Locals Shine on Day One of 9th Annual Middle School Invitational in Tuscon

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Posted on June 24, 2023 by Brandon Odoi
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TUSCON, AZ– The 9th Annual Middle School Invitational Showcase got off to a roaring start on day one as two 2027 athletes were offered by the University of Arizona, this year’s host college football program. Wide out Maxwell Sprott ran a 4.57 time in the 40-yard and followed that impressive run up with a 4.36 shuttle run.  He was named the camp’s fastest man and after good work in the one-on-one portion and during individual workouts, he was given a verbal offer, the first for the Phoenix, AZ native.

Chandler’s Jai Jones, also was extended a verbal offer by Arizona.  He ran an impressive 4.65 in the 40-yard dash and jumped an eye-popping 9 foot 6 inch broad jump. His on field workouts were equally impressive and he earned an offer which was extended just after the conclusion of the three-hour day one session in the Cole & Jeannie Davis Sports Center.

Since 2014, the Football Hotbed National Middle School Invitational Showcase takes place on a college campus across the United States giving middle school athletes a chance to shine without the older high school athletes diverting attention away from the junior high athletes. In attendance for the University of Arizona’s football program observing on behalf of head football coach, Jedd Fisch was Matt Doherty, director of player personnel for the Wildcats.

Arizona was the third school that has played host to the National Middle School Invitational Showcase and Future 4 competition. Previous hosts were Atlantic Coast Conference division mates Georgia Tech and the University of Miami.  By rule, middle school athletes can workout on college campuses, even during a dead period because they aren’t yet classified as middle school students.  The Southeastern conference is the only one which does not allow this type of activity.

Other notables from day one workouts include:

Quarterbacks

2027 Jarren Mao, Fresno, CA

2027 Matt Avelar, Tuscon, AZ

2027 J.J. Reynolds, Pikeville, KY

2028 Grayson Thurston, Shelby Township, MI

Skill Players

2027 WR, Kasuan Franklin, Avondale, AZ

2027 WR, Quvohn Lewis, Phoenix, AZ

2027 DB, Romeo Berryhill, Tuscon, AZ

2027 TE, Judah Lancaster, Avondale, AZ

2027 DB, Kadin Johnson, Avondale, AZ

2028 ATH Jayden Jamerson, Phoenix, AZ

2028 ATH Jaylee Abraham, Tuscon, AZ

2029 ATH Tonoah Kauhi, Waimanalo, HI

About Brandon Odoi

Brandon Odoi is a tenured journalist. He's covered youth football since 8th grade, high school football since 2009 and began covering college football in 2011 as a beat writer for the University of Miami Athletic programs. In 2011, he founded Football Hotbed a national multi-media platform for football across the country. He's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and spent his first five years as a professional working at ABC Television Network, ending his career as a producer in Miami. He's married with two sons and resides in South Florida.
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