Who doesn’t like a receiver you can just throw the ball up to and him come down with it all the time. Every college coach, NFL scout and even youth football coach is always looking for that special player to make the passing game look easy. At the NFL level you have Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and now Odell Beckham all receivers that go get the ball at all cost. Larry Gooden is 12 and his nickname on the back of his jersey is the epitome of its phrase “Go Get It”.
Larry Gooden is 5’8 130lbs and 12 years old. He is a receiver for his club team 2Tone Fighting Irish of Baldwin Hills, CA and plays his tackle season with Baldwin Hills Bruins. He is an absolute natural at the position, already having a ability to control his body during route running to set up his defender by stacking on top of him once he has run past a defensive back. He really will “Go Get It” as I witnessed several times at Pylon 7v7 national tournament in Las Vegas. I have not seen many kids at Larry’s age with his skill set. He had to match up with another top WR/DB Anthony Beavers of the IE Ducks who would led his team in victory over the Irish for the Pylon Title. But make no mistake about it regardless of how that final game went, Gooden was just as impressive, and had the Irish won he would have also received MVP honors.
Southern California football at the 11-13 age bracket is so competitive right now it is scary. Who knows how many Larry Gooden’s there are who just not have been seen. Larry still has a few years of youth football to play before going to high school and the ultimate goal going to college. With Gooden being a Southern California you wonder if he has his eyes set on UCLA for his future,now that his favorite player Cordell Broadus (Son of Snoop Dogg) is now a Bruin. As time goes and he stays on the right track he will only get better and better. His next stop at the high school level should really be getting to jewel. He is loves to compete and be challenged and that allows him to raise his level of play.
If there is really such a thing as upside this is upside and some. He will continue to have a great spring and will compete at 2015 Football Hotbed Combine (West Coast Super Regional). I look forward to seeing him come out and compete in 1 on 1 drills with some of the top DB’s in his age group. The football season is just round the corner and I can’t wait to see him and his play with pads on. If you would like to see more of Larry join him and Football Hotbed April 25, 2015 in Upland, CA. Football Hotbed will be looking forward to having Larry participate in our combine and put up big numbers.
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