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Brandon Odoi
feature December 23, 20240

Academic All-American Game-Submit Nomination

Follow ACADEMIC All-American Game Welcome to a game designed to give student-athletes the recognition they deserve for being elite in the classroom and on the field. Introducing, America’s first Academic All-American Game presented by Football Hotbed.  The inaugural event will take place in South Florida during New Year’s Week 2025 in order to acknowledge and provide exposure to the classes of 2025 and 2026 who are excellent leaders, students, and football players. Football Hotbed in an effort to assist young men in accomplishing their dreams of playing college football, is once again hoping to fill a void in the world of recruiting for qualified student-athletes with elite academic qualifications. We are looking for varsity-level players who are starters or key contributors in order to recognize them as Academic All-Americans.  WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS?  First, we are looking for student-athletes and families who together have the goal and desire to play at the Division 1 or 2 college level or at competitive high-academic D3 football programs across the country.  Each athlete is required to carry a 3.5 unweighted GPA and must confirm this with an unofficial transcript from his attending institution.  Secondly, an athlete must be a formal member of his varsity football team and a regular contributor.  He must have the film to demonstrate his athletic ability and a transcript confirming his academic ability. Each athlete must also submit a formal resume to show their civic attributes and extracurricular activities outside of the classroom and off the field.  Lastly, we want young men who want to compete.  We are looking for athletes who need a platform like Football Hotbed, the media coverage our games receive (social media, live-stream, photos and video highlights) and the access to hundreds of college coaches and a network of academic success coaches that can guide them through the rigorous process of applying for Ivy and other High academic schools. For more information and to contact us simply email us at info[at]footballhotbed.com or call us at 888-879-3396. To reach our VP of scouting, call him directly at 305-975-5884. It’s a Hotbed  World!Fill out the nomination form in RED below. THE MINIMUM GPA REQUIRED FOR THIS DISTINCTION: 3.5 (non-weighted)  click below to nominate your athlete APPLY FOR THE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN GAME cOME AND BE RECOGNIZED come and play with the elite academic players nationwide

Brandon OdoiFloridaHigh School Football December 12, 20240

Cocoa Tops Gadsen County: 38-27 in 2A FHSAA Final

Follow Miami- Defending state champion Cocoa made it three-straight with a 38-27 win Gadsen County (near Tallahassee) Thursday afternoon in FIU’s Pitbull Stadium.  The 2A FHSAA final match up featured Cocoa’s air attack against Gadsen County’s power run attack.  Texas A&M commit and Cocoa Tiger quarterback Brady Hart led the way through the air to the tune of 259 yards passing and 1 TD on 22 of 31 passing.  His leading wideout was Florida State commit, Jayvan Boggs. He caught 6 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.  The ground game was really the back breaker for Gadsen County, ironically, as the Cocoa Tigers racked up 100 yards on the ground as both Hart and Latrison Lane both rushed for 64 yards a piece.  Hart took sacks that took away 28 team rushing yards but was clutch picking up first downs on scrambles downfield to keep key drives alive.Cocoa began the scoring with a dart from Hart to Boggs, scoring off a Gadsen County turnover. But the Jaguars from Gadsen County would march right back down the field and tie the game on a Kemarrion Battles rushing touchdown.  Battles scored twice, racking up 96 yards on the ground for the Jaguars from the Tallahassee metro area.  The game would go back and forth for the duration until Cocoa broke it wide open on a play in the fourth quarter.  On fouth down, leading by only four, with under two minutes to play, the Coca Tigers tried to draw the Jags off-sides.  It didn’t work. After a time out, they went for it and got not only the two yards needed for a first down, but they also completely iced the game as Lane scored from 42 yards out. It’s the school’s seventh championship, third consecutive and for head coach Ryan Schneider, it cements a legacy.  PLAY CALL OF THE YEAR!!!Cocoa goes for it on 4th and 2 and Latrison Lane scores. That gives the Tigers a 38-27 lead with 1:04 remaining @CocoaFootball @Cocoa_Schneider @LaTrisonLane20 @321preps pic.twitter.com/tdqwPQkgMm— Jon Santucci (@JonSantucci) December 12, 2024

Brandon Odoi December 12, 20240

Chaminade Madonna Wins Four Straight

Follow Miami– Chaminade Madonna ran away with their fourth consecutive FHSAA state football title Wednesday night behind a strong ground game and a stingy defense.  Head coach Dameon Jones notched his seventh titles in nine years as he added to the nine titles the school has to date.He’s built quite a legacy at Chaminade, due in part to attracting some of the nation’s best players.  This years crop had to replace legends like Jeremiah Smith and Joshia Trader who are now Division I football players at the Power four level.They did not disappoint.  After two early season losses, Chaminade rolled the remainder of the season. They even knocked off nationally rated, St. Thomas Aquinas along the way. A team they had not played in over 40 years. The star this year for coach Jones? It was undoubtedly Derreck Cooper, a top-rated athlete in the class of 2026. Cooper finished the game with 92 yards rushing on just ten carries and a touchdown.  He also had a tackled on defense, where he played predominately in the two years prior to transferring to Chaminade. The passing game was led by Tyler Chance (15 for 20 196, 3 TDs) and paced by junior Denairius Gray who hauled in five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.  Senior Kyle Washington, the only player on the team with four consecutive state title medals as he played as a freshman, also contributed with 4 catches for 34 yards. He’ll head to Atlanta, GA to play for Georgia State next fall.  Dameon Jones, head coach, Chaminade Madonna Denairius gray's one-hand catch TD @Nadeboyz 21-0 @xklvsive_1 #hotbedworld @FHSAA 3Q pic.twitter.com/wsgdgVl1CK— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) December 12, 2024 derreck cooper proved he's one of the nation's best Brandon Odoi of Football Hotbed interviewing Derreck Cooper

feature October 26, 20240

UCF Falls Short at Home vs. BYU

Follow Orlando- The UCF Knights unfortunately fell short in their quest for an upset victory at home against the Big 12 conference-leading Brigham Young Cougars this past Saturday, with a final score of 37-24. Despite their best efforts and a strong performance throughout the game, the Knights were unable to secure the win they were hoping for in front of their home crowd. The team displayed resilience and determination, but ultimately, it was not enough to overcome their formidable opponents.Starting quarterback Jaccuri Brown, the Miami transfer, was ineffective in his first start, throwing two interceptions before he was benched for former Football Hotbed National Middle School Invitational Showcase finalist, Dylan Rizk. The freshman quarterback came in during the fourth quarter and went 6 for 10 for 102 yards passing and tossed a touchdown.  RJ Harvey rushed for 127 yards on 16 carries but it wasn’t enough for the Knights to overcome BYU’s offense led by quarterback Jake Retzlaff was too much for the Knights.  Retzlaff finished the game 16 for 24 with 228 yards passing and two touchdowns and added 38 yards on the ground and a score. Next up, UCF hosts Arizona at home.  The Bearcats lost to West Virginia 31-26 earlier today.  #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

College FootballFBS October 26, 20240

Gameday Central: Miami Tops Florida State 36-14

Follow Miami Gardens, FL – Today’s highly anticipated match up between the University of Miami (7-0) and Florida State (1-6) marks the annual installment in one of the greatest and most storied rivalries in all of college football. This fierce competition not only showcases the exceptional talent and skills of both teams but also ignites the passion and loyalty of their dedicated fanbases. Every year, fans eagerly await this showdown, as it often has significant implications for bragging rights and standings within the conference. Miami on a moderately slow offensive night for the Hurricanes, tops FSU 36-14 behind a big rushing night for Damien Martinez.  He rushed for 148 yards on 15 carries, scoring twice.  Cam Ward caught a touchdown pass from Elijah Arroyo and the Hurricanes added three field goals by Andres Borregales. Next up, the Hurricanes host Duke and former Hurricanes head coach, Manny Diaz. Damien Martinez, 148 yards rushing and 2 TDs Preview the game with our podcast: real ones canes

FloridaHigh School Football October 26, 20240

JV Championship Series: Homestead Outlasts North Miami 26-22

Follow Miami Gardens, FL- The Homestead Broncos Junior Varsity Team earned a birth in the inaugural Football Hotbed JV Championship Series Final this week outlasting the North Miami Pioneers 26-22.  It was a thrilling match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. The Broncos showcased their resilience and teamwork, coming from behind to secure the victory. The game was marked by impressive plays, with standout performances from both teams.  The game’s overall MVP was 2027 quarterback Jahmir McCall of Homestead High.  The Broncos’ quarterback delivered a stellar performance, throwing two touchdown passes and maintaining composure under pressure. Freshman running back Jermaine Green caught the first touchdown reception out of the backfield and the go-ahead touchdown was secured by 2028 wide receiver Gemani Smith. Meanwhile, the defense held strong during critical moments, thwarting the Pioneers’ advances with key tackles and interceptions.  The game sealing pass deflection was made by 2028 defensive back Leone Leonidas. The Pioneers played an excellent game, especially offensively led by their sophomore quarterback, Chammbrayy Campbell.  He hooked up with North Miami 2027 wide out Michael Cabre to open the game’s scoring.  The post-corner pass was perfect and Cabre made a great adjustment to the ball for the touchdown reception. Overall, the Pioneers couldn’t overcome playing sloppy toward the end of the game as turnovers and penalties killed drives.  They turned the ball over with a fumble into the endzone and had an interception on the 1-yard line on drives that would have probably ended up as scores. On the final drive of the game, the Pioneers were thwarted by the Homestead defense that had bended but not broken all game.  As the Broncos celebrated their hard-fought win, they set their sights on the upcoming final, determined to bring home the championship trophy. The team’s coaches praised the players’ dedication and spirit, acknowledging their hard work and commitment throughout the season. Fans and community members eagerly anticipate the final match, ready to support their team with unwavering enthusiasm.The historic Football Hotbed event for Junior Varsity teams is full-sanctioned by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) who is enthusiastic about the events promise in years to come.  Homestead will play Miami Central in the championship held this coming week.   Jahmir McCall with the Portal 305 and Olin Cushion, III JV Championship Series Highlights: Check out this amazing pass and catch from @NMPioneer_FB junior varsity standouts 2027 QB CHAMMBRAYY CAMPBELL to WR MICHAEL CABRE #hotbedworld vid by @ChrisFodde @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/aFXfa8zLf6— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) October 26, 2024 Photos: JV Championship Series @HSHBroncos and @NMPioneer_FB made history. #hotbedworld https://t.co/VWfp1x7Npw— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) October 26, 2024 Arties Knight, head JV Football Coach, Homestead High

feature October 15, 20240

Middle School All-American Game-Submit Nomination

Follow The Football Hotbed Middle School All-American Game The Football Hotbed Middle School All-American game is the nation’s longest running all-star game for middle school athletes aiming to play beyond high school and compete for division one college football scholarships.  The purpose of the event is to pit the talented interested members of the current 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes together on one field and produce three-grade level games that push each participant to play at their best.  Because of the game’s location, South Florida, an area that is truly a ‘hotbed’ of football talent nation-wide, the game is guaranteed to have the most talent of any game around. With the local talent combined with talent from as far away as the west coast annually, Football Hotbed has produced a national platform that is approaching 200 division one participants who are alums of the event, or as we like to call them, members of our bloodline.  To nominate an athlete to participate in this event, please click on the link below.  Be sure to include all the information about the athlete including a link to film or social media tags that will display clips of their talents on the field.  Include references like your team’s head coach and any other information we can use to qualify you for this unique experience.  We’ll get back to you within 72 hours if you are selected. The QB and RB positions are the most selective as we only take four for each grade level game.  For more information and to contact us simply email us at info[at]footballhotbed.com or call us at 888-879-3396. To reach our VP of scouting, call him direct at 305-975-5884. It’s a Hotbed  World! click below to nominate your athlete Submit Player Nomination Your official invitation to join our platform from our VP of Scouting Learn about what practices are like leading up to our game...intense! where are past participants playing now?

Brandon OdoiCollege Football September 27, 20240

Game Day Central: Miami hosts Virginia Tech

Follow Miami Gardens, FL– The Miami Hurricanes (4-0) open Atlantic Coast Conference play tonight hosting the Virginia Tech Hookies (2-2) at Hard Rock Stadium.  The Hurricanes look to extend their winning streak and notch their first win in a conference they hope to win.  They enter the game ranked No. 7 in the country with wins over Florida, FAMU, Ball State and USF.  Virginia Tech enters the game at .500 on the season, with wins over Marshall and at Old Dominion and close losses to Vanderbilt and Rutgers.  MIAMI WINS: Isiah Horton saves the day! He enters the game as a DB and keeps Miami perfect breaking up a hail Mary pass. 38-34 as time expires over Va. Tech #Canes pic.twitter.com/HvD7rXteGG— Brandon Odoi (@Brandon_Odoi) September 28, 2024

feature September 25, 20240

Football Hotbed’s Freshman All-American Game Boast ‘Big Name’ Alumni

Follow The Football Hotbed Freshman All-American Game or National High School Freshman Showcase is the most prestigious all-star showcase in the country.  Since its inception, the game has produced the most high profile alumni and has nearly a 50-50 Division I ratio for the game’s past participants.  Game alumni Initial freshman class of 2020 Rashod Torrence– University of Florida (Los Angeles Rams, free agent)   Freshman class of 2021 In this class, 15 participants were able to garner Division I scholarships.  J.J. McCarthy became a first-round pick for the Minnesota Vikings (No. 10) after winning a national championship in at the University of Michigan as the starting QB. Game was played in January of 2018. The MVPs were Kye Robichaux (Boston College) and Demarko Williams (Western Kentucky/Ole Miss). Here’s a game recap: CLICK HERE.  QBCorbin LafranceKennesaw, GARobert MorrisQBColt MinsonVirginia Beach, VAFurmanQBJ.J. McCarthyLagrmund Park, ILMichiganRBJofranstar GrahamMartinez, GAArmyRBKye RobichauxEllerslie, GABoston College/WKUATHDai’Sean StevensFort Worth, TXFAU/Bama StateWRCaleb OsburnRockledge, FLSamfordSLOTMekhi MewsGrayson, GAHouston/UGAK/PCarter DavisPlantation, FLFAUDEJacob PsykSugar Land, TXHarvardLBCarlos EstronzaNW Palm Bay, FLWingateLBHarrison AllenCartersville, GACornellDBDemarko WilliamsAtlanta, GAWKU/Ole MissDBKenyan HunterSpringfield, GAMercerSAFDavis MallingerViera, FLNevada/West Virginia Freshman class of 2022

feature September 11, 20240

Drip Watch: Miami Palmetto Sport New Helmets vs. Southridge

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