National Middle School Lineman Challenge

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Follow 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

Follow Miami, FL-The Florida International University football program played their first spring football game intra-squad scrimmage Saturday under first year head coach, Willie Simmons. The game was a defensive battle, ending in a 7-2 win for team Navy. There were several stand out defensive performances including a two-interception day for defensive back, Victor Evans II.  Overall, the day was marked with increased excitement and energy as the Simmons era of FIU football officially got under way.  “Football’s fun again,” Keegan Davis said with a smile on his face after the spring scrimmage.We’re bringing back that swagger, that 3-0-5- mindset. “Our mentality is, see ball, get ball. We just play our gaps and do whatever is expected of us.”There were over a thousand people in attendance at the spring scrimmage, a bustling crowd for a very fickle fan base that has only seen one season of .500 since football began in the early 2000s. Coach Simmons history of winning has many Miami area fans excited about the teams prospects this spring.  Things get rolling on August 29th at home again Bethune Cookman. Kickoff is a 7 p.m.

Follow Duluth, GA— Spartanburg, South Carolina’s 2027 running back Trenton Lynch ran for two touchdowns and Miami Gardens, Florida native, Angelo Smith of Chaminade Madonna High School added a pick-six touchdown and a late pass deflection to give Team Red a narrow victory in the 9th Annual National High School Showcase Sophomore game. The final score was 22-18.Team White, led by defensive MVP, Ayden Montgomery and running back Kareem Shaw, teammates at Gaffney High in Easley, South Carolina, came within a late touchdown of winning the game.With under a minute left on second and goal, Team White quarterback Julian Ayala, escaped the pocket looking for wideout James Klaiss who was open in the endzone, but the pass was batted down by McEachern High School’s Freedom Jones an athlete that made plays at four different positions during the game.One third down, Ayala tried to find Gerald Hunter of Atlanta’s Mays High School but the pass was broken up by Angelo Smith. On the final play of the game, 4th and goal, Ayala was sacked by Miami Edison’s Edge Rusher Derrick Miller as the clock expired.  Miller took home lineman MVP honors on the afternoon.Game standouts include the following:–Freedom Jones (QB) the McEachern High School athlete played amazingly all game. Before he entered the game at QB in the fourth quarter, Jones did a ton of damage at EDGE with sacks and batted down passes. He was violent defender.  His 65- yard rushing TD at QB was called back due to a holding call behind the play and he also caught a pass at wide receiver. Overall, he has one of the most impressive games in Football Hotbed All-star history after film review. –Trenton Lynch (RB) is perhaps the biggest prospect coming out of this game. He was offered by Georgia State University on our Sunday college visit to their campus and has great sophomore film. Linked here. Overall, he was impressive all game as he was a load to bring down and displayed home run hitting speed. -Brookwood High School’s Kaiden McKenzie (OL/DL) had the most impressive game overall as a lineman on both sides of the ball. –Angelo Smith (DB) of South Florida powerhouse Chaminade Madonna had a very complete game. He had two catches on offense, three PBUs on defense and a interception for a touchdown. –Ayden Montgomery (WR) made an in-game switch to H-back and punished the Team Red defense in the air and added a TD reception.–Kareem Shaw (RB) ran the ball well and caught a touchdown pass. He played excellent on defense also. Helped Team White amass five turnovers, helping to keep the game close.–Keyon’Dre Wright (DB) had his second consecutive Football Hotbed Showcase game with an INT.  He secured one of Team White’s five turnovers this year and last year he caught a pick in the Freshman All-American Game.–Ethan Albertson (LB) the suburban Chicago defender had a sack-fumble than he eventually ran down the field 10 yards to recover for a Team White touchdown. –Gerald Hunter (DB) added an interception for Team White.–Immanuel Simmons (DB) added an interception for Team Red along with two PBUs.  watch the game: 2027 sophomore showcase GAME PHOTOS Freedom jones, qb/ath, powder springs, ga Overall, he has one of the most impressive games in Football Hotbed All-star history after film review.  Trenton lynch, rb, spartanburg, sc Overall, he was impressive all game as he was a load to bring down and displayed home run hitting speed.  Kaiden mckenzie, Ol/dl, snellville, ga Most impressive lineman overall Ethan albertson, lb, lake in the hills, il Had one of the most impressive plays of the game. A forced fumble, recovered for a TD. Angelo smith, db/wr, Miami gardens, fl Angelo Smith will be a big time recruit at safety and shows great potential as a slot WR also. Keyon'dre wright, db, hubert, nc Wright grabs his second consecutive INT in a Hotbed Showcase ayden montgomery, ATH, easley, sc