All-Star 7-on-7 Season Has Started
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If you trace back the roots of 7-on-7 events, there is a good bet that Florida had something to do with it. Back as far as the early 1990’s, teams were showing up and playing against each other in the…
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Continue ReadingIf you trace back the roots of 7-on-7 events, there is a good bet that Florida had something to do with it.
Back as far as the early 1990’s, teams were showing up and playing against each other in the off-season as a flag program, which opened the door for the 7-on-7 events that we have now.
The 7-on-7 craze, which the University of South Florida started with head coach Jim Leavitt and assistant coach Renato Diaz.
The “all-star” variety that we have today started in south Florida and in Jacksonville. The Tampa Bay area also got in on the craze early on.
Today, it is indeed a multi-million dollar business – with so much interest in these teams – that everyone has gotten involved.
Lawyers, physicians and stock-brokers have teams these days. So do business owners and school administrator, who want to be around the game, the tournament and travel experience and just for the love of football.
What soccer, baseball, softball and basketball have been doing for decades, football is now fully pumped into – with national brands getting involved.
BATTLE SPORTS SHOWCASE KICKS IT OFF
The official national tournament series began as Battle Sports hosted an event in Fort Lauderdale at Mills Pond Park.
The event drew teams from around the country – with Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia all sending teams with quality athletes.
The state of Florida was well represented at the event – with the tournament champion Defcon and a Hallandale High secondary that includes nationally-rated Alfonzo Allen Alfonzo Allen 6'1" | 200 lbs | DB Hallandale | 2022 State FL , and Jaylin Marshall Jaylin Marshall 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Hallandale | 2022 State FL , Anthony Rose and Edric Weldon. There is also Davie Western standout Websley Etienne Websley Etienne DB Davie Western | 2022 FL .
Offensive standouts include Fort Lauderdale Dillard state-rated receiver Devaughn Mortimer Devaughn Mortimer 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Fort Lauderdale Dillard | 2022 State FL and Davie Western receiver Jullian Lewis Jullian Lewis 6'1" | 210 lbs | WR Davie Western | 2022 State FL , who is getting an amazing amount of attention.
The South Florida Express, which was one of the teams nationally that enjoyed plenty of success and notoriety in the early years of 7-on-7, is still very much a player, but this program that has long relied on Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach talent, now has a roster that is actually more prospects from outside the area.
This team does have local talent like TRU Prep Academy phenom Brandon Inniss, who is the No. 1-ranked wide receiver in the class of 2023. Other prospects this program, has Jamarrien Burt Jamarrien Burt 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB Ocala Forest | 2022 State FL (Ocala Forest, Athlete), Miami Carol City standout receiver Santana Fleming and Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna’s versatile British Mitchell.
Ocala Forest safety Jaydon Hodge Jaydon Hodge 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Ocala Forest | 2022 FL and athletic Izaiah Guy have the chance to play with Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna emerging cornerback Ryan Turner and Miami Edison all-around prospect Elijah Mc-Cantos.
The South Florida Immortals have also joined the “big boys” in the off-season – with quarterbacks Carson Haggard Carson Haggard QB Miami Gulliver Prep | 2022 FL (Miami Gulliver Prep) and St. Thomas Aquinas Class of 2022 standout Zion Turner Zion Turner 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas | 2022 State FL .
There were some nationally-rated prospects with 2023 receivers Jalen Brown (Miami Gulliver Prep) and Andy Jean (Miami Northwestern), tight end De’Carlo Donaldson, and Miami Central 2022 receiver Zaylan Reese Zaylan Reese 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Miami Central | 2022 State FL .
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.