All American: Main Characters, Ranked By Likability

All American has continued a strong tradition of great Black shows with its mixture of sports, family, friendship, and social issues. While the storylines have been great, it’s the cast of characters that have made the show a huge success with its fans. While not as intriguing as Pretty Little Liars and it’s storylines built on mystery, All American takes no backseat in character development.

Spencer and Coop want their presence to mean something in their community. Layla and Olivia are trying to figure out their path and Asher is busy picking up the pieces from his steroid use. Jordan is navigating the murky waters of becoming a man and the parents are trying to keep their kids on the straight and narrow.

10 Billy Baker

In the beginning, there were secrets surrounding Billy questioning if he was actually Spencer’s father or not? Billy was the one who made it out of the streets of Crenshaw and sought a better life for himself and his family. Now the head coach of Beverly High, Billy reached back out and grabbed a young player with a similar background.

But all did not go as planned for him. Under the watchful eye of the boosters, Billy did his best to navigate those muddy waters. He won but lost his family in the process. Now he wants redemption back at his alma mater and is taking Spencer with him.

9 Laura Baker

Laura Baker wanted nothing else but for her family to come out on top. It wasn’t about the Black and White issue for her family, Laura was the doting mother, wife, and lawyer. She took Spencer in, accepted him as one of her own, and was even there when Coop needed help.

But then Billy came clean regarding his affair with Grace years ago and Laura made the tough call about her marriage. As much respect that Grace receives as a mother, Laura deserves the same. She does not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Deb Scott from One Tree Hill.

8 Asher Adams

Asher has moments where he’s likable and others where viewers want to punch him through the screen. But Asher has gone through some trying times, way more than the rest of his Beverley High peers have. He wants to win but went about things the wrong way.

In the beginning, he was the toughest critic of Spencer’s but they became friends despite Spencer going after Layla. Asher is not a bad kid, he just lacks guidance and that’s due to his dysfunctional home life.

7 Grace James

Grace is everything that you should want in a mother. It doesn’t matter if she’s a single mom or not, Grace is the total package. she sacrificed plenty for her boys and still found time to make it back to college to further her studies. But that’s still not to say that Grace is perfect.

Back in the day, she did make a huge mistake that cost her family dearly. And instead of telling the truth, Grace hid this from her sons causing more damage. Despite her flaws, she will do whatever to protect her boys.

6 Layla Keating

Layla was always a mystery. She just appeared to be too perfect for viewers at first. It was just a matter of time before her skeletons flew out of the closet. Layla was dealing with the death of her mother, the loss of her best friend Olivia, and the absence of her father.

Layla just wants to be loved and someone to listen to her. Now that’s she’s getting help, Layla appears to have turned things around. She’s managing Coop’s rap career but can she keep her life in check while dealing with the music business and Coop’s past?

5 Jordan Baker

Jordan Baker has had his fair share of ups and downs over the two seasons of All American. The starting QB and supposedly leader of the team, has thrown more temper tantrums than any other character. Jordan has had to deal with losing his star status to Spencer, issues with his father and grandfather, Simone lying about the baby, and now the divorce of his parents.

Jordan wants to have fun. As the coach’s son, he doesn’t take the game as seriously as he should. He could be a great player if he could just get his emotions in check. Jordan is like Archie Andrews of Riverdale in a way.

4 Olivia Baker

Oliva Baker is the ex-party girl who turned her life around but not without issues. She’s now more focused on school while in search of a perfect relationship. But through it all, she’s still dealing with the draws of her past addictions and the demise of her family.

Olivia has feelings for Asher but viewers can see that those same feelings are growing for Spencer. Olivia has typical teenage girl issues but with her family falling apart she will need to hold it together heading into Season 3.

3 Spencer James

Spencer James didn’t want to see how the other half lived in Beverly Hills. He wanted to remain at Crenshaw High with his family and friends and see where his talents took him. But there is more to life than being familiar with your surroundings. Spencer is a smart kid but doesn’t always make the smartest decisions.

Spencer has a save the world mentality but can’t seem to save himself from his decisions. On the field, he’s one of the best but still carries a cocky mentality. It took a while for him to see what being a part of a team is like. His personal life has been a rollercoaster, thanks to his dad.

2 Tamia “Coop” Cooper

Coop and Spencer have been best friends for as long as they could walk. While Spencer has used football as an escape, Coop found herself caught up in the streets. She’s tough but not really cut out for that life. Coop finds herself in tons of trouble and normally it’s Spencer there to bail her out.

Coop is now entering a career in the Hip Hop world and being managed by Layla. But as fans witnessed in the Season 2 finale, Coop’s life is still in danger even after the death of Tyrone.

1 Dillon James

Dillon just wants a normal family. For years, it’s just been him, his brother, and their mother. Well, that was until Corey came back into the picture. Now, he had his father but it turned out to be only for a brief period. Even dealing with grief, Dillon still has proven to be a strong kid.

He acts up at times but how is that not expected for a kid who misses his best friend while he’s away during the week living in Beverly Hills. He’s just a kid finding his own way the same as Popa from The Chi.

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