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Fort Lauderdale, FL — Answering the door when opportunities knock could be the moment that is remembered for a lifetime. Football Hotbed creates platforms for young athletes to get noticed, compete with their peers and get coaching on technique to help improve their skills. On Saturday, Football Hotbed held their annual National High School Exposure Showcase held over a span of two days at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. At the camp, players got one step closer to playing college football.
“This is my first year playing D-Line, so coming to this camp I learned a lot,” said 2020 defensive lineman Javon Alexander. “I learned how to improve my hand technique and my get off. Even though I won the MVP I have a lot more to prove.”
The McArthur (Hollywood, FL) defender played linebacker previous to this season and is making the change to the D-Line. The senior has tremendous quickness and has the hunger to get after the quarterback. Alexander is hoping to get scholarship offers to make his mother proud.
Javon Alexander, DL, McArthur Hollywood
“I want to put my mother in a better place. She struggled for me so I will work for her.”
College Coaches from Clark-Atlanta, Morehouse, St. Thomas, Virginia State, and West Georgia were all in attendance looking to add some of the athletes on hand to their college football rosters.
Another trench player that coaches raved about was Michael Noel out of Miami Christian. At 6’3 and 290 pounds, the offensive lineman has plenty of upside and can play a variety of different positions.
“I started playing O-Line in the Spring of my 11th-grade year,” said Noel. “I’m going to keep working to get better.”
Michael Noel, OL, Miami Christian
The offensive lineman MVP expresses that the detail-oriented coaches really helped him get better and he’s thankful for the opportunity. Noel has quick feet and will build on already solid frame.
“It’s the little things that make the difference. I’m very thankful for the camp because it gives us the opportunity for us to showcase our talent.”
The offensive and defensive lineman battled in intense one-on-one drills as Alexander and Noel were awarded as the overall victors. Also in a fierce competition were the skill position players in a seven-on-seven tournament. Miami Northwestern quarterback Kemani “Showtime” Brown proved he can do much more than just play quarterback. The Overall MVP put his wide receiver and defensive back skills on display and played those positions at a high level. It was the second year in a row that Brown won a MVP honor at the showcase.
“It was fun, I had a chance to showcase what I can do,” said Brown. “I feel like I can play those positions if needed.”
Kemani Brown leaps for touchdown catch
Showtime defended on passes, scored as a receiver and commanded the offense at quarterback in route to a tournament championship for the second straight year at the showcase.
For the second year in a row @Kbrown_12 and @Krj5x help their team win the @FootballHotbed National High School Exposure #7v7 tournament. 🏆 @qb_fernando @Massimo_Foerch @newerabouie @CoachJohn_HYAS pic.twitter.com/nLfQYUZ8mr
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) June 30, 2019
Brown also got some help from 2020 Fort Lauderdale High quarterback Massimo Foerch.
Massimo Foerch, QB, Fort Lauderdale
QB to QB action. @Massimo_Foerch to @Kbrown_12 on this play at @FootballHotbed National High School #7v7 tournament. #athletes pic.twitter.com/WeyilIuil5
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) July 1, 2019
The QB MVP often thread the needle to his receivers and rarely had any bad throws on the day. Hitting on plenty of deep balls on the day was 2020 Leo Cremades and 2022 Dylan Knaebel.
Nice ball from @leo_cremades at the @FootballHotbed National High School Exposure Showcase. The @FlyinglsFB QB/WR took a MVP shirt home. pic.twitter.com/FvmDjNoBKf
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) July 1, 2019
Leo Cremades, QB/WR, Fort Lauderdale
Watch this bomb from @DylanKnaebel caught by @0drizzyy. Both left the @FootballHotbed National Exposure Showcase with MVP shirts. pic.twitter.com/X8zL0b2PjB
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) July 1, 2019
Both quarterbacks earned MVP shirts on the day in a very tight competition at quarterback. The speedy Frenchman Cremades should see some action at wide receiver for Fort Lauderdale this season and Knaebel (Coral Glades) has outstanding upside standing at 6’1.”
Dylan Knaebel, QB, Coral Glades
The departure of former Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, FL) quarterback Daelen Menard now at Boston College left many nervous about where the Lions will go at quarterback. Ryle Aguila will look to ease those fears for the Chaminade faithful as he displayed what he can do Saturday. The MVP shirt recipient has a quick release and a strong arm to help continue an amazing run of back-to-back championships for the Lions.
Ryle Aguila, QB, Chaminade
A common saying in the football world is that you cannot teach speed. Council Allen has unreal recovery speed and took home the title as the showcase’s fastest man.
Council Allen, WR/DB, American
He started off behind in the foot race but was able to beat his competition to the finish line.
The @FootballHotbed National Exposure Showcase’s Fastest man race was a close call as @NolimitsChulo just beat out @PhillipBangura for the victory. #Cantteachspeed 💨💨💨💨 pic.twitter.com/HVDxgqMSOv
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) June 29, 2019
Allen should be gaining plenty of offers going into his senior season at American (Hialeah, FL). He currently holds D-1 offers from Florida A&M FAU, Marshall, Virginia State and Youngstown State. His strength appears to be at defensive back as quarterbacks smartly did not throw his way much on the day. He also displayed an innate ability to leap for the football on offense. He was clearly one of the best athletes on the field Saturday.
Allen earned an on the spot offer from Morehouse College with his performance.
Another player to win back-to-back MVPs was 2020 running back TJ Brooks. Brooks (Fort Lauderdale, FL) made defenders miss in the open field and caught the football with proficiency all day. His over the shoulder catch in the semifinals of the seven-on-seven tournament helped to propel his team to the finals.
Touchdown catch here by @bizzlethagoat pic.twitter.com/MqSx8hOOav
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) July 1, 2019
TJ Brooks, RB, Fort Lauderdale
Also helping his team get to the finals was skill position MVP Ondrick Sutton, Jr. (Flanagan, Pembroke Pines, FL). Sutton made big plays catching deep balls whether he was lined up on offense or defense. The 6’1” 2020 receiver attacks the football and will be dangerous wherever he lines up.
Ondrick Sutton Jr., WR, Flanagan
Delvontae C. Bouie was yet another athlete that played both ways at a high level. The 2021 receiver has deceptive speed and has the ability to catch up to overthrown balls. ‘Bouie’ earned MVP honors as the best wide receiver.
Delvontae Bouie, WR, Coral Springs
Offensive players and coaches need to know where Bobby Mclaughlin is at all times. If offenses do not account for the 2020 linebacker out of Monarch (Coconut Creek, FL) he will make you pay.
Bobby McLaughlin, LB, Monarch
The linebacker MVP recorded two interceptions on the day and very easily could have had a third. The relentless defender is always around the football and resembles a young version of former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas.
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