Tornadoes Take Title

The Heath Evans Foundation 7-on-7 Championship is the gold standard when it comes to these passing tournaments. The event gets better every year and always features numerous big time prospects and some of the state’s best teams. Another added bonus is Heath Evans, currently with the New Orleans Saints, brings in some of his NFL friends. This year featured Randy Moss, Matt Cassel, Kevin Faulk, Jabar Gaffney, and Wes Welker.

This year’s field of 16 included Miramar, Dwyer, Gulliver Prep, Glades Central, Booker T. Washington, Glades Day School, Boyd Anderson, Jupiter Christian, Cardinal Newman, Tampa Plant, The King’s Academy, Mainland, Seabreeze, Park Vista, Blanche Ely, and Olympic Heights.

The final four pitted top seeded Tampa Plant against Booker T. Washington in one semifinal and Miramar against Boyd Anderson in the other. Booker T. Washington had too many athletes for Plant, and the Tornadoes came away with the victory. Miramar and Boyd Anderson went back and forth the whole game with the Cobras getting the nod to the championship.

The championship game was a slugfest as both teams were running on fumes as the hot and humid day was drawing to an end. It looked like Boyd Anderson was going to pull off the victory but with 9 seconds remaining the Tornadoes threw up a jump ball only to have receiver Jayvon Wrentz come down with the tournament winning grab. Booker T. Washington downed Boyd Anderson 33-28.

SoFLAfootball brings you a list of the day’s top performers as well as a few other items of note.

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Quinton Dunbar 2010 WR 6′3″ 170 Booker T. Washington: Dunbar was the best player on the field today. He kept beating defenses deep and had his fair share of leaping catches over defensive backs. Dunbar also showed good speed and change of direction during his runs after catches on underneath routes.

Jesse York 2011 WR 6′0″ 175 Boyd Anderson: York is a smooth receiver that made plenty of tough catches on the day. He played on defense for the Cobras as well and held his own. Whenever the Cobras needed a big play York was the receiver they looked for.

Matt Elam 2010 RB 5′10″ 210 Dwyer: Elam looked extremely good on the offensive side of the ball today. Changed directions well, was tough to defend on wheel routes and swing passes, and showed good speed in the open field.

Ivan McCartney 2010 WR 6′1″ 175 Miramar: McCartney carried his team to the semifinals of the tournament, coming up with critical touchdowns all the way through. Selfishly, you would like to see them throw the ball McCartney’s way more often being he makes tough catches look easy, but it is understandable the Patriots want to get work for the younger prospects.

Kelvin Benjamin 2011 WR 6′6″ 210 Glades Central: Benjamin is flat out a match-up nightmare for defenses. His ability to go up and high point passes is nearly unstoppable. Benjamin’s hands seem to be improving on the jump balls, something he would struggle with last summer. His play on the field today caught the eye of Randy Moss, who offered Benjamin words of encouragement after one of the Raiders’ games.

Davonte Allen 2011 WR 6′1″ 180 Glades Day: Prospects like Allen are the reason why events like todays are beneficial. Allen, an unknown to SoFLAfootball before today, kept grabbing touchdowns all day long. He has good size, good hands, and went head to head with some of the best and kept making plays. Allen is a prospect we will keep a close eye on this coming fall.

Tre Mason 2011 RB 5′9″ 170 Park Vista: Mason got a bulk of the passes for Park Vista, most with him coming from out of the backfield. He was tough to defend on wheel routes and did a good job challenging safeties on routes down the middle of the field. Mason has a little shake to him as well.

Steven Clarke 2010 DB 5′10″ 175 Boyd Anderson: Clarke stepped up and made many plays for the Cobras on the defensive side of the ball. He showed good speed breaking on balls in the air and did a good job playing free safety all day. Clarke is one of many talented athletes littered about the Boyd Anderson roster.

Jalanie Rouland 2010 WR 6′4″ 170 Booker T. Washington: Rouland had an impressive day making plenty of catches in traffic. He is a nice possession receiver, decent hands, long frame, but will not wow you with his speed. Rouland is just one of many talented receivers on the Tornado roster.

Jayvon Wrentz 2010 WR 6′0″ 175 Booker T. Washington: Wrentz was solid for much of the day, but on the final play of the tournament, Wrentz left his mark. With less than 10 seconds to play, Wrentz reeled in a Hail Mary at the goal line for the tournament winning catch. He has good speed, solid frame, and athletic.

Greg Dent 2010 CB/WR 6′0″ 180 Glades Central: Compared to last week’s performance at the Dolphin 7-on-7 Dent was fairly quiet. He still came away with several interceptions, flashed his great hands on offense, and showed good speed on runs after the catch. Dent, who does not show much emotion, displayed plenty of personality in the “Beat the Pro Challenge” when facing Wes Welker and Matt Elam in the punt catching competition. He proclaimed he would win the challenge “without a doubt” before the event over the P.A. system. Then after catching a fourth punt with the three previous footballs still in his hands sealing the victory, threw the balls on the ground and went into a celebration.

Curt Maggitt 2011 DE 6′3″ 200 Dwyer: Maggitt lined up at middle linebacker, would drop into his zone, read the quarterback’s eyes and make plays. While it is not the position he will play in the fall, he showed the athleticism he possesses. You cannot help by take pleasure in Maggitt’s willingness to compete every snap and the upbeat attitude he brings to the field daily.

Nick O’Leary 2011 TE 6′3″ 210 Dwyer: O’Leary brings a little of what McCartney has to the tight end position. He runs great routes, has excellent body control, and catches anything in his vicinity. O’Leary continued to show good speed and athleticism today.

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 Not SoFLA, but They Shined as Well…

Phillip Ely 2011 QB 6′0″ 170 Tampa Plant: Ely certainly can spin the ball and showed excellent touch as well. The highlight of the day out of Ely was in the semifinals when he dropped in a perfect pass in the back corner of the end zone from 40-yard line. Ely is far from being physically mature, but his arm strength is still above average currently.

O.J. Ross 2010 WR 5′10″ 175 Daytona Beach Mainland: Ross can run, change directions, and just an explosive receiver. He had a good day for Mainland, and had several catches in traffic.

T.J. Glover 2010 WR 5′10″ 170 Tampa Plant: Glover is a burner on the field. Plant wore Glover out on wheel routes and swing passes, and defenses struggled to keep up with him.

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Notes

-Tournament officials should be commended for how well the tournament was run. Top notch event, well organized, and very beneficial for all involved. While football skills are honed, most importantly the organizers try to pass along life skills to the young athletes as well.

-Whatever the grounds crew at The King’s Academy is being paid, it is not enough. All eight fields had playing surfaces that rivaled top-flight college and professional fields. Heath Evans even commented he plays on worse surfaces in the NFL.

-The Pros disappoint! High school athletes won all three “Beat the Pro” events. T.J. Glover of Tampa Plant just beating Heath Evans in the 40-yard dash, Leron Thomas of Glades Central and Phillip Ely of Tampa Plant going 1,2 over Matt Cassel in the quarterback challenge, and Greg Dent of Glades Central and Matt Elam of Dwyer beating Wes Welker in the punt catching competition.

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Recruiting News

-Word is the USC Trojans are trying to convince 2013 running back Kelvin Taylor of Glades Day and his father, NFL great Fred Taylor, to visit for an unofficial. The younger Taylor likes Tennessee now, but there is plenty of time before Taylor gets to experience his signing day.

-Ivan McCartney of Miramar camped at Pitt last week and took an unofficial visit to West Virginia. McCartney had positive things to say about WVU, and will be attending Florida’s Friday Night Lights later this summer.

-Quinton Dunbar of Booker T. Washington will be visiting Florida with teammate Lynden Trail next week. Miami is still a player in Dunbar’s recruitment.

-Cliff Coleman of Boyd Anderson did not visit Miami last week as planned, and is looking to be at Florida State for Seminole Showtime next month. Coleman missed most of the day with a hamstring injury.