Thoughts Before Casting Anchor at the Navy All-American Bowl
Navy All-American Bowl
East vs West
The Alamo Dome, San Antonio, TX
12 p.m. CT January 11, 2024
All recruiting rankings from 247Sports Composite Ranking
One of three prominent national high school all-star games, the Navy All-American Bowl boasts an impressive list of alumni who have graced the turf of the Alamo Dome. Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, the Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson and Odell Beckham Jr. have all been participants in the all-star game, along with 17 Heisman finalists.
It’s safe to say this rendition of the game will also be chock full of future stars. There will be 106 players in attendance and multiple five star prospects will be participating in the prestigious game. Even just last year, superstars such as Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Minnesota safety Koi Perich and Georgia safety K.J. Bolden were in San Antonio for this event, with Perich winning game MVP honors.
I will be in San Antonio taking pictures and taking notes, covering each practice throughout the week culminating in the game itself on Saturday. I will be posting updates and my thoughts throughout the week, but here is a primer on what to expect and look for during my action-packed week in San Antonio.
Memphis quarterback signee Antwann Hill Jr. throws during a drill. Photo by Andrew Ivins/247Sports
East Team Quarterbacks
Ty Hawkins - SMU - Signed (No. 228 NATL. No. 19 QB)
Antwann Hill Jr. - Memphis - Signed (No. 170 NATL. No. 16 QB)
Bowe Bentley - Uncommitted - 2026 (No. 241 NATL. No. 16 QB)
This group of guys really intrigues me. There are two excellent players who have already signed with schools you would not consider “bluebloods” and an uncommitted player in the next recruiting cycle who is coming off an undefeated season with a win in the state championship game.
All three will compete with each other in practice, all three will play in the game on Saturday. Hawkins and Hill will be able to show glimpses of what they will bring to campus in the coming months, and test their mettle against some of the best players in their class.
Hawkins may be the heir in Dallas after Kevin Jennings’ wraps up his career as a Mustang, and Hill could compete for the Memphis starting job right away. He will have big shoes to fill as Seth Henigan, the all time passing leader for the American Athletic Conference, departs the program.
Bentley, on the other hand, will have an opportunity to catch the eye of scouts at big-time programs. Bentley has received three new offers (Georgia Tech, Duke, California) since winning a state-title. I would not be shocked if more flooded in during or after this week’s events.
Who emerges as WR1 for the East Team
There are many big names who signed with big programs in this receiver room. Ohio State signee Quincy Porter joins Ole Miss signee Winston Watkins Jr., five-star Texas signee Jaime Ffrench, and Alabama signee Lotzeir Brooks in this unit, along with Texas A&M commit Aaron Gregory (2026) and uncommitted 2026 five-star Calvin Russel.
While every player in the position group will see the field, I want to see who earns a “starting” spot in the lineup. Whoever emerges as the top players from this group will have their offensive coordinators smiling ear-to-ear. Position drills will be fun to watch with this receiving corps.
I will be paying close attention to Brooks throughout the week. The 5-foot-9 New Jersey native is a state recordholder and is coming off of a senior campaign in which Brooks found the endzone over 20 times. What Brooks lacks in heigh he makes up with speed—he excels in the slot and as a kick returner, stretching the field vertically and making people miss in the open field. How he fares against top competition could prove that Alabama head coach Kalen Deboer found a diamond in the rough.
Alabama wide receiver signee Lotzeir Brooks. Photo by Brian Dohn/247Sports
Do stars matter?
The question gets asked every year. When players like Khalil Mack, a former two-star prospect, Josh Allen and the Kelce brothers have dominated the NFL in recent years, it can lead to the illusion of stars not mattering. But, let’s be honest, stars to a degree do matter. Five-star players generally turn out better than two-or-three-star players.
In San Antonio this week, there will be opportunities for some underrated prospects to test their mettle against some of the most highly touted recruits in the country. Edge rusher Pupualii Sepulona, the No. 1392 prospect in the country and Utah signee, is listed as a three-star prospect and will suit up for the West Team, and will face off against offensive tackle David Sanders, the No. 6 prospect and Tennessee signee who is a five-star prospect for the East Team.
Meanwhile West Team offensive tackle Kash Courtney, the No. 1122 prospect and Arkansas signee will be lined up against four star defensive linemen Iose Epenesa, an Iowa signee, and Amare Adams, a Clemson signee. Both players are ranked in the top 50 nationally.
There will be plenty of opportunity for lower-ranked prospects to prove themselves against some of the best of the best. While I do think stars matter, I think we could see some guys prove that they can be the exception to the rule.
Iowa edge rusher signee Iose Epenesa poses on the field at Kinnick Stadium. Photo by Eppy Epenesa.
Ones for the future
ATH Keisean Henderson - Houston - Committed (No. 20 NATL. No. 2 ATH)
ATH Davian Groce - Uncommitted (No. 28 NATL. No. 4 ATH)
LB Tyler Atkinson - Uncommitted (No. 7 NATL. No. 1 LB)
The cream of the crop from the class of 2026 will be playing alongside some of the best players from the class of 2025. There are a multitude of high school juniors participating, but the guys listed above are the ones I am keeping an eye on as the week goes on. They boast pedigree and I expect them to perform well against their peers.
Henderson is listed as a quarterback on the Team West roster, and will be the highest rated quarterback at the Navy All-American Bowl regardless of classification. Henderson has been committed to the Cougars since May and is from the Houston area. He holds a large number of Power Four offers, including Oregon, LSU, Michigan, Texas and Texas A&M. With a good week it’s possible Henderson could flip his commitment to a bigger program similar to 2025 quarterback Keelon Russell when he flipped from SMU to Alabama.
Four of the top five 2026 running backs hail from the state of Texas, but that doesn’t even include Groce, who is listed as an athlete by 247Sports. Groce would be the No. 2 running back in the class. He holds an impressive list of offers including Tennessee, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas A&M but could increase his stock with a good showing this week. Groce is a home-run-hitter who gets it done on the ground, in the passing game and as a returner. From what I have seen he has good contact balance but I want to see how he fares between the tackles against elite competition.
Atkinson’s recruitment will likely be very straightforward. Atkinson plays at Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia and is heavily linked to the Bulldogs. It makes sense given the proximity to Kirby Smart’s program and Georgia’s proven success at developing linebackers. Atkinson will be tasked with containing the West Team’s running game, which will mean we get to see him lineup across from Groce on Saturday.