re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition

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A long week in San Antonio is complete. Five practices and a nationally televised game later, I think we know the class of 2017 much better than we did coming into the week. We get insight into the way they compete, the way they interact, how coachable they are and most importantly, how well their game translates when matched up against the best in the country.

Based on the All-American week of work, these are my Army Bowl superlatives for the 2017 class.

Biggest statement: Stanford OT commit Walker Little

Little had what I felt was the best offensive line performance I've seen in an All-American setting. He validated his No. 2 ranking on 247Sports and stated a case to be considered as the No. 1 player in the country.

Most college-ready: UCLA DE commit Jaelan Phillips

He's got elite length, edge athleticism, bend and speed but Phillips plays with effort and that's why he's going to play immediately in Westwood. Watch Saturday's game tape, if he isn't disrupting plays in the backfield, he's running the ball down 15 yards downfield. Sometimes he's doing both on the same play. He's an absolute can't-miss force.

Lowest risk: Ohio State DE commit Chase Young

There's no chance Young isn't an impact player at Ohio State. There's not much to Young's game and that's what I like about. He's big and looks like he's only going to get bigger. He doesn't use some elaborate array of pass-rush moves. He just plays hard, plays big, finds the football and gets into the backfield.

Best arm: Clemson QB commit Hunter Johnson

The dude is a pure thrower. He showed it off in the game on Saturday by connecting on some of the day's biggest plays. If he finds consistency and starts to limit the outlier throws, he can be this class' most productive quarterback.

Most overlooked: Georgia RB commit D'Andre Swift

There has been so much hype over the race for the No. 1 running back ranking between Najee Harris and Cam Akers that a lot of people have forgotten about the guy that was the first No. 1 running back in this class. Swift may have been the best back of the week and showed a ton of versatility and flash throughout the week.

Most promising: Florida State RB commit Cam Akers

Florida State fans probably think they've found an instant replacement for Dalvin Cook. I'm not going to disagree. Despite most of his experience being at quarterback, Akers showed great feel at running back and better burst than anybody on Saturday. He was the day's best running back.

Best run blocker: Ohio State OG commit Wyatt Davis

During the practice week, when pass-blocking was at a premium and one-on-ones were the show, Davis could look out of sorts. When the game kicked off on Saturday thought, Davis showed where he makes his money: snow-plowing defensive tackles. He had some of the day's biggest pushes up front and he looks ready-made to be a road-grader.

Most pleasant surprise: Georgia OT commit Andrew Thomas

After Thomas competed at The Opening this summer, I thought he was a middle of the pack four-star offensive tackle. But whether Thomas has improved since then or just was better adjusted to the level of talent he'd be facing, he was a different player this week. You could make a case that Thomas was the second best offensive lineman of the week.

Quietest dominant week: Notre Dame OT commit Joshua Lugg

I don’t know how else to phrase it but for a guy that was just outstanding every day of the week, Lugg didn't quite get the buzz he probably deserved. I really think he is one of the best offensive linemen in this class. He's gifted physically, his film was good, he was a late addition to the game and he proved that he was one of the best on either roster.

Best leaders: Georgia QB commit Jake Fromm and Alabama QB commit Tua Tagovailoa

They do it in different ways but both Fromm and Tagovailoa are clearly leaders of men. Fromm is always encouraging, always talking, a guy that people look to on and off the field. Tagovailoa is more quiet but he just draws people to him intuitively. If you want a guy that can command a huddle, you can't miss on either of these two passers.

Most exciting: Florida State WR commit D.J. Matthews

Don't get caught checking your phone when Matthews' number gets called. He's a big-play threat every time he touches it and he showed that off on Saturday. He was making plays like that all week.

Silent assassin: Uncommitted WR Devonta Smith

You're not going to get Smith to say much but his play speaks loudly. Smith is strikingly slender but he's just so smooth, so natural and so good at getting open and making big plays. I like where we have him as a five-star receiver. Alabama, LSU and Miami are battling here.

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