Rising Stars in Texas High School Football: DB Edition
The Lone Star State has solidified itself as one of the premier football hotbeds in the country. Nowadays it…
Day One Recap: Middle School All-American Game
Ft. Lauderdale, FL– The 2016 Middle School All-American game presented by Football Hotbed got of to a great start…
2027: Lynch and Smith Lead Team Red Over Team White
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
Wilson and Grigsby Dominate 2028 Freshman All-American Game
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
Team Red & Matis Gibson Shine in 5th Annual Senior Bowl
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
Freshman All-American Game-Submit Nomination
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
Academic All-American Game-Submit Nomination
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
Cocoa Tops Gadsen County: 38-27 in 2A FHSAA Final
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
Chaminade Madonna Wins Four Straight
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
UCF Falls Short at Home vs. BYU
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 */
Gameday Central: Miami Tops Florida State 36-14
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
JV Championship Series: Homestead Outlasts North Miami 26-22
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
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