8th Grade Varsity Starter: Keys Gate Charter (FL) QB/ATH Torey "Scooter" Morrison

Homestead, FLA. -- I'm not sure, if you haven't noticed the growing trend in South Florida. But, elite eight-graders, are now forgoing their final year of youth football, and jumping directly to high school level with the big boys and starting day one. Last season, 2A Classification, Champagnat Catholic' (eight-grade) DE Jesus Machado -- was named 3rd team All-Dade and made national headlines after the College Football National Champions, Alabama verbally offered the lions' edge rusher.

Did you know? Miami Southridge' senior RB Bentavious Thompson, also started as an eight-grader on varsity for Solid Rock Christian Academy.

Keys Gate Charter (Homestead, FL) 21' ATH Torey "Scooter" Morrison (5'9", 145)

Comparison

Scooter, is So. Florida's high school version of Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson. However, the eight-grader has top-end speed, compared to the super bowl champion after clocking a 4.9 electronically timed 40-yard dash at The Chamber as a seventh grader. Just ask former NFL All Pro WR Chris Chambers if you think I'm misleading you.

Will, Scooter, grow to become the flashy, new-age dual-threat quarterback (6-feet plus) is up in the air, but he's certainly an electrifying "jack-of-all-trades" type of athlete (QB, WR, CB, Returner) -- that coaches prefer to have the ball in his hands at all times, and watch him perform his magic using his dual-threat athletic ability.

Athleticism & Accolades

During the summer as a seventh grader, without a track and field background. Scooter, clocked an electronically timed 4.98 40-yard dash. Scooter, All-Stars performances' -- consisted of 4 touchdowns in the Miami Dolphins' Dade vs. Broward All-Stars Game and 3 touchdowns in the FBU National Tournament.

Scooter, first varsity start (spring football game) was as a seventh grader. The youngster, would also show leadership and next level talent, as a seventh grader, by starting at quarterback competing in South Florida's high schoool 7-on-7 All-Star tournaments such as Florida Fire, South Florida Express and Strong Arm. Scooter, would fall short, taking Florida Fire into three overtimes.

As a sixth grader, he also engineered his Pop Warner football team -- to the Pop Warner Division One National Championship and would make ESPN Top 10 Plays, lining up at wide receiver and making a Randy Moss like catch for a touchdown. My testimony on Scooter I'll never forget, watching him at Generation Nexxt's Skills Challenge competing with the seventh graders. He was so athletically advance (playing quarterback and wide receiver), the staff decided to move him up with the eight-graders.

Scooter, would switch to wide receiver and turned heads, by making the Elite 5, meaning the main event (1-on-1 session) that features the Top 5 overall wide receivers and cornerbacks.

Here's a funny mini-story

I remember over five years ago, going to work and telling my co-worker (Scooter's father), which I didn't know at the time, about this pee wee QB from Florida City Razorbacks that threw slants, post and go routes, and kids at that age don't suppose to throw that accurate. I would find out later on, that I talking about his son the whole time and was unaware. All his father did, was smile and listen, as I spoke highly of his son.

Kickoff Classic Performance

Scooter faced 8A Coral Gables on Thursday afternoon. While splitting first-team reps (every two series) with a senior -- the eight-grader would still managed to go 3-for-3 and threw (2) touchdowns and (0) interceptions for over (60) passing yards.

Scooter bloodline is filled with star-studded athletes and here's a note, they're all recent graduates of nationally ranked Miami Booker T. Washington.

These three particular guys would played a large role, helping the Tornadoes' shattered the Miami Northwestern winning-streak. Could this be his high school destination come ninth-grade? Only time will tell. Scooter cousins are UF's WR Antonio Calloway, FAU' DB Ocie Rose and uncle is FIU's QB Maurice Alexander.

The slim frame dual-threat star quarterback, is surprisingly strong. His bench max is 185 pounds and his squats max is 315 pounds. That's a total of 500 pounds of pure strength, coming from a 145 pound slim frame. Scooter, recently clocked a hand-timed 4.7 40-yard dash. The scary part about this young man game is, he's just as good or maybe better playing wide receiver and cornerback.

Maurice Alexander uses his past success and collegiate knowledge to educate the future phenom and regularly mentors him. It must be fun, to visit and meet the college football stars and coaches at FAU, FIU and UCF before officially stepping foot in high school.