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E.J. Holland: Five takeaways from the Army Bowl
1. Sterns wins MVP — Four-star Cibolo Steele safety Caden Sterns was the best player on the field today as he was named the game’s Most Valuable Player and helped lead the West to a 17-16 victory over the East. Sterns is a field general in the secondary and has the football IQ to call plays from the back end in the future for the Longhorns. Sterns has elite instincts and a nose for the football. There was some talk about him making the transition to cornerback, but his best fit is as a free safety, where he’ll be allowed to truly use the abilities that make him a top recruit.
2. Rest of DB group — Texas cornerback signee Anthony Cook played mostly off man today. He is at his best when allowed to come up, be physical and press. He did give up a catch late but had solid coverage for most of the day. Fellow cornerback signee Jalen Green didn’t see many balls thrown his way. He did have a couple of open field tackles and did a great job saving a touchdown as he ran down an East player from behind. Green obviously had a rough day as a returner but probably won’t be asked to do that at Texas.
3. Thoughts on Angilau — It was a bit of a struggle for Texas offensive line signee Junior Angilau today. While the four-star prospect is a mauler in run blocking, he really struggled in pass blocking. Angilau had a rough time when facing a bull rush and did not show quick feet. He also plays too high and doesn’t know how to leverage. Simply put, he has a lot of work to do in that area. It is still unclear if he will arrive in Austin this summer or take his two-year mission trip.
4. Waddle impresses — The West quarterbacks struggled today as they faced constant pressure, but four-star Houston Bellaire Episcopal wide receiver Jaylen Waddle still found a way to make a big impact on the game. Waddle stretched the defense with his elite speed as he notched a 46-yard reception in the first quarter. He also scored a short touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the West ahead for good. Texas obviously has a big need at slot, and Waddle is top priority heading into the late period.
5. Quiet day — As mentioned, the West had some issues protecting their quarterbacks, and the passing game suffered tremendously. Four-star Texas signee Brennan Eagles finished without a catch and was targeted just twice. Eagles showed more fluidity during practice this week and the potential to be more than just a go route receiver. But he still has to continue to add strength, improve his route running and play with more physicality. Eagles certainly has high upside but might need time to develop.
