Photo via Kelby Collins (twitter).
Eight Florida Gators-to-be were named Under Armour All-Americans and got the chance to participate in the annual Under Armour Next All-America Game in Orlando. An impressive week of practice for the future Gators culminated with a dynamic performance by defensive tackle Kelby Collins, who won the Team Speed MVP Award after finishing the game with two sacks and several QB hurries.
So, let’s watch some highlights!
First up: big play number one of the game for Kelby Collins. Working on the right guard, Collins slaps him aside and gets inside. The QB notices his protection is breaking down, so he steps up and tries to take off. Collins, though, doesn’t allow that to happen, flagging him down and dropping him for a minimal gain on third and twelve to force a punt.
Next up: Florida offensive line signee Roderick Kearney provided a key block to spring Cedric Baxter for a 13-yard touchdown run- one of just three touchdowns scored in the game. Good technique, good punch off the snap, and the result is a clear path to the end zone for the Texas signee.
Florida QB signee Jaden Rashada is a bit tougher to evaluate in this game than most other players. He only got to throw the ball a few times and didn’t make any “wow” plays, but he did display some basic football intelligence at points in the game.
On a third and five, he quickly recognized that the pocket was collapsing and took off for a four yard gain to set up a fourth and one at the opposing 40 yard line. A little while later, Rashada again realized that his window for a positive play was dwindling, and made the most of that opportunity, too. It was third and eighteen on his own thirty, and Rashada sensed the protection breaking down, so he took off and made a nice throw on the run for a solid eight-yard pickup to Braylon James as a starting point, and gave him an opportunity to make defenders miss to gain additional yards after the catch.
Here’s that latter play:
It’s also worth pointing out that Rashada had an overall positive showing for the week in Orlando. He made several great throws like this onee in skeleton receivers-against-cornerbacks drills, including one where he beat five-star corner Cormani McClain. I wouldn’t read too much into his performance in the game itself one way or another.
Back over to the defense now. Florida fans have been grousing about not landing McClain (who, side note, appears to be caught up in a circus that’s being co-ringled by the Miami Hurricanes and Colorado Buffaloes) but here’s where it’s worth noting that Florida has four defensive back signees who were touted as high school All-Americans and were invited to Orlando for this week: Sharif Denson, Ja’Keem Jackson, Jordan Castell, and Dijon Johnson. Jackson had a strong game, flying all over the field to make plays, including this one late in the game.
Lastly, the second sack of the day from Kelby Collins. The Florida signee deployed a nasty spin move on the offensive lineman to bypass the line of scrimmage and then blew up the play for a drive-killing sack. And that, I do believe, helped him win the MVP Award for Team Speed at the Under Armour Next All American Game.
