2012 All-America Game Offers Distinct Bama Flavor
By Editorial Staff
If you are a fan of watching future superstars play against one another, a fan of recruiting or a fan of Alabama; you might want to clear you’re calendar on January 5th at 8:00pm est. That is the day of the Under Armour All-America game in Orlando, Florida. Alabama is set to put the finishing touches on one of the best recruiting classes we may ever see and it comes to a head on January 5th with several big time announcements from players targeted by the Tide. Alabama will already be represented very well in the game by current Tide commitments from all over the country and they offer a sneak peek into the future at their respective positions. This is an opportunity to watch the best of the best in high school competition go at it for sixty minutes and it is always a treat. This year’s game will showcase six elite players who have already verbally committed to Alabama and five other players Alabama is currently pursuing—three of which are set to announce their college destination during the game.
We have already covered the six of the verbally committed Alabama prospects playing in this game in our weekly recruiting spotlight. Here’s a rundown of those players, their position and what to watch for during the game as well as comparisons with past and present Tide players.
Dakota Ball: 6-foot 2-inch, 295 pound lineman from Pepperell, GA. Dakota is one of the biggest, strongest players on the All-American roster. He plays offense and defense in high school but will be starting out at defensive end when he arrives in Tuscaloosa. He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop and plays both sides of the ball. He is a throwback type player who uses his strength and quickness to get opponents off balance. He is a bit underrated and is known for playing his best in big games. Comparison- Jesse Williams
Chris Black: 5-foot 10-inch, 175 pound receiver and return specialist from First Coast High in Jacksonville, FL. In one word Black is electric with the ball in his hands. His 4.40-forty speed and ability to get open will be the first thing coach’s notice about him. He has great leaping ability for a shorter receiver and is very elusive. As a return specialist in high school he was a nightmare for opposing special teams and should have a few highlight moments in this game. He enrolls early in January and will push for playing time as a freshman. Comparison- Marquis Maze/Tyrone Prothro
Amari Cooper: 6-foot 1-inch 180 pound receiver from Miami NW High in Miami FL. Cooper is as complete a receiver as you will ever see at the high school level. He has 4.45-forty speed and the ability to create immediate separation at the line of scrimmage. He will catch anything that comes close to him and has superior vertical leaping ability. He does everything well from a receiving standpoint and I expect him to make some circus catches in this game. Cooper is enrolling early as well in January and will be tough to keep off the field next year. Comparison- D.J Hall
Brandon Greene: 6-foot 5-inch 298 pound Offensive Tackle from Cedar Grove, GA. Brandon is the highest rated offensive lineman in Bama’s 2012 signing class and a guy with All-SEC potential. He is a tall strong kid who carries his weight very well. He has quick feet and uses his hands well, keeping defenders from getting into his body. He is a very strong run blocker which attracted Tide coaches to him early. It will be his job to protect the quarterback’s blind side in this game and he’ll give defensive ends all they can handle. Comparison- Cyrus Kouandjio
Reggie Ragland: 6-foot 3.5-inch, 240 pound Linebacker from Bob Jones High in Alabama. Reggie is the only in-state Tide commitment playing in this game and he will definitely make his presence known. He is a big, athletic linebacker who plays with surprising athleticism. He will likely be manning the middle of the field and we will see him tracking down plays from sideline to sideline all night long. Ragland has the ability to wreak havoc from his middle linebacker position and he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. The opposing running backs in this game will find yards tough to come by when Reggie is on the field. Comparison- Donta’ Hightower
Eddie Williams: 6-foot 4-inch, 200 pound athlete from Arnold High in Panama City, Fl. Williams is probably the most athletically gifted player in the 2012 class and is recruited as a Safety by Alabama. He is a devastating hitter with ridiculous leaping ability along with natural instincts for the game. He played 6 different positions in high school and excelled at all of them. There isn’t much this kid can’t do on a football field and we may see him in several different positions in this game. As a Safety Eddie is a complete freak with the ability to cover the entire defensive backfield and deliver punishing hits on receivers. As a receiver he is a matchup nightmare with his combination of size and speed and there isn’t likely to be a receiver or cornerback in this game that can out jump Williams for a ball. He is definitely one to keep an eye on and is sure to make every Tide fan watching excited about his future in Tuscaloosa. Comparison- Mark Barron/Julio Jones
Other Tide targets are expected to announce their college destinations throughout the course of the game:
Landon Collins: 6-foot, 205 pound Safety from Geismar, La. Collins is simply an elite play maker in every sense of the word and the number one remaining target for the Tide in the 2012 class. Collins was named MVP of the Nike Sparq combine championship held in Oregon over the summer and is one of the best high school players you will ever see. Getting star linebacker Denzel Devall out of Louisiana was a huge statement and adding Collins to this class would make an even bigger recruiting statement for Alabama. He has a great relationship with Saban and the other Tide players. Alabama and LSU have solid arguments with Collins and both sides feel confident. Prediction- Too close to call but I believe the Tide may have a slight edge.
Cyrus Jones: 5-foot 10-inch 185, pound athlete from the Gillman School in Maryland. Cyrus is another electric playmaker who plays receiver and return specialist along with defensive back. He is an all-around great athlete and is being recruited by the Tide as a slot receiver and possible return specialist. Jones makes things happen when he gets the ball and he has speed to burn. Look for the coaches in this game to use him in a variety of different ways as he is always a threat to take it the distance. He previously named the Tide as his favorite but Virginia Tech has made a late push for this elite play maker. Auburn was thought to be a threat for his signature but I don’t see him in west Georgia and Jones himself recently dispelled rumors about Ohio State. Prediction- Alabama
Jordan Jenkins: 6-foot 3-inch, 245 pound Defensive End from Hamilton, Ga. Jenkins recruitment has been a long one and he has remained a priority in the 2012 class for the Tide. His nickname is the “Freak” and he has tortured offensive tackles who tried blocking him throughout his senior year. He plays with a non-stop motor and is the most athletically gifted defensive end in the class. Jenkins recruitment has come down to Alabama, Florida and Georgia with the Tide maintaining the best relationship with this future star to date. This should ultimately overcome Georgia’s late push for the top in-state prospect when his announcement is made on January 9th. Prediction- Alabama
Five star Defensive Tackle Eddie Goldman will be on hand but won’t announce his decision at the game. This 6-foot 5-inch, 300 pounder from Washington D.C. is still in play for Alabama but Florida State and Miami are the favorites for his signature. Anything can happen in recruiting and almost always does so don’t count Alabama out until after he signs his papers. Neither of those programs can sell winning the way Alabama can and that may factor into his final decision.
Korren Kirven is another undecided Tide prospect expected to play and will garner some added interest if he performs well. Kirven is 6-foot 4-inches tall and 280 pounds on the defensive line and has been very quiet throughout the entire recruiting process. Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia Tech are all after the Lynchburg, Va. native and he will likely wind up at defensive end or defensive tackle. He is a raw prospect with a ton of upside and potential at the next level.
Alabama native and five star quarterback Jameis Winston remains firmly committed to Florida state but there is buzz about possible flip to the Tide. That won’t happen during the All-Star game but a teenager changing his mind wouldn’t be a surprise. If you decide to tune in there is sure to be a very competitive game and the opportunity to see future Tide stars in action is always a plus. Last year the Army All-Star game provided us with Brent Calloway’s now infamous announcement to attend Auburn instead of Alabama sending shock waves through the state. These highly touted prospects have learned to make a splash on the national stage provided by the All-star games and this year’s game will continue that trend. Several uncommitted prospects will be on hand that have no plans to announce their decisions but they sometimes get caught up in the moment and let the cat out of the bag. There is no way to tell what events will play out in this one but it will certainly have a distinct Alabama flavor to it, and that always makes for good T.V. For those fans unable to tune in, Bama Hammer will have a comprehensive update on the commitments and the performance of the future Alabama players.