Green Bay, WI- This April’s 2025 NFL Draft was an amazing experience for many student-athletes who spent time on the Football Hotbed Showcase Platform in either middle school or high school. It was a time to finally fulfil a dream and hear their names called. Overall, six student-athletes who had affiliation with this platform were drafted. This year’s highest Hotbed World pick was taken in the 2nd Round as Jayden Higgins (Miami, FL) who attended Iowa State was taken with the 34th pick of the draft by the Houston Texans. Higgins was a participant in the National High School Showcases, Junior game during his time in high school with the graduating class of 2021.
The elite wide receiver began his college career at Eastern Kentucy (FCS) and then went to Iowa State in the transfer portal where he spent the final two years of his career. While in Ames, he put up great statistics during his time, finishing his career among the school’s single-season leaders with 87 receptions (2nd all-time) for 1,183 yards (3rd) and nine touchdowns (T-2nd) … ranked 10th nationally in receiving yards, 14th in receptions per game (6.7) and 20th in receiving TDs.
In the 5th round, Jalen Rivers, an offensive lineman at the University of Miami was selected by the Cincinnati Bengles. Rivers was a participant in the first ever Middle School All-American game in his hometown of Jacksonville, FL. The game was played at Bolles High School, and he played Offensive lineman in the 7th grade All-American game. Rivers was a plug-and-play starter at Miami, being a big part of the reason the team went 10-2 in his final season.
Rivers was joined in the fifth round by Elijah Roberts of Southern Methodist University who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Roberts, a defensive tackle out of Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School, began his career at the University of Miami with Rivers but later transferred to SMU where he collected 10 sacks in his junior campaign. Roberts was a participant in the 3rd Annual National High School Showcases, Junior game during his time in high school with the graduating class of 2020.
In the 6th Round, Andy Borregales, of the University of Miami was selected with pick 182 by the New England Patriots. Borregales was the first ever MVP of the National Specialist Showcase held by Football Hotbed for three seasons beginning in his 8th grade year. Borregales was a Groza semi-finalist his senior year and left Miami as the school’s overall points leader, a record that will likely stand for quite some time as he was the starting kicker for four consecutive years following his brother Jose.
In addition, a very cool thing took place in this April’s draft, two National Middle School Challenge bloodline members were taken back-to-back! Aeneas Peebles (Durham, NC) of Virginia Tech via Duke, who participated in the 2nd Annual National Showcase was taken with the 210th pick by the Balitmore Ravens and Texas Longhorn offensive guard Hayden Conner was taken with the 211th pick by the Arizona Cardinals. Conner was a participant in the 3rd Annual National Lineman Challenge, the first year it was held at the University of Miami in tandem with the National Middle School Invitational Showcase.
Here’s more on Peebles, who starred at Duke before transferring to Virgina Tech in his final year of eligibility. Overall, he tallied 31 tackles (11 solo), including 6.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks … registered three pass breakups and four QB hurries … earned a 90.3 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus … led all ACC defensive tackles and ranked fifth in the nation at his position with 35 pressures … had a season high five tackles at Vanderbilt (Aug. 31) and again vs. Rutgers (Sept. 21) … named All-ACC First Team
Hayden Conner (Katy, TX), a National Middle School Lineman Challenge bloodline member was drafted in the 6th Round by the Arizona Cardinals. Earlier this year in January, he played in his second consecutive College Football Playoff. Connor helped lead his team to a one-loss regular season and a College Football Playoff birth in 2023 and another stellar record in 2024. Hayden was offered by then University of Miami head coach Mark Richt after his performance at the National Middle School Lineman Challenge. It was his first division I offer in 8th grade.
2024 NFL Draft - Hotbed world alumni
2023 NFL Draft - Hotbed World Alumni
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