{"id":387983,"date":"2026-01-04T20:49:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T20:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/387983\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T20:49:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T20:49:14","slug":"biggest-riser-first-off-any-bus-green-dot-best-program-fit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/387983\/","title":{"rendered":"Biggest Riser, First Off Any Bus, Green Dot, Best Program Fit"},"content":{"rendered":"

ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 While all eyes are on the transfer portal (and for good reason), the annual Under Armour All-America Game<\/a> once again provided a prime opportunity to get some eyes on college football’s next wave of stars.<\/p>\n

After three days of practices at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, just over 100 of the country’s top high school seniors and juniors squared off against each other in an exhibition Saturday at Spec Martin Stadium.<\/p>\n

It can be easy at times to forget about the high school blue-chip recruits given the sport’s new-found transactional nature, but every year top performers from the Under Armour All-America Game are making an impact as true freshmen. Two years ago, it was free agent wide receiver Cam Coleman<\/a> turning heads<\/a>. Last year, it was Oregon wide receiver Dakorien Moore<\/a>, Oklahoma offensive tackle Michael Fasusi<\/a> and Georgia defensive lineman Elijah Griffin<\/a> all proving that they were ready to be difference-makers for College Football Playoff squads<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With that being said, I think that we know both the class of 2026 and the class of 2027 a little better than we did a week ago. We got a chance to watch prospects move around at full speed, interact with their peers, and take to coaching. More importantly, we saw what they looked like in a best-on-best setting.<\/p>\n

WELCOME TO THE ELITE: DL JALEN BREWSTER (TEXAS TECH COMMIT)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

The big board for the class of 2027 is still very much taking shape, but if there’s one position group that appeared to be a little light on high-end talent entering the new year, it was interior defensive line. Not anymore. Jalen Brewster<\/a> was a constant disruptor during practices and a pressure-creator in the actual game (1 sack, 1 QBH). A stout and powerful 3-technique, Brewster is quick and coordinated for someone pushing 300 pounds. Texas Tech might have crashed the CFP party with veteran transfers, but Brewster gives the Red Raiders a young building block up front.<\/p>\n

BIGGEST RISER: LB CINCERE JOHNSON (OHIO STATE SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

The Top247 for the class of 2026<\/a> will get one final update later this month and Cincere Johnson<\/a> has firmly put himself in the conversation for a five-star designation. An aggressive front-seven defender with impressive football instincts and downhill charge, Johnson (game-high 9 tackles) created negative play after negative play throughout the week. He’s not only got the desired lateral range, but rare stopping power in the hole. Johnson projects best as an off-ball linebacker, but he’s got the bend and get-off to offer some on-ball looks. That should be music to Matt Patricia<\/a>‘s ears.<\/p>\n

BEST PRACTICE PLAYER: ATH LAMAR BROWN (LSU SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

The highest-ranked prospect in attendance simply lived up to the billing as Lamar Brown<\/a> controlled the line of scrimmage \u2026\u00a0on both sides of the ball. We have written in the past that Brown could be considered DL1 and IOL1 in the class and we still feel that way. Brown took over Thursday’s 1-on-1 session, winning a series of reps on defense before flipping over to offense and deterring a variety of different rushers with ease. The scary part for everyone outside of Baton Rouge? Brown’s body is still maturing. He should push for defensive snaps in Year 1, but the best is still coming.<\/p>\n

FIRST OFF ANY BUS: DL RICHARD ANDERSON (LSU SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

LSU signee Richard Anderson<\/a> went viral this past September when Edna Karr hosted American Heritage inside the Caesars Superdome because of his sheer mass. More of those moments are on the way. A minivan of a human at 6-foot-4, 350 pounds, Anderson is one of the widest defensive linemen we have scouted in recent memory. And he’s not just some unathletic space-eater. Not with his burst and motor. Anderson was no match for the collection of guards assembled and was able to find energy late to flush pockets. Conditioning will be key, but he’s a unicorn of sorts.<\/p>\n

BEST PROGRAM FIT: OL BEN NICHOLS (NOTRE DAME SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

Notre Dame is almost always a finalist for the Joe Moore Award and Ben Nichols<\/a> is the type of prospect that will allow the Irish to keep dominating up front. A squatty big man with a heavy punch, Nichols is built to smash on the inside, but he impressed on the outside in practice with his kick slide and reaction times. Nichols placed third at a state weightlifting meet last year with a 1,400-pound total (565-pound deadlift, 500-pound squad, 335-pound bench). That strength combined with his advanced technique should have him in the two-deep sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

FUTURE PFF DARLING: EDGE JAKE KREUL (OKLAHOMA SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

While he might not be the biggest or longest edge defender, there might not be a more polished pass rusher in the senior class than Jake Kreul<\/a>. The IMG Academy product and soon-to-be Sooner sliced and diced his way around opponents during Thursday’s 1-on-1 session before executing one of the purest spin moves we have seen in this type of environment on Saturday. Kreul (2 sacks, 2 TFL) might not always get home, but he constantly makes his presence felt with his well-planned surge and will set the table for teammates. He looks like a future pressure machine.<\/p>\n

QUICKEST RELEASE: QB PEYTON HOUSTON (LSU COMMIT)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

“Most effective quarterback” would also work for Peyton Houston<\/a>. It was an overall up-and-down few days for the signal-callers, but Houston found the most success in the actual game as he led a pair of scoring drives and didn’t turn the ball over. The LSU commit finished 11 of 16 passing for 91 yards and one touchdown, adding another score on the ground. Houston has some physical limitations, but he gets the ball out fast with a rapid release and is sharp while working through his progressions. He reminds us a little bit of Dillon Gabriel<\/a> and could thrive in the right system.<\/p>\n

BEST BALL SKILLS: WR KESEAN BOWMAN<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

While he only saw two targets come his way during the game, Kesean Bowman<\/a> made it clear during practices that he’s a bit different than some of the other junior wide receivers that were invited as he routinely won on the perimeter. A wiry 6-foot-1 individual, Bowman tracks the football at an extremely high level and is able to make mid-flight adjustments. The play of the week for him came in an 11-on-11 period where he tracked back to an underthrown pass and secured a catch with a defender draped all over him. Bowman is set to make a commitment on February 10th<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BEST ROUTE RUNNER: WR JULIUS JONES<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

Texas commit Easton Royal<\/a> (MVP of the game<\/a>) and Osani Gayles<\/a> were two more consistent separators, but no one got open at the first two levels like Julius Jones<\/a>. The Notre Dame legacy is elastic in the lower half and has a natural feel of how to set up defensive backs as he was able to shake his marks with dynamic movements. Jones isn’t the biggest target, but he has proven to be a tough individual that isn’t afraid to eat contact over the past two years at the Florida-based powerhouse that is St. Thomas Aquinas. He’s got a chance to be a weapon in the slot for a CFP hopeful.<\/p>\n

GREEN DOT: SAF JIREH EDWARDS (ALABAMA SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

No one in Orlando walked around with more confidence than Jireh Edwards<\/a>. A lieutenant on the backend of the defense, Edwards sees things well before they happen and that’s why we think he could have a green coach-to-player sticker on his helmet one day as he calls out tendencies and gets teammates aligned with efficiency. Edwards fits the mold of a boundary safety with his contact courage, but he does not get enough credit for his man-to-man coverage skills. Alabama has had defensive backs make an impact as true freshmen in back-to-back seasons. Edwards might be next.<\/p>\n

PLEASANT SURPRISE: EDGE TARIQ BONEY (MICHIGAN SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

Expectations weren’t all that high for Tariq Boney<\/a> primarily because of his less-than-ideal build, but by the end of the event it was hard not to see the vision of what he could be: a win-at-all-cost edge player that will do the dirty work. Boney (5 tackles, 2 sacks) is under 6-foot-1, but he uses a lower pad level to his advantage as he dips and builds speed while attacking the corner. It might be a few years before the Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington, DC is ready for every-down work, but Michigan has found success with similar players in the past (see Josaiah Stewart<\/a>).<\/p>\n

MOCK DRAFT READY: SAF JETT WASHINGTON (OREGON SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

Everyone will be searching for the next Nick Emmanwori<\/a> following his breakout rookie campaign for the Seattle Seahawks and Jett Washington<\/a> might be the closest thing to the former South Carolina star in the class. A hulking 6-foot-5 safety, Washington \u2013 like Emmanwori \u2013 can do a little bit of everything. He played more of a center-field role while at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, but was sticky on an island and had a slick interception from a Cover 2 look in practice. When Washington, who has tested off the charts, gets on the field at Oregon, NFL scouts will likely be drooling.<\/p>\n

SWISS ARMY KNIFE: ATH CJ SADLER (UNC SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

If there’s one big takeaway from Bill Belichick<\/a>‘s inaugural season at North Carolina it’s that the Tar Heels need an influx of talent on both offense and defense. That’s what makes the marriage between CJ Sadler<\/a> and UNC so compelling. Sadler was one of a handful of players that went both ways throughout the week and was probably the best at doing it. The utility man caught multiple touchdowns during Thursday’s 1-on-1 battle and had one of the only takeaways. Is Sadler the next Travis Hunter<\/a>? Probably not. But he’s a skilled slot receiver and a skilled slot cornerback.<\/p>\n

THE UNDERTAKER: CB JOHN MEREDITH III<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

It was a quiet few days for the No. 1-ranked cornerback in the Top247 for the class of 2027, but John Meredith III<\/a> quickly reminded us of why he’s a priority for so many once the game got underway. A reactive athlete with long limbs and deep speed, Meredith can hang with almost anyone from an off-man posting. He ran underneath a vertical shot for an interception on Saturday, but what really stood out was with his ability to drive towards assignments and eliminate throwing windows. Meredith needs to add some body armor, but the ceiling is as high as anyone’s.<\/p>\n

NO-FLY ZONE: CB RAYLAUN HENRY (TEXAS A&M COMMIT)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

Texas A&M commit Raylaun Henry<\/a> has long been a darling for the 247Sports scouting department and he once again aced an in-person evaluation. He played near lock-down coverage all week while positioned on the outside and was able to turn and locate the football when challenged. Henry didn’t record any stats on Saturday, which actually speaks to his ability to take opponents out of the game. The No. 3-ranked cornerback in the junior Top247 should be viewed as a major coup for the Aggies in the DMV, which is a hotbed where it’s usually hard to get a foot in the door.<\/p>\n

THE 180: OL IMMANUEL IHEANACHO (OREGON SIGNEE) <\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

Who would have thought that someone can get better. Oregon-bound giant Immanuel Iheanacho<\/a> showed up to last year’s game out of shape and in desperate need of technical work. That was not the case this year. A much more compact Iheanacho dominated Thursday’s 1-on-1 period as he used a lethal punch and rare twitch to fend off pass rushers. Iheanacho is still very much a work in progress, but there are simply not a lot of humans his size (6-foot-6, 360 pounds) that move the way that he does. The Ducks can keep winning at the point of attack with trench bullies like Iheanacho.<\/p>\n

MR. UPSIDE: OT OLUWASEMILORE OLUBOBOLA<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

Let’s be clear. There might not be a longer burn on the entire roster than Oluwasemilore Olubobola<\/a>, but if it all comes together then he’s going to have the opportunity to protect the hot corner at the game’s highest levels. Olubobola simply doesn’t have the strength right now to match most force-based pass rushers, but he’s light on his feet and knows how to use his vine-like arms to advantage. More notably, he finds ways to reset. Olubobola was one of the youngest prospects in attendance. He’s going to need plenty of time on ice, but could be worth the wait and investment.<\/p>\n

SNEAKY-GOOD WEEK: OL BRECK KOLOJAY (USC SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

It takes a while to scroll down the commit list for USC’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class before you get to Breck Kolojay<\/a>‘s name. That should probably change. Kolojay didn’t exactly do anything sexy all week, but almost every rep that he took was solid \u2013 and that’s kind of the point. He’s reliable and that was on full display when Kolojay’s team leaned heavily on him Saturday, running behind him for three consecutive snaps while trying to preserve a lead. He generated easy push and opened up wide run lanes. Kolojay might be short in the arms, but he makes up for it everywhere else.<\/p>\n

THE ENIGMA: QB RYDER LYONS (BYU SIGNEE)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

Ryder Lyons<\/a> is the highest-ranked senior quarterback expected to participate in any of the major all-star games this month. Unfortunately, he was in more Under Armour commercials than he was in actual plays on Saturday as he was believed to be held out of the game due to an unspecified injury. Lyons did practice all three days and he certainly had his moments as he hit targets on the move, but it would have been nice to see him out of his comfort zone directing something other than his high school offense, especially after he didn’t participate in this past summer’s Elite 11 Finals<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

SCOUT\u2019S DREAM: EDGE DJ JACOBS (OHIO STATE COMMIT)<\/p>\n

(Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)<\/p>\n

When DJ Jacobs<\/a> moved to No. 1 overall in the rankings<\/a> back in October, it was a bit of a calculated shot as the move was fueled primarily by best-in-class junior tape. We’re feeling even better about the decision after spending some time around him. Jacobs was by far the most impressive looking underclassmen off the hoof in Orlando and maybe the sharpest between the ears. We came into the week thinking there was a chance that he might eventually slide inside, but after sizing him up and watching him move around, we think that his future could include off-ball utilization. He’s the real deal.<\/p>\n

247Sports national recruiting analyst Hudson Standish contributed to this story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 While all eyes are on the transfer portal (and for good reason), the annual Under…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":387984,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[399,398,396,397,99],"class_list":{"0":"post-387983","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-ncaa","10":"tag-ncaa-football","11":"tag-ncaafootball","12":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=387983"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387983\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/387984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=387983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=387983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=387983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}