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feature February 21, 20250

2027: Lynch and Smith Lead Team Red Over Team White

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

Brandon OdoifeatureHigh School Football February 7, 20250

Wilson and Grigsby Dominate 2028 Freshman All-American Game

Follow Duluth, GA- The 2025 Football Hotbed Freshman All-American game was an amazing display of elite talent by the graduating class of 2028. The stars of a battle between two evenly divided teams were clearly Trinity, Florida’s wide receiver Luke Wilson and St. Albans, West Virginia quarterback Peyton Grigsby.  The two connected for three total touchdowns to give their “Team White” squad the victory over “Team Red” by a score of 18- 8. Wilson got the scoring started with a reception thrown by Grigsby that was an absolutely ‘dart’ of a throw in between triple coverage to outpace defenders. Overall, Grigsby passed for 269 yards and three touchdowns.  Most of that yardage came via Wilson.  Both players earned MVP honors at June’s National Middle School Invitational Showcase at the University of Miami and had some familiarity because of their participation and it showed. Team White totaled 334 yards in offense with two turnovers that were forced by Team Red. Team Red was led by athlete Michael McDuffie of Fort Lauderdale’s Calvary Christian Academy and quarterback Ryan Brochu of York, South Carolina. Red’s lone score came on a TD pass and great run after the catch by Naples, Florida wide out Jack Crifasi IV.  McDuffie was the game’s defensive MVP with several pass break ups, and he also ran the ball very effectively on the ground. game day mvps overall mvp - luke wilson, 2028 wr, trinity, fl Luke Wilson of Clearwater Central Catholic high school was an easy MVP selection.  He paced Team white’s offensive explosion with three touchdowns and tons of “yards after the catch” that made the opposing defense see “red” all day.  A performance like that, in 24 degree weather, for a kid from Southwest Florida is about as memorable as one can get.  Shades of Xaiver Restrepo, a University of Mimai Hurricane heading toward the NFL Draft this April. Wilson took the game seriously and approached it as a real launching pad for this career and that’s exactly why he did so well. He validated his National Middle School Invitational Showcase MVP award in June by grabbing a second consecutive MVP award on the Football Hotbed Platform. Defensive MVP- Michael Mcduffie- 2028 ATh, Ft. Lauderdale, FL McDuffie got it done on defense as the MVP but also on the ground. The stat line for Michael McDuffie says it all, 4 tackles with 4 pass break ups (PBU’s) and offensive production that kept his team in the game. With his size and speed combination, McDuffie has Division I talent.  He could settle in on either side of the ball but he’d be better suited at safety in our opinion because of how rare big safeties with speed and range are. It could make him a national recruit. Already listed at 5’10, 185 pounds as a freshman with room to grow is a great foundation upon which to build over the next three seasons.  Lineman mvp- Landon suttle , 2028 OL, Mt holly, nc The metro Charlotte native Landon Suttle played the entire game at both offensive and defensive line.  He had a strong base on offense, using his length and 6’3 frame to push defenders wide giving Grigsby the needed time to throw for over 300 yards. As a left tackle prospect, he shows the ability based on the athleticism we saw to move inside if he has too.  He’s already a recruitable size with room to grow. Standouts that didn't earn mvp honors Justin Harris of Shiloh, may end up being the best player in the game down the line. Peyton Grigsby gave me Manziel vibes Jack Crifasi IV was fast and made a big play. Played well at DB also. #51 Kayden Johnson 2028 played well on both OL & DL turn on the tape: #TurnONTheTape #TurnONTheTape look at this absolutely 🎯 by 2028 QB Peyton Grigsby from West Virginia in our @FootballHotbed Freshman All-American game breaking through triple coverage. Grigsby was also a @Future4QB finalist last June. #PutHimONTheBoard @grigsby_peyton7 pic.twitter.com/WTtLCR0Urd— Brandon Odoi (@Brandon_Odoi) February 6, 2025 #TurnONTheTape for Jarmell Sine of Boynton Beach, FL. He's a 6'2 WR in the 2028 class. Made an absolutely fabulous catch during our @FootballHotbed freshman game. See it below. @Offdata_mel #hotbedworld pic.twitter.com/9AxXqiYnQp— Brandon Odoi (@Brandon_Odoi) February 7, 2025 #TurnONTheTape watch 2028 @FootballHotbed Freshman All-American @RyanBrochu5 throw accurately under duress and hit his WR in stride for the TD. Just good ball all around. #hotbedworld pic.twitter.com/L3Otwdf9YG— Brandon Odoi (@Brandon_Odoi) February 6, 2025 watch: Full game on youtube

Brandon Odoifeature January 19, 20250

Team Red & Matis Gibson Shine in 5th Annual Senior Bowl

Follow Duluth, GA– In the coldest game ever played (28 degrees at its conclusion) in Football Hotbed National Showcase history, Team Read, paced by the outstanding performance by 2025 TE Matis Gibson, won a defensive battle 14-6 over Team White in our fifth annual Senior Bowl presented by the Portal Media Group.  The game’s scoring began when RL Ward, III, intercepted a Deron Benson pass and took it 35 yards for a pick-six.  The extra point attempt failed putting Team Red up 6-0.  After several stalled drives, punts and interceptions, both teams failed to move the ball much.  Team White did have great success on the ground running behind Frank Vomero, Jr. who racked up 110 yards on the ground in an losing effort. However, penalties and an inability to convert on third downs led to no points. The Red team found the most success through the air.  Miami’s Gabriel Fraga hooked up with Gibson to the tune of 109 yards in the air and a touchdown.  Gibson, a former quarterback, also attempted a pass on offense.Walking away with his first MVP award in three tries, Gibson put together his best performance in three outings at the Football Hotbed National High School Showcases.  He played H-back as a sophomore, quarterback as a junior last year and starred as a senior.  He currently holds three offers.The lineman MVP of the game award went to Ocala, Florida’s Bernard Little. He provided consistent pressure for Red’s dominant defense that didn’t surrender a point until seven seconds left in the game. The defensive MVP award went to Jonesboro, Georgia’s Jayden Howard who had two interceptions on the night in a losing effort.  Each Football Hotbed Senior Bowl MVP received a brand-new HP Google Chromebook for use in college and beyond.   watch a replay of the game via youtube

feature December 30, 20240

Freshman All-American Game-Submit Nomination

Follow freshman All-American Game The National High School Showcases is one of the nation’s best showcase platforms athletes can use to pad their college football recruiting resume. We are thankful to celebrate the 9th annual National High School Freshman All-American Game this January.   No matter where you play football, and no two areas are alike, one thing college scouts want to see is an elite skill set, size, strength and speed. The National High School Showcases blends a group of elite athletes along with those striving to prove they can play at the next level. For these reasons, the game is one of the most competitive all-star platforms around and routinely comes down to the last possession because teams are evenly built based on a draft after a mini camp. Our uniqueness is the brand we’ve establish with this game where it ensures the athletes desired competition and exposure are obtained. We invite athletes who first “want to compete at a high level” and secondly, want to be recognized for their talents. The Football Hotbed platform is rooted in rich media, photographs and videos as well as live streaming quality footage during these games to ensure those athletes that perform at their best, truly get the recognition they deserve. In the past, athletes have used this game as an additional opportunity to earn game film (as the game is recorded and film uploaded to Hudl). This generally works well when an athlete lacks enough plays at a position, has made a position switch, and needed additional film or missed time during the season due to injury. This will be crucial to filling in the gaps in a student-athletes resume due to any of the reasons previously stated.The game is also used as a national platform for athletes who may be underexposed to receive additional attention for recruiting services, particularly college football coaches. Each one of the three grade-level games: Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Showcases are live-streamed to an international audience on Football Hotbed and there’s also a recap of each game and the top players on our website, Footballhotbed.com. Each game also will have a photo album of over 100 photos a piece and a highlight posted to social media. It’s the most exposure of any game played in high school football athletes who are not yet seniors and eligible for All-American Bowls.Our hope is that each participant takes something away from the experience, the competition in practice and on game day, and especially the college visits which help to acquaint each athlete with the knowledge of precisely what it takes to play college football at varying levels across the NCAA Division’s I and II. This is our eighth annual event. In past years, we have visited the University of Alabama, Georgia State University, Auburn University, the University of Georgia, West Georgia University, the University of Tennessee, South Carolina, Mercer University, Clemson University, and Georgia Tech. Video highlights of the games and college visits are below to help you gain the experience of what it is like to participate in this event. Football Hotbed has become the go-to source for up and coming football athletes looking to build their own personal brands. Through their various events and platforms, Football Hotbed provides a level of exposure that is unmatched in the industry. This exposure has translated into real results, with over 100 Division One NCAA athletes emerging from the Football Hotbed program.The success of Football Hotbed can be attributed to their unique approach to athlete development. Rather than focusing solely on physical training and skill development, Football Hotbed places a heavy emphasis on building personal brands and developing the off-field skills necessary for success at the next level. This approach has proven to be incredibly effective, with Football Hotbed athletes consistently standing out both on and off the field.Overall, Football Hotbed has established itself as a leader in athlete development and personal brand building. Their commitment to excellence and innovative approach to athlete development make them a valuable resource for any aspiring football athlete looking to take their game to the next level.PLEASE NOTE:  Each athlete is responsible for each of the following: A. Registration for the game, B. Travel to and from the game and to practice, C. Meals & Lodging.WHAT TO BRING?: Each athlete should bring their own: 1. Helmet, 2. shoulder pads, 3. practice jersey and pants, 4. Pads for lower body (girdle, including knee pads which are mandatory), 5. mouthpiece.  Questions? Contact 888-879-3396 or email info[at]footballhotbed.com click below to nominate your athlete Freshman All-American Game Nomination prominent alumni- Jeremiah smith, wr, ohio state university J.J. Mccarthy, QB, University of michigan rueben bain, jr., de University of Miami

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

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 */

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? OL Wanya Morris- Kansas City Chiefs-3rd Rd Draft PickArmondo Blount- DE No. 18 University of MiamiDaniel Richardson-QB Central Michigan, FAU, FAMUVincent Murphy- OL South Carolina, WKU, TulaneTroy Stellato- WR Clemson UniversityRicardo Watson- DL Florida State, USF Winston Watkins 5-star WR RecruitJaquez Stuart-Toledo RBDavion Dixon- 4-star DL Notre Dame CommitCutter Woods, 4-star QB South Carolina CommitEzekiel Marcelin 3-star LB University of Miami commitJaziun Patterson RB No. 9 IowaJordan Allen 4-star Louisville WR CommitJai-Ayviauynn Celestine DB No. 24 University of ArizonaChris Ewald, Jr. 4-star DB University of Miami CommitIsaiah Horton WR No. 2 University of MiamiAaron Willis Tennessee, Houston, Deleware StateCJ Donaldson RB No. 4 Univeristy of West VirginiaLaurance Seymore University of Miami, AkronWesley Bissanthe LB No. 31 University of Miami No. 31, LinebackerJulian Armella, OL Florida State No. 72Ryan Turner, Ohio State, Boston CollegeTyreak Sapp DE No. 94 University of FloridaWebsley Etienne- DB No. 12 Arkansas StateJuJu Lewis Georgia Tech, FIUTray Brown LB No. 55 Costal CarolinaTellek Locette OL No. 73 Texas StateMicah Bowens Penn State, Oklahoma, Charlotte, Bethune CookmanJa'Den McBurrows University of MichiganJayson Gilliom LB No. 10 Univeristy of KansasKevin Davis DE No. 44 FIUNicholas Vattiato QB No. 11 MTSUTorrie Cox, Jr. DB No 5 University of IllinoisAmari Daniels RB No. 5 Texas A&MAlberta Mendoza- QB Indiana University

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 This freshman All-American  JacolbySpellsWRWest Virginia WillBettridgeK/PVirginia HaydenSchwartzDLMinnesota LamarPattersonWRSeveral D1 offers (deceased) ScottKeanQBWest Virginia JeremyWestLBNorth Carolina Central

feature September 11, 20240

Drip Watch: Miami Palmetto Sport New Helmets vs. Southridge

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feature August 31, 20240

Miami Hurricanes at Florida Gators: Gameday Central

Follow Gainesville, FL- Football is back! And that’s a very good thing. Excited to be on an SEC campus to take in some nationally-televised college football in the first full weekend of action for this beloved sport. The Miami Hurricanes visit the Florida Gators today and the significance of this game’s outcome is buried in the foundation of what both storied programs have established over generations.Each looks to return to prominence. The Gators have had the most recent national success, its most recent national championship coming in 2008, which was proceeded just a few years earlier by a national championship in 2006, they own three titles overall.  Miami’s last of their five national championships came in 2001.  Both head coaches, Miami’s Mario Cristobol and especially Florida’s Billy Napier have a significant amount of pressure coming into this season for similar reasons.  Program expectations are to compete for national titles and conference championships. There’s been little of that on both sides lately.  However, today can be the catalyst for a big move in that direction.  What's at stake? Bragging rights! Need anything else be said? Both programs need a win in order to gain traction in-state with recruiting, prestige and all the normal reasons you want to beat an opponent that looks like you.  Miami would look great beating an SEC team in week 1, it hasn’t happened lately.  Florida has to win the game based on the most difficult schedule in the country.  Miami isn’t the only tough team they get at home. If they should lose, where do wins come from? Home slates with Texas A&M, Kentucky, and LSU and Ole Miss in back-to-back weeks don’t seem fair. Conversely, the Hurricanes have spared no expense in off-season talent acquisition to upgrade their roster.  Does that faucet stay on if the Hurricanes don’t win big this season? Would see necessary to start impressing donors out of the gate. TE Cam McCormick, one of the most tenured NCAA football player with the TD reception for Miami. #Canes strike first from inside 10 to score. XP is good, 7-0 Miami 6:48 left in Q1 11 plays, 84 yards, 5+ mins off clock. #hotbedworld @footballhotbed— Brandon Odoi (@Brandon_Odoi) August 31, 2024 cam ward is a difference maker for miami Have a difference maker at quarterback is a luxury the University of Miami hasn’t enjoyed in quite some time. Cam Ward is just that, a difference maker. He’s poised, deliberate, competitive and athletic. He makes more plays for Miami than anyone at the position in a generation.  Florida isn’t a bad team. Miami’s just a good team.  Or so it appears after just a few short quarters into the season.