will strap up the pads today.
BamaInsider highlights which Alabama signees will participate in this afternoon’s All-American Bowl.
Alabama signees have lived up to their billing in San Antonio
Although quarterback Eli Holstein will not be participating in Saturday’s game, there is still a lot of talented prospects from Alabama’s 2023 class in San Antonio.
2023 All-American Bowl roster breakdown
DB Caleb Downs (East): On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power wrote top performer pieces for each of the three practices from Tuesday until Thursday. Downs cracked the top five performers list for the East Team on two of those days. According to the On3 Consensus, the Five-Star Plus+ prospect is the No. 6 overall player in the 2023 class, and is the top-ranked safety.
“I am gonna be coached by the Goat (Nick Saban),” Downs told On3’s Jeremy Johnson on Thursday. “It’s very exciting. He’s been doing it a long time. He has a lot of experience. There is a lot of stuff I can learn from him.”
FULL STORY: Alabama signee Caleb Downs ready to play for the GOAT
RB Justice Haynes (East): Haynes has drawn praise in San Antonio for physically looking the part in San Antonio. Power noted after the first practice that Haynes looks the part of someone who can play on Saturdays or even Sundays.
The Roswell (Ga.) product is the son of former Georgia Bulldog Verron Haynes, but chose Alabama in July and signed with the program on Dec. 21. Haynes, a five-star prospect, participated in bowl prep with Bama last month.
OL Kadyn Proctor (West): Kadyn Proctor flipped from Iowa to Alabama on Dec. 20, marking a massive addition for first-year offensive line coach Eric Wolford. Proctor is the No. 12 overall prospect on the On3 Consensus and is the second-ranked offensive tackle. He was tabbed by Power as one of the top performers for the West Team on Thursday.
“Proctor worked at left tackle for a few drives and didn’t give up any pressures that we saw,” Power said. “Early on, Proctor did a nice job in neutralizing Ohio State signee Joshua Mickens. We later saw Proctor flash a quick pass set and smoothly handle a stunt. At 6-foot-6 and over 345 pounds, the Iowa native pairs a burly, dense build with solid reactive quickness.
EDGE Keon Keeley (East): The Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep pass rusher immediately showed out in the Lone Star State. On Tuesday, the first day of practice, Keeley earned the On3 MVP for the East team. Here is what Power wrote about the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder.
“Keon Keeley turned in an absolutely dominant showing at the East’s practice in the Alamodome,” Power wrote. “The 5-star prospect put on a show, flashing a complete skill set off the edge. Keeley won every 1-on-1 rep he took in the morning session, showing highly impressive speed and dip followed by speed-to-power in putting Ohio State offensive line signee Luke Montgomery on the ground. The Alabama signee followed up the stellar 1-on-1 showing with a sack on the first play in the team period.
Alabama signee Keon Keeley opens up about why he chose Bama: “I think it speaks for itself.”
EDGE Yhonzae Pierre (West): Pierre was listed as one of the top performers for the West in the first two days of practice. His stock has been on the rise after a stellar senior season, with Pierre impressing Power in San Antonio.
“The Alabama signee is an instant eye-catcher in drills with his quickness, effort level and attention to detail,” Power wrote. “We didn’t see Pierre take a ton of reps in 1-on-1s in the morning, but he did turn in an impressive rep while lining up inside. In the afternoon, Pierre put Monroe Freeling – arguably the top offensive tackle on hand – on skates during the joint 1-on-1 period.”
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