With the Bowl Championship Series in high heat allready here we've come to the final of our third season at Q4TB. Today, the annual HS Army Game took place - showcasing some of next seasons Freshman stars in their final game as High School athletes. The Alamodome packed in 35,000 to watch mainly veterans from the United States Armed Forces to watch these kids play and boy were they treated to a fine game.
Most of the games high profile players have allready verbally commited to a school and many have even enrolled at their future school - not allowing them to compete in athletics even if they were to decide to switch schools now.
Argueably the most aggressive and tenacious player in the entire game was MLB PJ Lumpkin out of Roosevelt, Utah. Lumpkin is by far the best player to come out of the state of Utah within the past 10 years and probably will be one of the best of all time. Lumpkin's early season decision was to go to North Carolina where his father is a huge basketball fan. PJ was running around making plays all day and forced two fumbles, one of which he picked up and nearly returned for a TD.
The West was lead by the play of Iowa commitment QB Marvin Mitchell. Marvin is a terrific quarterback who has a strong and accurate arm. His ability to move in the pocket is average but he's certainly got the arm to compete to start at the next level. Marvin lead the West O with two touchdown passes on the day and didn't throw any interceptions or fumble the ball.
On the other side, Kansas commitment QB Jeff Charles out of Edmond, Oklahoma drove the East down the field completeing almost every pass along the way. Charles is an accurate QB who also loves to run the ball as well, nearly the exact mould of current Kansas QB Kale Cooper. His arm strength is questionable right now and it he may not exactly have the arm to play at the college level just yet but he certainly had a great game connecting for a TD in the second quarter.
The West had the fastest player on the field, RB Matt Payne who committed to Mississippi earlier in the year. Matt runs a 4.3 40 and he was blowing by defenders all afternoon. Payne was feature in many Wildcat sets and end-around plays that he showed his terrific speed and really made a name for himself. Two rushing scores for Matt made him a candidate for POTG.
The East however had RB Chad Lane who committed to Oregon State this season despite living in the big-school state of Texas. Chad showed his terrific speed and moves all afternoon cutting, spinning around and out running almost every defender.
The Army High School Player of the Year and game MVP was WR Cory Schroeder the Middleton, Wisconsin resident whose decided to spend his four years in college at Maryland playing for the Terrapins. Schroeder is just 6'1 but his 198 pound frame mixed with his blazing speed and amazing hands make him a sure fire #1 WR for the Terps next season. Cory had a terrific high school year catching for over 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. He is by far the most advanced wide receiver prospect to come out of high school in recent memory and he will be a terrific player for the Terps. Cory caught for two touchdowns this afternoon, allowing Marvin Mitchell to show off his arm strength.
Another dynamic player in todays game was ATH Nick Seals out of Senatobia, Mississippi. Nick is argueably one of high schools fastest, most versatile players and will be a key member of the Auburn offence next season. Seals out ran, out hustled and out played almost any DB the East put on to defend him and his shining moment of todays game was in the 2nd half when QB Charles Williams of Port Richey, Florida was taking snaps and he threw up a bomb to Seals who ran so hard for this ball that the camera man didn't even have the defender in his lens. Charles Williams is probably the best athlete for the QB position we've seen in years with his strong, accurate arm and ability to run around and make plays. Williams has the size and build to play immediately at the next level and Auburn is in for a big treat with these two offensive guys.
To take things back to the defensive side of the ball, TCU commitment and Conroe Texas native OLB Jacques King surprised and impressed all day - the 6'5 line backer showed he is big and mean and he knows how to disect plays and lay the hammer on ball carriers. While Jacques straight line speed isn't blazing - his agility is unmatched. He will fight for a starting spot in the spring.
Cincinnati's pride and joy DE Phil Weeks made a case for himself today. High School hasn't seen an athlete with the size and speed of Weeks in a very long time. 6'5 245 with GREAT defensive speed and the inability to be blocked makes Weeks a very strong candidate for playing time this season and he could benefit from the very young and talented Joe Robinson who he will most likely be playing across the line from. Weeks accounted for 3 sacks and 6TFL today.
Pittsburgh commitment TE Bryce Christian proved to be undefendable all day, it didn't matter if you had corners, linebackers or safeties on this guy because his 6'8 frame just tipped balls up and over defenders using his height and terrific hands for the TE position to his advantage. Christian is a freak of nature athlete who will be dropping jaws immediately.
ATH Barret Nugent, the 6'1 180 offensive machine showed his speed and agility all day making catches and taking hand offs cutting and spinning away from would be tacklers and leaving defenders in the dust. Nugent certainly has the talent, skills and ability to play next season the only question is where will the Fighting Illini find a spot for him on their deeply talented depth chart.
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