SAN ANTONIO — The second practice for both the East and West teams at the All-American Bowl (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET) got underway Wednesday morning with a heavy dose of offensive and defensive install and culminated with the first joint practice session of the week at the Alamodome. Below we have top performers along with more notes after spending the day roaming the sidelines inside the Alamodome, sheltered from a cold and sometimes rainy San Antonio.
EAST ALPHA DOG: JORDAN SHIPP, WR (NORTH CAROLINA)
North Carolina signee and Top247 prospect Jordan Shipp was a last-minute invitee to the All-American Bowl and proved he belonged with the best in the nation during Day 2 of practice. During the joint practice session, Shipp was nearly uncoverable during the 7-on- and 11-on-11 periods, stacking together multiple touchdowns and highlight plays on a variety of routes at the second and third levels of the defense. The future Tar Heel is a natural at stacking defensive backs as he moves down the field to attack third-level throws and shows plenty of promise as an early-contributing, field-stretching wideout in Chip Lindsey’s offensive scheme.
WEST ALPHA DOG: GATLIN BAIR, WR (UNCOMMITTED)
From the moment practice started Wednesday, Top247 high four-star wide receiver Gatlin Bair put his stamp on practice, winning with elite track speed and an impressive catch radius highlighted by 34-inch arms. Bair did have a drop on a near-touchdown from Texas quarterback signee Trey Owens, but other than one mistake on the day, he was the best player on the field for the majority of action. The highest-rated prospect from the state of Idaho in the modern recruiting era, Bair can create separation at all three levels and should be a Day 1 contributor regardless of where he ends up at the next level once he returns from his LDS mission.
NEXT FIVE OFFENSE:
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR (OHIO STATE)
If we were asked to sum up the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect’s performance on Day 2 of practice in two words, the answer would be “consistently excellent.” Smith scored multiple touchdowns across 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 practice periods in a variety of ways, from burning cornerbacks with his top-tier speed to making multiple defenders miss after the catch while stacking cuts in a phone booth. Smith should carve out a meaningful role for the Buckeyes next season and is a potential candidate to earn Freshman All-American status in Columbus.
NATE FRAZIER, RB (GEORGIA)
It’s safe to say Georgia running back signee Nate Frazier has the most juice of any running back in attendance. At a shade taller than 5-foot-9, Frazier has also flashed plenty of upside in the passing game, including a nifty back-shoulder adjustment along the sideline on a wheel route where he plucked the ball out of the air with his arms fully extended. During the joint practice session, Frazier continued his dominant play and has made a serious case as a potential rankings riser as we inch close to the final 2024 rankings release of the cycle.
KEVIN HEYWOOD, OT (WISCONSIN)
Wisconsin signee and Top247 prospect Kevin Heywood has a strong case for being the biggest rankings riser from this week after earning All-Lobby honors, dominating Day 1 of practice, and following up on Wednesday with another consistently excellent showing. In a recruiting cycle short on true offensive tackle bodies, Heywood is a remarkable get from the state of Pennsylvania for Luke Fickell & Co. in Madison.
WALKER WHITE, QB (AUBURN)
The top quarterback on Day 2 of practice was Auburn signee Walker White, who flashed the big-time arm that initially caused the 247Sports scouting staff to compare him with current Tennessee Titans QB Will Levis. White has always possessed promising physical tools, but his floor is likely much higher than we anticipated when entering his senior season. The future Hugh Freeze QB has made significant strides with his down-by-down ball placement, and delivered multiple tight-window throws on a rope that earned oohs and ahhs from those in attendance. White can hold the ball a tad long, but it’s tough to gauge whether that is inherent in his game or a symptom of being two games into offensive install with a new crop of receivers in an all-star game setting.
CHRISTIAN BENTANCUR, TE (CLEMSON)
Clemson signee and Top247 prospect Christian Bentancur was the best tight end for the West team during the morning session and proved to be a difficult coverage assignment for any linebacker or safety assigned to him. Bentancur is fantastic at setting up his routes at the top of his stem and creating separation, but isn’t solely a nightmare 1-on-1 matchup as he showed plenty of ability to sink his hips and find open space against zone coverage. Bentancur will quickly become a favorite of the entire quarterback room for the Tigers.
NEXT FIVE DEFENSE:
NOAH CARTER, EDGE (WASHINGTON)
Washington Huskies fans are on Cloud 9 after a thrilling CFP semifinal victory vs. Texas on Monday, and the good news keeps coming for UDub as its top-rated signee Noah Carter put together a dominant Day 2 of practice at the Alamodome. During the morning session, the 6-foot-3.5, 218-pounder was nearly unblockable during 1-on-1s, utilizing his explosive first step and impressive change of direction to keep opposing offensive tackles off balance. It would not shock us in the slightest if Kalen DeBoer and his staff use Carter as a situational pass rusher early on in his career in Seattle before eventually earning an every-down role for William Inge and Chuck Morrell’s defense.
BRYCE YOUNG, DL (NOTRE DAME)
Notre Dame-bound defensive standout Bryce Young casts an imposing figure on the field and backs it up with his play. On Wednesday, Young displayed impressive get-off quickness, especially considering his verified 6-5+, 245-pound frame. Young wears that mass exceptionally well with a lean look that will no doubt carry significantly more weight if desired. He’s already flashing speed-to-power ability that will only improve as he continues his physical development. Young lined up primarily at edge in 1-on-1s and combined that in-space athleticism with some point-of-attack pop. — Gabe Brooks, 247Sports national scouting analyst
ZABIEN BROWN, CB (ALABAMA)
Alabama signee Zabien Brown arrived in San Antonio on Tuesday and immediately made his mark, measuring north of 6 feet with promising arm length and hand size for a defensive back. Brown is a cerebral corner who can lock down his side of the field in man coverage or quickly break on the ball and cover ground quickly as a zone defender.
JAMES NESTA, LB (OKLAHOMA)
We noted Nesta’s impressive Tuesday Day 1 performance even though he didn’t make the “Next Ten” at East practice. The Oklahoma signee who will start at the “Cheetah” position in Brent Venables’ defense in Norman was all over the field making plays Wednesday in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Nesta’s rare combination of pass-coverage instincts, athleticism, and run-fitting expertise made him the best linebacker we watched Wednesday.
JERICHO JOHNSON, IDL (OREGON)
Oregon defensive line signee Jericho Johnson was a standout from the West team morning session as the 366-pounder surprised with his short-area agility, which allowed him to punch-and-peek as an interior two-gapping defender. Johnson followed up his encouraging morning efforts with a consistently impactful afternoon during the combined practice session where he was able to put his run-stuffing prowess on display. Johnson joked at check-in that he was a bit heavier than he wanted to be due to all the good food from the holidays, but his college-ready size combined with encouraging length could allow him to get on the field earlier than anticipated in Eugene.
AROUND PRACTICE …
– Notre Dame signee Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa was the second-best linebacker on the day behind Oklahoma’s James Nesta and had a legitimate case to earn “Next Five” status. The Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco product has college-ready size, but has impressed the entire 247Sports staff in attendance with his sideline-to-sideline range at 230-plus pounds. Viliamu-Asa feels like a near-lock to see the field early in South Bend.
– Missouri Top247 receiver signee Courtney Crutchfield mentioned during check-in that he was excited to get to Columbia to learn from All-American wideout Luther Burden III and that the Mizzou staff viewed him as the eventual replacement for Burden once he departs for the NFL Draft. Crutchfield is a smooth mover with long arms and big hands relative to his 6-foot frame, which allows him to snag nearly every pass that comes near his catch radius. The Pine Bluff (Ark.) standout has had an impressive first two practices in San Antonio and has established himself as one of the primary targets for the trio of quarterbacks on the West squad.
– Xadavien Sims made his presence felt in the morning session during 1-on-1s with his quick-twitch athleticism and heavy hands, according to 247Sports national scouting analyst Cooper Petagna. The Oregon signee and lone All-American Bowl participant from the state of Oklahoma measured better than expected at check-in with 33.5 arms and used his reach advantage plenty of times to knock offensive linemen off balance.
– Top247 EDGE Kameryn Fountain was a member of the 247Sports “All-Lobby” team after checking in a shade over 6-foot-6, 240 pounds with 35-plus inch arms and the USC signee made plenty of plays during the morning session of West team practice. It will be interesting to see how new Trojan defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn opts to use Fountain in Los Angeles as his long-term fit might be further inside on the defensive line. If Fountain can retain his athleticism closer to 270-280 pounds a few years down the line, he could easily develop into a day one or two NFL draft selection.
– It was a relatively uneventful morning session for the East according to 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins, but during a heavy dose of inside run Penn State IOL signee Cooper Cousins was in his element and put together multiple dominant reps. Cousins offers Center versatility along the interior of the offensive line which is fairly rare for a true 6-foot-6 athlete.
– After earning “Alpha Dog” status after a sensational Day 1 of East practice Clemson wide receiver signee TJ Moore put together another impressive practice on day two. The big-bodied outside receiver is comfortable working the full route tree and has the desired body control for an outside target that will need to make plenty of contested acrobatic grabs at the next level.
– Kansas EDGE signee Deshawn Warner has a chance to finish as the Jayhawks’ highest-rated player in the 247Sports era and proved why during day two of practice as he had his fair share of wins against top-tier offensive linemen on both the East and West squads. Warner is an instinctual pass-rusher who made major strides from his junior to his senior year and showcased his deep bag of moves including an eye-opening rip move for an easy win.
– Georgia defensive lineman Justin Greene had one of the better multiple-play sequences on the day as he obliterated whoever was in front of him on three straight reps resulting in multiple tackles for loss.
– Four-star Texas quarterback Trey Owens made the most of day two, flashing his third-level arm talent and touch nearly a half-dozen times throughout the morning and afternoon sessions. Owens might have had the throw of the day on a 50-plus air yard bomb that seemed to hang in the air for over three seconds as it fell through the arms of the aforementioned Bair.
– After an up-and-down performance on day one, Arizona quarterback signee Demond Williams responded with a much better day two highlighted by a few moments of magic during the 11v11 session in the Alamodome to end practice. Williams has a knack for extending plays to buy himself more time, one of which led to an easy touchdown grab for Jordan Shipp.
– Minnesota signee and Top247 safety Koi Perich struggled with the vast increase in competition level on day one but rebounded extremely well on day two and made a serious case for “next five on defense” honors. Perich is one of the freakiest athletes in the cycle and as he began to adjust to the increase in play speed throughout the day, we noticed him around the ball on nearly every rep during the joint practice 11v11 periods.
– Florida State signee Jamari Howard had one of the plays of the day as he perfectly played quarters coverage as the field-side corner moving off of his initial coverage responsibility to gain ground in his backpedal and force an incompletion at the third level. Howard measured in a shade over six feet tall and is one of the higher-ceiling defensive backs in San Antonio for the All-American Bowl.
– Future Oregon linebacker Kamar Mothudi had one of the better pass coverage reps on the day as he ran stride-by-stride with a running back on a rail route along the sideline before eventually flipping his hips and making a play on the ball at the catch point.
– LSU wide receiver signee Kylan Billiot was a top performer yesterday and had another good practice on Wednesday. Billiot is another wideout for the Bayou Bengals who should be able to move inside and out to hunt matchups.
– It’s a tough ask to cover the loaded East receiving corps, but the 247Sports scouting staff was encouraged by multiple competitive reps by Michigan cornerback signee and Top247 prospect Jo’Ziah Edmond. The future Wolverine didn’t back down to the challenge of covering No. 1 overall prospect Jeremiah Smith and probably had the best one-on-one rep against his future rival in “The Game” to this point in the week.
— Florida-bound five-star LJ McCray flashed several times Wednesday, especially during the morning practice session, when he notched two tackles for loss during inside run drills. McCray, our “first off the bus” selection on Monday’s “All-Lobby Team,” also recorded a couple of clear 1-on-1 victories during the afternoon joint practice at the Alamodome. — Brooks
— Top247 top 100 safety Zaquan Patterson (Miami) provided some emphatic reps with physical flair during Wednesday’s joint practice. He plays with an enforcer’s field demeanor and challenges pass catchers in 1-on-1 reps. He essentially ran the route for one of the top tight ends in attendance and swatted the ball away at the catch point. — Brooks
— Top247 top 100 offensive tackle Andrew Sprague (Michigan) already plays with encouraging anchoring ability and functional strength and still possesses immense frame potential at 6-7+, 287 with good length. A lightning-quick edge rusher — such as Noah Carter (Washington) — gives Sprague some trouble outside because of the pad level and redirecting quickness, but Sprague’s frame and general movement ability suggest a very high pass-pro ceiling. — Brooks
— After an excellent Tuesday practice performance, Oregon-bound Top247 safety Aaron Flowers once again impressed with frequent flashes in run-game and passing context during team action. Flowers was around the ball all the time, yet again, a trait he’s shown in-season as well. — Brooks
— Top247 second-level defender Faletau Satuala carries the safety label but could very well project to linebacker and may end up there in the final Top247. He ran with backs in 1-on-1s aligned at linebacker, including a turn-and-run rep vs. James Peoples (Ohio State) in which Satuala turned and located the ball at the catch point for a PBU. Satuala possesses safety athleticism with linebacker frame potential and represents a potential second-level chameleon fit for the game. — Brooks
— UCF signee Waltclaire Flynn put his natural leverage and pad-level advantages to good use Wednesday with some encouraging 1-on-1 reps vs. some talented defenders. Flynn’s a high school tackle who at the next level will move inside, which fits his physical specs and serves his run-blocking conviction well. — Brooks
– North Carolina signee Ashton Woods was impressive during the joint practice 7v7 session and put his closing speed on display multiple times before ultimately having to pull up at the point of contact as players were in half-shells (shoulder pads and shorts). If it was a live period of practice with full contact or a game, Woods likely would have racked up multiple splash plays on the day.
— 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins, Cooper Petagna, Gabe Brooks, Blair Angulo, Brandon Huffman, Mike Roach, and Tom Loy contributed to this report.
