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Atlanta, GA– The 2021 National Middle School Invitational Showcase wrapped on Saturday afternoon after a rainy two days of some of the best middle school competition in the country. Over 20 states represented and one country (Panama) outside of the United States.  All collected on Friday July 9th and 10th in Atlanta, GA for our 7th Annual National Middle School Invitational Showcase.

Athletes in the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 and quarterbacks in the class of 2028 were all eligible to participate.  Overall, some 140 quarterbacks, skill players and lineman attended the two-day event.

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), a power five college football program in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) was the site of workouts for day one.  A defining characteristic of Football Hotbed’s first day is the presence of college coaches during workouts.  The Georgia Tech coaching staff, represented by assistant running back’s coach and offensive recruiting coordinator, Tashard Choice, general manager Pat Suddes, Errin Joe who serves as the associate director of player personnel and several graduate assistants and support staff.  All were on hand during the registration, tour of the facilities and workouts in historic Bobby Dodd Stadium.  On field work was limited because of a rain storm that lingered the majority of the afternoon. Nevertheless, five 2025 athletes earned verbal scholarship offers as their film had been evaluated by the staff prior to the camp and validated by size and speed during the workout portions that were broken up twice by lightening.

On day two of the competition at Denmark High School, the camp began early Saturday morning. The first event was an athletic combine featuring the 40 and short shuttle.  Later, all athletes participated in 1 on 1 drills and the lineman held their annual lineman challenge competition.  The day was capped with 7v7 between the quarterback finalist from each class and the skill players.  It was a great two days of work for all athletes and the formation of bonds that will last a lifetime were formed in Hotbed World.  Here are the athletes who earned distinctions during the event.

CLASS OF 2025 AWARDS

Overall QB MVP- T. J. Wilcox, Lawrenceville, GA

Wilcox won the Future 4 Middle School Invitational QB competition for the second time in his career. His first win was in the 6th grade. Last year he finished in the Top 4 and he returned to his winning ways this year in convincing fashion.  He’s the only player in the history of the seven year event to make the final four in each year he participated, including his very first as a 5th grade student-athlete.  He was offered by Georgia Tech during Friday’s workout and tour along with second place finisher and 2020 MVP Cutter Woods and Forth place finisher Quinten Foster.

2nd- Cutter Woods, Greer South Carolina
3rd- Ben Newman, Pittsford, New York
4th- Quinten Foster, Houston, Texas

OVERALL BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETE- JORDAN ALLEN, Lawrenceville, GA

The speedy and shifty 2025 athlete is an electric talent and he showed that off during day two of the workouts. His crisp routes, sure hands and speed placed him at the very top of all of the skill athletes competing in the showcase. His skill set was also noticed by Georgia Tech coaches as he was offered by coach Choice before leaving day one of the workouts on campus

Best Athlete- CJ Hector, Lawrenceville, GA

Best WR- Damien Walks Slow, Billings, Montana

Best DB- Monterrius Echols, Phenix City, AL

BEST LINEBACKER- NAZIR ALLEN, Smyrna, GA

BEST LINEMAN- UNAWARDED

Brandon Thomas, a defending Football Hotbed National Lineman Challenge winner for the 2025 class would have taken home his second consecutive award, but missed the combine workout on Saturday (due to a vehicle emergency). He was by far the best lineman in the camp and his 10-plus division one offers verify the talents from this 6’4 DE from Virginia.