The 7-on-7 season is here and the madness has begun as teams have held their highly publicized tryouts to gather their talent for the 2015 season. The most recognized 7-on-7 team in the country, South Florida Express has geared up for the new season and will feature many highly talented athletes that have garnered the attention of college programs from across the country.
The 7-on-7 game is an offensive game by nature and South Florida Express will have no shortage of weapons on that side of the ball this season. 2016 Hallandale quarterback Tyler Huntley will lead the way for the Express as their primary signal caller. Huntley currently holds eight division I offers including Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida. Also calling signals for the Express this season will be 2017 Cardinal Gibbons QB Jake Allen (Rutgers offer) and new Booker T. Washington HS transfer Eric Walker.
Wide Receiver is where the action is on the field and the Express has their usual array of talent at that position. University of Miami commit Dionte Mullins (Gulliver Prep HS) will certainly be one to watch while Hallandale junior wide out Joshua Hammonds (15 offers including LSU, MIA, ND, Ohio St.) takes a back seat to no one. St. Thomas Aquinas junior Sam Bruce (Miami commit) is one of the most electrifying prospects in the country and will be a force for the Express throughout the season. Sophomore WR Emmanuel Greene, who recently transferred to IMG Academy, racked up a ton of offers during this past season from the likes of Miami, Florida, Ohio St. and UCLA. Greene will be a tough matchup for the opposition in every tournament. Not to be out done will be 2016 American Heritage Plantation WR Dredrick Snelson who won the Rivals 5 star challenge in 2014. The University of Miami commit brings his speed and big play ability to the field and will create problems for defenses.
The excitement doesn’t stop there. Miami High WR Keyshawn “Pie” Young will be one of the most intriguing prospects participating in the 7-on-7 circuit in 2015. Young’s flair for the dramatic and off the charts athleticism promised to turns heads and open mouths at tournaments. Southridge HS junior Freddie Pinder is an imposing figure at WR and has garnered the attention from several high profile SEC programs along with prolific offenses like Clemson and West Virginia. The University of Miami is hot on the trail of this 6’5″ athlete that will likely take many a defensive back up top in tournament play.
You would think that would be enough for just one team but like the infomercials say “but wait, that’s not all”. Cardinal Gibbons 2017 ATH Daniel Wright is ready to break ankles this 7-on-7 season and continue to draw the attention of schools like Auburn, Clemson, Miami and Michigan St. who are some of the 8 schools who have already offered. Hallandale High School junior Chris Cotto made a name for himself last 7-on-7 season and carried that into the regular season. Cotto is not as highly publicized as others on the roster but will wreck a defense as good as anyone. 2016 WR Demari Simpkins is much out of the mold of Cotto as he will use his quickness and playmaking ability to aid South Florida Express to many victories this season.
While the big names are doing their thing, several up and comers are ready to burst on the scene as South Florida Express players are known to do every year. Junior WR Andrew Parchment (Cypress Bay) brings the length, speed and catching ability that many teams covet. Cardinal Gibbons 2017 WR Leroy Henley did damage during the 2014 season and will continue that during the 7-on-7 circuit. Henley already holds offers from seven schools including home town school The University of Miami. Sophomore Laress Nelson (American Heritage Plantation) and freshman Shaun Shivers (Chaminade-Madonna) promise to slice defenses with their cat-like quickness while 2017 prospects Jordan Merrell (Dillard) and Jonathan Moore (University School) will dazzle on-lookers with their A grade route running and catching ability. Junior WRs Neru N’Shaka (Hallandale) and Elisha Daniels (Cardinal Gibbons) are ready to give people their money’s worth and show people why many high profile division I schools have taken an interest.
Rounding out the solid group on offense and ready to have their coming out party are 2018 WR Xavier Williams (Chaminade), 2017 WR Lavarus Tigner (Stranahan) who holds a Miami offer , 2018 WR BJ Alexander (Flanagan), 2016 RB Greg McCrea (Hallandale) and 2017 WR Mike Harley Jr. (St. Thomas).
South Florida Express founder Brett Goetz believes this can be the most talented team as he has ever had in his eight years. That’s quite a statement since South Florida Express can claim NFL players, Heisman Trophy candidates, Bilenitkoff winners, Elite 11 Champions and Under Armour All American MVPs as part of their alumni. No other 7-on-7 team in the country can make such a claim. This will certainly make for a very exciting 2015 7-on-7 season.
Chad Wilson is a college football recruiting expert and creator of the GridironStudsApp which allows high school football players to gain exposure to college football coaches and fans. Wilson is a former college football player for the University of Miami (92-94) and Long Beach St. (’90-’91) and played briefly for the Seattle Seahawks (’95). He is also a former youth and high school football coach for over 15 years most recently for 5-A State of Florida Champs American Heritage. He runs All Eyes DB Camp a defensive back training company located in South Florida IG: @alleyesdbcamp. Wilson’s oldest son Quincy plays in the NFL for the New York Giants and his younger son plays cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals.
