Thanks to a rule change implemented ahead of the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl, juniors, along with seniors, are now eligible to play in one of the most prominent postseason high school football games in the country, which features elite prospects.
It’s fitting that two elite Arizona high school football prospects featured in one of the most elite state championship games in the country, the open division championship, will get to play in the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl on Saturday in San Antonio, courtesy of the change: Junior quarterback Will Mencl out of Chandler, and junior offensive lineman Jake Hildebrand out of Basha.
Mencl, the No. 370 prospect nationally and the No. 6 prospect in Arizona in the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports Composite, is coming off a breakout junior season as one of the top offensive playmakers in Arizona.
Mencl threw for 3,815 yards, the second most in the state, 33 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in 13 games in 2025. However, Mencl was also one of the top players on the ground, rushing for a team-high 741 yards and 17 touchdowns. Mencl ended the year with the second-most total yards in Arizona.
Mencl holds offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, SMU, Syracuse, UNLV, USF, and Washington State.
247Sports college football recruiting analyst Blair Angulo wrote on Wednesday that Oregon is a “major contender” for Mencl, despite offensive coordinator Will Stein taking the head coaching job at Kentucky.
Mencl is a part of the East All-Stars roster.
Hildebrand is the No. 131 prospect nationally and the No. 2 prospect in Arizona in the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Hildebrand, who primarily plays at left tackle for Basha, has been practicing at right tackle ahead of Saturday’s game on the West All-Stars’ team, Basha assistant coach Brandon Babcock, who made the trip out to San Antonio to watch Hildebrand, told Arizona Varsity.
Hildebrand has started in every game since his freshman year at Basha and has yet to miss a game.
Hildebrand recently revealed his top 10 schools on X, including Alabama, Indiana, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, and Utah. Following a golden ticket offer from Arizona State in June, Hildebrand also included the Sun Devils in his top 10.
In addition to Mencl and Hildebrand, Brophy head coach Jason Jewell will be part of the West All-Stars’ staff, coaching the offensive line.
Senior Brophy wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald was also originally slated to play in Saturday’s game, but will no longer do so due to enrolling early at Notre Dame. Junior Desert Edge wide receiver Zerek Sidney was also invited, but plans to play in the game next year, sources told Arizona Varsity.
The 2026 Navy All-American Bowl will broadcast on NBC at 11 a.m. MST on Jan. 10.
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