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Fort Lauderdale, FL — A tradition like many others continued last weekend as Football Hotbed held their annual seven-on-seven tournament at Joseph C. Carter Park. Youth divisions up to varsity levels competed intensely for bragging rights and supremacy in a non-contact football tournament that is routinely played in the offseason.
The varsity level is considered the best of the best and the two teams believed to have the most talent met in the final. Previous national champion South Florida Express (SFE) dominated most of its games in the tournament and were matched with Immortals in a much anticipated final. SFE would come out on top and take home yet another tournament championship defeating their counterparts 29-6.
“You get all your fundamentals down,” said 2023 wide receiver Brandon Inniss of competing in seven-on-seven tournaments. “All receivers, I suggest you get a really good trainer, or you come to play seven-on-seven with the best team.”
Inniss was awarded one of the MVP honors and is considered the best wide receiver in the nation in the 2023 class with 24 power five scholarship offers. The incoming high school junior is the total package with size, hands, and speed (6-0, 185) (4.6 speed). Inniss scored several touchdowns on the day and also had an interception on defense.
Brandon Inniss @brandon5star2 is one of the most complete receivers I have ever seen. The 2023 athlete can do it all. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/pYEVyLXv8d
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 14, 2021
Inniss will be changing schools in the offseason due to Nova Southeastern University School not likely to field a team in this upcoming season. University School, commonly known as U-School, completely canceled its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current sophomore played his 2020 season with TRU Prep Academy, an upstart institution that provided a place for many University School players to play football in 2020.
“I am going to be transferring schools due to things not going how I wanted them to go,” said Inniss. “I wanted to be there (U-School) throughout my five years, from 8th grade and on, but it’s not looking too well. It’s just like college recruiting, feeling at home and where I want to be.”
Inniss is considering St. Thomas Aquinas, Deerfield Beach, American Heritage (Plantation), and Western as potential transfer locations. Inniss is currently being recruited by Miami, Oklahoma, Florida, Florida State, and Georgia.
“It’s always an option,” said Inniss about playing close to home. “I’m still a kid, I want to explore, I want to get out, I want to do big things, but is an option when comes down to recruiting, I just have to think about it.”
Quarterbacking SFE’s varsity squad is 2023 quarterback Collin Hurst out of Western High School. The current sophomore was efficient Saturday giving his teammates opportunities to make plays. Hurst, also took home an MVP honor, can throw a laser down the field and can put the touch on the football for easy catches for his recipients.
Another pinpoint touch pass from @Collin_Hurst8, this one to @B_mitchell11jr for a score at the @FootballHotbed #7vs7 tournament. pic.twitter.com/yvvXA3qZTn
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 14, 2021
“I just have to go out there and do my job,” said Hurst. “Everything should fall into place.”
Picture perfect throw and catch from @Collin_Hurst8 to @brandon5star2 for the @SouthFLExpress score. pic.twitter.com/nXiYYfDLKV
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 13, 2021
Hurst took every snap for his team as teammate Dylan Rizik did not play in the tournament. The current sophomore has a bevy of options to throw to with most in the same 2023 class. Sophomore wide receivers Santana Fleming (Miami Carol City), Nathaniel Joseph, (Miami Edison), and British Mitchell (Miami Edison) will all play their junior high school season in 2021 so all could potentially return to SFE next season.
“The talent on this team is real special,” said Miami Hurricanes target Fleming. “It’s a special group of guys where everyone can bring something different to the table. We don’t practice and we still get it done. We never had a practice, we just come out here and play.”
Georgia Tech, Florida State, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Penn State are all showing high interest in Fleming, but the sophomore likes the idea of playing for the hometown Hurricanes.
Pitch and catch from @Collin_Hurst8 to @6Takemdeep. @SouthFLExpress often made it look easy at the @FootballHotbed #7vs7 tournament. pic.twitter.com/DzFmP8u4PY
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 13, 2021
“It would be amazing to put on for the crib like everybody says,” said Fleming. “It’s my backyard. Why not put on for my city rather than go out of state and put on for somebody else.”
Joseph who scored two touchdowns in the championship final is in contact with Clemson and Notre Dame while Mitchell got his first offer from FAU this month.
Check out the speed from @rayraythaboy as he scores here on a short pass at the @FootballHotbed #7vs7 tournament. pic.twitter.com/evk5GkPbg5
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 14, 2021
The only non-sophomore receiver Mike Williams (Miami Palmetto) adds more speed to the SFE receiving corps that is simply for the most part uncoverable. Williams, a 2022 prospect is in close contact with West Virginia and Louisville and stated that he and the Mountaineers have a ‘great relationship.’
The Immortals also boast top-level talent of their own. At the controls were 2022 quarterbacks Zion Turner (St. Thomas Aquinas) and Carson Haggard (Gulliver Prep).
Two-time state @STA_Football champion @_ZionTurner makes accurate throw here across his body. pic.twitter.com/r190Kdg0dH
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 14, 2021
Both quarterbacks were exceptional throughout the tournament connecting on short and long throws. Haggard would find his Gulliver 2023 teammate Jalen Brown on several occasions on deep routes which would help Brown earn tournament MVP honor. However, the defending trio of Antonio Robinson (Florida Christian), Elijah Hopkins (Westport), and Emile Sancho (Vanguard) would help to halt Immortals’ run to a championship.
Check out the pretty deep ball from @haggard_carson to his @GulliverPrep_ teammate @Smooth5ive_ at the @FootballHotbed #7vs7 tournament. #blurrr pic.twitter.com/fjQNcqE6SE
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 13, 2021
The Hurricanes are targeting Turner in recruiting as well as elite Immortals defender Wesley Bissainthe (Miami Central).
“I’m taking it slow,” said Bissainthe about the recruiting process. “I’m going to drop my top schools after I visit colleges. I most likely will be making my decision senior year, at the end of the season.”
Bissainthe intends to visit Miami, Florida, Florida State, and West Virginia once allowed to do so.
“Location does not matter to me,” said Bissainthe about the idea of playing college football at home. “If a place feels like home, that’s where I want to be.”
South Florida Express also fields a 15-year old and under team, that also took home the Football Hotbed championship in its division. It was the second year in a row that both teams earned championships in the tournament.
Posted by Football Hotbed on Monday, February 15, 2021
Posted by Football Hotbed on Monday, February 15, 2021
Posted by Football Hotbed on Sunday, February 14, 2021
Posted by Football Hotbed on Sunday, February 14, 2021
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