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Phoenix– The 2023 National Middle School Invitational Showcase concluded at Valley Christian High School in Chandler, AZ, and saw the rich tradition of middle school athletes extended with several talented student-athletes earning top honors. Overall skill MVP Judah Lancaster, the 6’3 tight end from Avondale stole the show on day two after a strong showing at the University of Arizona on day one.
The class of 2027 athlete made big-time catches during the 7v7 portion that highlighted his metrics and confirmed his status as the best skill player overall during the two-day event. The Future 4 QB competition was very tightly contested and 2027, rising 9th-grade class, the winner was Fresno, California native Jerren Mao. The 5’10 150 lb signal caller narrowly edged out runner up, Brody Greenan from Indian Harbor Beach, Florida.
All four student-athletes earned invites to the Football Hotbed Freshman National Showcase Game. The game is played annually in Atlanta, GA during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend. This year’s game is the 8th annual tackle showcase.
2027 QB Jerren Mao, Fresno, CA
In the class of 2028, the rising 8th graders did not disappoint. The overall skill MVP was Jayden Jamerson, from Phoenix, and the 2028 Future 4 MVP class was Grayson Thurston from Shelby Township, Michigan. Jamerson dominated with his consistent defense during one on ones and his route-running ability during the 7v7 portion of the event. He led a talented class of skill players that also received Middle School All-American invites including New Port Richey, Florida’s Luke Wilson, Tuscon’s Jaylee Abraham, and Gilbert, Arizona’s Tristen Sailor.
Thurston was a wire-to-wire leader during the QB competition for his class outpacing fellow Michigan man and runner-up Dominic D’Agosta. All of these athletes earned invites to December 30th’s 10th Annual Middle School All-American game.
The 2029 overall skills MVP was Hawaii’s Tanoah Kauhi from the town of Waimanalo. Kauhi related to Arizona days before the competition and made himself right at home by impressing in the combine and also during drills and 7v7. The 2029 Future 4 quarterback MVP was Eastvale, California’s Stephen Moore who narrowly defeated runner-up Gabe Vetter from Riverview, Florida.
In the 2030 class where only quarterbacks competed, the overall MVP of the Future 4 competition was Huntley, Illinois’ Julian Oruche. He joins a rich tradition of Future 4 alumni from his home state including University of Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and current Ball State Commit 2024 QB Alessio Milivojevic.
Here are the results from the athletic combine on Day 1:
2027
| Jersey # | 40 | Shuttle |
| 1 | 5.31 | 5.23 |
| 2 | 4.65 | 4.61 |
| 3 | 4.88 | |
| 4 | 5.03 | 4.37 |
| 5 | 4.75 | 4.47 |
| 6 | 4.96 | 4.69 |
| 7 | 5.2 | 5.04 |
| 8 | 5.28 | 4.94 |
| 9a | N/A | N/A |
| 9 | 5.03 | 5.31 |
| 10 | 5 | 4.47 |
| 10 QL | 4.84 | 4.47 |
| 11a | x | |
| 11 | 5 | 4.36 |
| 12 | 4.72 | 4.85 |
| 13 | 5.19 | 4.69 |
| 14 | 5.2 | 4.67 |
| 16 AH | 5.13 | 5.06 |
| 16 | 5.19 | 4.49 |
| 17 | 5.21 | 4.97 |
| 17a | N/A | |
| 18 | 5.4 | 4.93 |
| 19 | 4.97 | 4.69 |
| 20 | 4.57 | 4.35 |
| 21 | 5 | 4.94 |
| 22 | 4.94 | 4.79 |
| 23 | 5.1 | 4.62 |
| 24 | 5 | 4.38 |
| 25 | 5 | 4.68 |
| 27 | 5.09 | 5.13 |
| 28 | 5.18 | 4.82 |
| 29 | 5.36 | 4.66 |
| 30 | DNF | 4.82 |
2028
| Jersey # | 40 | Toss | Shuttle | Broad |
| 14 | 5.3 | 15 ft | 4.78 | 7’5 ft |
| 11 | 5.38 | 15 ft | 4.58 | 7’9 ft |
| 25 | 5.63 | 14 ft | 4.86 | 7’2 ft |
| 13 | 4.92 | 19 ft | 4.58 | 8’1 ft |
| 3 | 4.78 | 15 ft | 4.37 | 8’3 ft |
| 22 | 4.7 | 19 ft | 4.5 | 8’7 ft |
| 17 | 5.2 | 13.5 ft | 4.75 | 7’11 ft |
| 4 | 5.22 | 16ft | 4.82 | 7’7 ft |
2029
| Jersey # | 40 | Broad | Shuttle |
| 75 | 6.5 | 5’9 ft | 5.8 |
| 92 | 4.8 | 7’11 ft | 5 |
| 96 | 4.9 | 7’7 ft | 4.7 |
| 73 | 5.4 | 5’3 ft | 5.1 |
| 94 | 4.9 | 7’1 ft | 5 |
| 95 | – | – | – |
| 48 | 6.7 | 5 ft | 6 |
