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The Under Armour All-America game is one of the 2 major HSFB All-America games (U.S. Army AAG being the other). This game, played in Orlando, FL, features many top players from around the country. Here’s how/when you can watch it
2017 Under Armour All-America Game
Gameday: Sunday, January 1st
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL — that’s where Miami beat WVU 31-14 in the Russell Athletic Bowl, in case you were wondering.
Kickoff time: 1:00pm
TV: ESPN (National Broadcast)
Who to Watch
Earlier, when rosters were announced, I wrote this piece about the Canes commits and targets to watch:
Recruiting Radar: Miami Hurricanes recruits in the Under Armour @AllAmericaGame. #Canes#TheU https://t.co/GNYt2iriEt pic.twitter.com/vji2q6Opuu
— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) December 9, 2016
On top of that piece with the first list of commits and targets, there’s been a couple updates:
Canes 3-star RB commit Robert Burns will not play in the UA game. He reportedly sustained an injury in training that will preclude him from playing. Burns has signed his Grant-in-aid paperwork with Miami, and will be an early enrollee in January.
And, while I’m at it, I saw on a message board that someone said Miami is displeased with this development and Burns in general and is going to drop him/pull his scholarship. Uh....guys....that’s not happening. Once a player signs Grant-in-aid paperwork, the school is bound to the player. There is nothing Miami can do now to get out of honoring Burns’ scholarship. Burns himself could elect to go elsewhere, but that’s not happening. I mean, I get that people have thoughts and can write what they want, but saying Miami is going to drop Burns is just flat wrong.
Just a quick note, but 4-star RB target Anthony McFarland Jr. (Hyattsville, MD) is NOT announcing at the UA game. He had planned to do so, but when he broke his leg in his HS team’s kickoff class, that set McFarland’s recruiting calendar back. He’s already visited Miami, has Miami as his leader, and the Canes are in a good spot. McFarland will announce his commitment in mid-January, not today.
On to another player development, 4-star WR Jeff Thomas (East St. Louis, IL) has had contact with Miami and will reportedly visit Coral Gables after the Dead Period ends in January. Thomas, who has Illinois, Louisville, and Oregon among his favorites, is a new name on the board for Miami. He’s an electric playmaker who profiles as a plus player at slot receiver and kick returner.
The downside? Thomas may have work to do in order to qualify academically at Miami. Don’t let that be the death knell to Miami’s pursuit of him, however. Miami has had at last 1 borderline academic case end up qualifying in each of the last 4 years, and Thomas may be that player in this year’s recruiting class. In any event, here is a link to Jeff Thomas’ highlights so you see what kind of player Miami is recruiting.
Apart from Thomas, Miami’s top target in this game is 4-star ATH/CB Christopher Henderson. Henderson is a local kid from Miami (FL) Christopher Columbus HS, and was once committed to the Canes. Henderson has gotten rave reviews for his transition to CB — he played RB in his prep career — this week at the UA game practices, and his 4.35 speed is a weapon anywhere.
Henderson is considering Alabama and Florida along with Miami, with Florida being the consensus team to beat.
After this, you’re now ready to watch several future Canes. Hopefully we get a highlight like this one from QB Jack Allison and WR Dionte Mullins from the 2016 UA game.
Enjoy the game, guys!
Go (future) Canes!!