Ft. Lauderdale– The first ever National Middle School QB Invitational Showcase promises to be an amazing event. The display of talent will be unmatched and truly the nation’s largest platform for Middle School QB competition. For too long, only high school quarterbacks have been able to compete in national competitions, gaining exposure and confidence they need to succeed during the regular season and throughout their careers. Youth athletes train just as hard in the off-seasons trying to chase their dreams of playing college football. Now there’s a platform that allows them to showcase their talents.
Football Hotbed has teamed up with Drew Phillips, of the Phillips QB Academy in Clearwater, Fla. to create a platform for youth football quarterbacks. It’s the Future 4, the nation’s middle school quarterback showcase that will test quarterbacks brains, their knowledge of defenses, their agility and speed in the combine workouts and their accuracy, decision making and strength in the throwing portion. The top four quarterbacks of each class will enter the showcase portion to compete in our gauntlet and determine the winner for each grade level.
Here’s a brief profile of five of our 2020 QB athletes attending the showcase:
Collin Guggenheim– This talented quarterback from the state of Louisiana is the future of John Curtis Football. Guggenheim is already working out with the varsity as a 7th grader and is expected to start during his 8th grade season and feed right onto the varsity level as a freshman. Curtis is known as a national power and produced the top WR in 2014 in Malachi Dupree. Guggenheim is the next in line and is coming to the QB Showcase looking to show off his arm as a product of a run first offense.
Cade Knighton– This Oregon native is a real cool customer behind center, don’t let his size fool you. He’s a capable thrower and can also run and throw on the run. He’s widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the Northwest region and has garnered several accolades in his young career. He’s been mentioned among the best at FBU’s Top Gun competition and also led his National Championship Team, ‘Team Oregon’ into 2014. The team won the west regional title in 2013. Knighton will have perhaps the longest trip of all of our athletes participating in the competition having to travel nearly 2700 miles to compete in the showcase.
Walker Harris— The south paw North Carolina signal caller can really sling it. He’s got a quick release and one of the smoothest throwing motions in the competition. He’s garnered a number of accolades during his youth career, leading his Pop Warner team to a 2014 Mid-South Championship and on to Disney’s Wide World of Sports where they competed for a Pop Warner National Championship. He was also named to FBU’s South Charlotte Team to compete in the National Championship Tournament. Harris has received numerous accuracy awards and was also tabbed an FBU Top Gun invitee.
Edwin Rhodes– He is perhaps the best quarterback that you have never heard of. Rhodes first burst onto the scene in 2014 when his 12U Miami Gardens Ravens team went undefeated in one of the nation’s toughest leagues, the Florida Youth Football League. Primarily a running team, the Ravens looked to Rhodes to put their Super Bowl Championship game away when he connected with fellow Hotbed All-American The’Andris Freeman on a slant route for a touchdown. Rhodes then went on to lead FBU National Championship Team Broward County to the championship game, falling short to a team from Texas. He began 2015 by playing in the Hotbed All-American game in Jacksonville. This off-season, he’s spent time working with High School football players and expects to be much improved for the 2015 year.
Evan Spry– Smart, gutsy and fast are three adjectives that come to mind when watching Spry. He’s a California kid who can throw the ball and take off running and boy can he burn. He’s a bit on the smaller side for his age group, but what he lacks in height he more than makes up for in heart. He’s not afraid to stick his head down and get extra yards. He’s also a team leader and that’s a great asset at the quarterback position. He’s really electric and should have a great showing at the showcase.
Here is a complete list of our confirmed QBs as our event draws closer on May 1st & 2nd:
CLASS OF 2019 | State | |
1 | Jake Annand | FL |
2 | Brendan Mehl | TX |
3 | Lawrence Grimes | FL |
4 | Andy Roberts | FL |
5 | Deon Jones | FL |
6 | Shane Steinlauf | NY |
7 | Griffin Helm | FL |
8 | Marco LoPesio | AZ |
9 | Kyle Terry | GA |
10 | Jalon Spencer | MD |
11 | Curt Casteel | FL |
12 | Nik Scalzo | FL |
13 | Carson Collins | TX |
14 | Sloan Henry | TX |
15 | Peyton Brown | IL |
16 | Gavin Gray | GA |
17 | Hunter Martindale | TX |
18 | Spencer Rattler | AZ |
19 | Adam Cecere | PA |
20 | Brian Mauer | FL |
21 | Jayden Boero | WI |
22 | Mike Kern | FL |
23 | Bradyn Bytheway | FL |
24 | Micah Bowens | NV |
CLASS OF 2020 | State | |
1 | Jake Spencer | FL |
2 | Bill Vega | FL |
3 | Collin Gugginhiem | LA |
4 | JW Hertzberg | SC |
5 | Dylan Jerden | TX |
6 | Walker Harris | NC |
7 | Silas Schoel | FL |
8 | Dalton Ponder | KY |
9 | Khalil Ali | CA |
10 | Ryan Bolduc | FL |
11 | Rene Nunez | NJ |
12 | Dallas Odom | SC |
13 | Tucker Gleason | FL |
14 | Mikey Moss | FL |
15 | Cade Knighton | OR |
16 | Evan Spry | CA |
17 | Edwin Rhodes | FL |
CLASS OF 2021 | State | |
1 | Jayson Gillom | FL |
2 | Gage Grant | CA |
3 | Nick Viattiato | FL |
4 | Pete Zamora | FL |
5 | Rohan Brown | FL |
6 | Chayden Perry | CA |
7 | Lance Alderson | FL |
8 | Alex Law | FL |
9 | Bryce Norton | FL |
10 | Camarion Allen | FL |
Why aren’t all the QB written about.
We do five per week