Top performers, ranking implications from the Navy All-American Bowl
SAN ANTONIO – Several of the nation’s best recruits from the 2025 and 2026 classes have been on hand competing in the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl practices all week. On Saturday, they finally took the field.
Signees from Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Auburn, Texas, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, LSU, Iowa, SMU, and more are represented. There’s also an elite group of prospects from the 2026 recruiting cycle as the Navy All-American Bowl includes underclassmen for the first time.
Rivals National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman was on-site for the Navy All-American Bowl on Saturday as the two squads competed in the Alamodome.
Here are the top performers and major rankings implications from the game:
1. FOUR-STAR WR JALEN COOPER — SMU SIGNEE
Jalen Cooper made the most of his last game in San Antonio. After a productive run at nearby Cibolo (Texas) Steele High School, the four-star SMU signee scored the game’s opening touchdown on a 91-yard catch and run. Cooper has been separating from All-American defensive backs all week, and that theme continued into Saturday’s game in a big way. Cooper also made a big reception downfield in the fourth quarter to set up a West field goal. Over the course of the week, the future Pony asserted himself among the nation’s best. He capped it with Rivals MVP honors.
2. FOUR-STAR ATH KEISEAN HENDERSON — HOUSTON COMMIT (2026)
Keisean Henderson walked away with the Navy All-American Bowl MVP hardware after emerging as the top-performing quarterback in Saturdays game. Henderson delivered a strike on the 91-yard TD to Cooper. Henderson was impactful manuevering in the pocket and extending plays, including the aforementioned touchdown pass. The 2026 four-star Houston commit was equally as dynamic with the ball in his hands – and he’s a threat to score every time he touches the rock.
3. FOUR-STAR ATH DALEN PENSON — GEORGIA TECH SIGNEE
Four-star ATH Dalen Penson has been an eye-catcher playing cornerback during Navy AAB Week. The Georgia Tech signee from the Peach State was flying to the football and is an active tackler, and showed as much as a gunner on special teams, too. He did his best work in coverage, though – shadowing taller receivers downfield and breaking on routes along the sideline and in the end zone.
4. FIVE-STAR LB TYLER ATKINSON (2026)
Tyler Atkinson is a menace working from the second level of the defense. A true Swiss Army Knife, the five-star LB from Loganville (Ga.) Grayson patrols sideline to sideline with conviction. Atkinson came through with several stops in the flat and leading the charge from his linebacker spot. He has fantastic speed and gifted with instincts for the position. THroughout the week, we saw Atkinson win reps in coverage, defending the run, and pressuring the QB. We love his skill-set as a difference-making off-ball LB.
5. FIVE-STAR WR JAIME FFRENCH — TEXAS SIGNEE
Jaime Ffrench accounted for East’s lone touchdown in the Navy All-American Bowl as he blew past a defensive back with conviction. The five-star Texas signee is among the most polished pass-catchers in this loaded 2025 class. The future Longhorn has a massive catch radius and extremely sure hands, and he came up with some acrobatic grabs and tough combat catches throughout the week. Ffrench is one of the blue-chip receivers we believe has the highest floor.
6. FOUR-STAR ATH J’ZAVIEN CURRENCE — SOUTH CAROLINA COMMIT (2026)
J’Zavien Currence has been an eye-catcher throughout the week in San Antonio and capped his time with another strong performance in the Alamodome. The four-star South Carolina verbal was superb flying to the football from his safety spot making tackles in the open field. He also came away with a pass defensed in the flats. With his size (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) and athletic profile, Currence can line up at multiple positions and has proven to be a dynamic, well-rounded defender everywhere on the field.
7. FOUR-STAR DE JAMARION CARLTON (2026)
When Jamarion Carlton wasn’t making splash plays behind the line of scrimmage, the four-star EDGE from Texas was putting the heat on opposing quarterbacks from the East. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder is explosive off the line and comes downhill at a high clip. Carlton forced the issue and cleaned up on a few pressures. We love his upside after a huge week showing out among the 2026 and 2025 classes at the Navy All-American Bowl.
8. FOUR-STAR WR WINSTON WATKINS — OLE MISS SIGNEE
Four-star WR Winston Watkins felt like he was a broken tackle away from scoring on several occasions in the Navy All-American Bowl. The electric Ole Miss signee from Florida saw action at receiver, on gadget plays, and returning punts, and broke loose for chunk gains in all three phases. Watkins is dynamic with the ball in his hands and can accelerate so smoothly. He’s going to be a spark plug on offense and special teams for Lane Kiffin when he arrives in Oxford.
9. TWO-STAR DE GARRISON DIBBLE — NAVY SIGNEE
In the inaugural Navy All-American Bowl, it’s only fitting Navy DL signee Garrison Dibble made the cut. Gibble broke loose for a pair of sacks in this contest – using his strong hands to his advantage and closing off the edge on some quarterbacks with mobility – and did so on money downs both times on Saturday.
10. FOUR-STAR WR QUINCY PORTER — OHIO STATE SIGNEE
Quincy Porter has been excellent coming back to the football throughout the week, and that theme continued in Saturday’s game as the future Buckeye made several impressive grabs and plays with the rock in his hand. The stock-riser from New Jersey broke through for two big YAC plays in the game. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, the long-strider is tough to wrangle in the open field. He made the most of his grabs, including a big splash catch down the sideline as well. He was a top performer all week in San Antonio.
