Selection to high -profile all-star games is becoming more important to recruits.
Hezekiah Jones imagines the feeling that will come when he receives his Under Armour All-America jersey on Thursday.
For the Stafford senior receiver, it’s the reward of all rewards. It’s a sign he’s made it — the cherry on top. It’s a chance to have something in common with the Julio Joneses and Amari Coopers of the world. “They went through the same thing I went through,” said Jones, who has committed to Texas A&M. “It’s exciting. I’m looking forward to playing that high level of competition.”
Jones is one of a few area players receiving his Under Armour AllAmerica jersey this week. North Shore defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson received his Monday, and Episcopal defensive tackle Marvin Wilson will get his Friday.
Juxtaposed with the U.S. Army All-American Bowl or the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, the Under Armour game isn’t the only meaningful high football all-star game around.
These games are increasingly becoming a huge part of recruits’ portfolio. If recruits are fortunate enough to be invited to more than one of these games, how do they choose? And why do these games — seen as glorified exhibitions to some — matter so much to them?
“I see it as where the big-time recruits go,” Jones said of the Under Armour game. “You have your No. 1 recruit Marvin Wilson playing in the game and you have (IMG Acadmey linebacker) Dylan Moses.
“It’s just high-level talent every year. They had (Michigan defensive end) Rashan Gary play in it last year. So, every year, they get the top five players to play in it. Just to go against that competition is great.”
ESPN vs. NBC vs. Fox Sports. Orlando vs. San Antonio vs. Southern California. Playing under the umbrella of one of the more well-known sportswear brands vs. playing in front of the troops.
There might be little that separates the Under Armour, U.S. Army or Semper Fi game.
But it seems the Under Armour game has made a dent in Houston. Last year’s game had eight Houston-area recruits.
That probably says more about the strength of those classes than the game’s popularity among Houston recruits. Recruiting fraternity
But the perception that this is the best game is there. Wilson switched from the U.S. Army AllAmerican Bowl in San Antonio for the Under Armour game in Orlando.
Not only because the competition could be better, but mainly because of the connections he’s built on the recruiting trail with the players he’ll be playing with and against in the Under Armour game. It’s only his preference, but others might choose differently.
“I remember last year we started a group chat,” Wilson said. “Offensive line, defensive line. (Pensacola, Fla., offensive lineman) Alex Leatherwood, (Frisco offensive lineman) Jack Anderson. This is going to be almost a whole year being in that group chat together. It’s been amazing.”
There is something to be said for a trip out of state, too. Still, some believe the U.S. Army game doesn’t lack anything the Under Armour has.
“It’s really about the athlete’s preference, for Texas guys especially,” said Damon Sayles, a national recruiting analyst for Bleacher Report. “Do you want to leave the state and play in an all-star game? Do you want to stay close and play in front of the Army soldiers? Do you maybe even want to go to California and play in front of the Marines?
“You really can’t go wrong with either selection.”
That’s how Episcopal senior offensive tackle Walker Little sees it. He was invited to two games as well. He stuck with the U.S. Army game simply because they invited him first.
“There are so many people that go to that game,” Little said. “All the troops, all the military is at that game. That’s a really cool aspect of it that maybe the Under Armour game doesn’t give you but they’re both great games.”
Little’s jersey ceremony is looming. There is an added bonus his family won’t have to drive far to see his final high school game. Lone Houston rep
For now, he’s the only Houston-area player in the U.S. Army game, not counting IMG Academy’s Grant Delpit and Jhamon Ausbon, who have Houston roots. But Walker gets to play with and against some vaunted players, too, such as the country’s top running back in Antioch’s (Calif.) Najee Harris.
These recruits agree on one thing. Getting to that jersey ceremony is a significant step that puts them in rare air.
“They only select 50 people out of a million high school football players,” Jones said. “That’s a lot. That shows they think I have the ability. Being noticed like that is great.”