Top 15U Performers at Rack City Winter Classic Tournament
By Jerry Williamson
TAMARAC, Fla. - An innumerable amount of underclassman and gifted youth football prospects participated in the Rack City 2nd Annual Winter Classic 7v7 Tournament on Sunday, held at Tamarac Sports Complex and Rising Stars was in attendance. Head coach Chris McGonigal of the Florida Fire (Broward), brought home the hardware against cross-town rivals, South Florida Express led by Alpha Dog and Class of 2023 quarterback Taron "Tyger" Dickens.
Blanche Ely freshman wide receiver Robert Floyd, Jr., a Rising Stars All-South Florida Freshman Team selection, would unanimously earn Rack City Winter Tournament overall most valuable player.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Blanche Ely, WR Robert Floyd, Jr. | Florida Fire (Broward)
• Floyd, Jr. is a big-play waiting to happen. Cornerbacks didn't want to challenge him. The future phenom made the nine route look easy, against all-star competition. You knew he was getting the ball, but defensive coordinators didn't have an answer to stop him.
Co-OFFENSIVE MVP: St. Thomas Aquinas, WR Quincy Skinner, Jr. | Florida Fire (Broward)
• Skinner, Jr. is what collegiate and professional teams describe as a match-up nightmare. The freshman, stands 6-foot-3 and can separate from defenders. His ability to use his long arms and box out defenders. Allowed his quarterback to find him countless of times for scores. Keep an eye on him this fall.
Co-OFFENSIVE MVP: PPO Bengals, QB Taron "Tyger" Dickens | Florida Fire (Broward)
• When considering the 15U tournament is assembled by a vast majority of 9th and 10th graders, and this 8th grader looks better than 90 percent of them at quarterback, says a month full. The stage never appeared to big for the youngster. He threw over 15 touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE MVP: St. Thomas Aquinas, CB Sean Watkins | Florida Fire (Broward)
• Watkins looks like the next elite St. Thomas Aquinas defensive back. He actually was tested quite often. However, the outcome didn't favor the opposing teams. As he lock down wide receivers by not allowing a single touchdown nor big plays on his side of the field. Watkins also recorded one interception.
UTILITY MVP: South Dade, ATH Jermaine Hawkins | (Florida Fire (Dade)
• Hawkins appears to have his mojo back as he turned heads offensively and defensively. At wide receiver, Hawkins pulled in multiple touchdowns and led his team in interceptions. He has FBS size right now for a wide receiver or cornerback standing 6-foot.
YOUTH MVP: PPO Bengals, WR/CB Brandon Inniss | South Florida Express
• Inniss, a class of 2023 prospect, is the next high school All-American in South Florida. He stands 5-foot-11 and made a number of spectacular grabs over guys with FBS scholarships. Here's a seventh-grade that's ready for a verbal scholarship right now. A number of high school coaches would cosign my system. He's high school ready right now.
YOUTH OFFENSIVE MVP: North Dade Bulldogs, WR Zaylan Reese | Florida Fire (Broward)
• Reese continues to shine as the top class of 2022 wide receiver in South Florida, based on production. I have watched him in both organized and 7v7 football, and his game his consistent. He's someone that's capable of making some noise on varsity, this upcoming fall.
YOUTH DEFENSIVE MVP: Richmond-Perrine Giants, DB Tyrone Maxwell | NGTHMR
• At safety, Maxwell racked up two interceptions and made countless plays roaming the center of the field. He informed me he'll be attending Miami Palmetto Senior. The rich continues to get rich within the Panthers' secondary, with this two-way talented incoming freshman.
Note: Quarterback Alex Law and wide receiver Jake Harrington of South Florida Express, just missed the top performers list. However, the dual accounted for a number of first downs and delivered endless big plays.
TOP 10 OFFENSIVE PERFORMERS
1. QB - Nick Viattatio
Note. I honestly, expect this young man to throw for 3,000 yards and 20 plus touchdowns this upcoming season.
2. WR - Vince Davis 3. WR - Jake Harrington 4. QB - Alex Law 5. WR -Malik Rutherford 6. QB - Wilson Noel, Jr. 7. WR - Deandre Spain 8. WR - Frank Gore 9. WR - James Miller, Jr.
10. WR - TJ Huggins TOP 10 DEFENSIVE PERFORMERS 1. DB - James Williams, Jr.
Whether he plays safety, linebacker or defensive end at the next level is to be determined. One thing for sure is he make plays in space and rarely is tested in the center of the field.
2. DB - Rance Conner 3. DB - Rohan Brown 4. CB - Torrie Cox, Jr. 5. DB - Jordan cumberbatch 6. CB - Carl Kitchen 7. CB - Markevious Brown 8. DB - Kamren Kitchens 9. DB - Isaiah Finnie
10. LB - Jordan Kolnick
YOUTH TOP 5 OFFENSE PERFORMERS 1. QB - Khalil Anglin
The former Pop Warner Div. 2 National Champion of the Northwest Falcons threw a number of touchdowns on Sunday for the Hard Knocks Foundation. He's still learning adjusting to high schoolers, but he's performing and progressing.
2. QB - Carson Haggard 3. WR - Anton Coney 4. QB - Pete Zamora 5. WR - Adrain Harris YOUTH TOP 5 DEFENSIVE PERFORMERS 1. LB - Jai-ayviauynn Celestine
Celestine reminds me of Reggie Nelson out of Palm Bay High School, who's currently playing professional football. He has the athleticism of a skill athlete, but the mindset and attitude of a linebacker. He forced teams to throw outside.
2. DB - Fred Eaford
3. DB - Ken Moore, Jr. 4. LB - Sebastian Borges
5. DB - Michael Jackson OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
WR - Shayon Walton WR - Sebastian Stein
WR - Omar Simpson RB - Keshawn Brown WR - Tadarius Carter WR - Yulkeith Brown CB - Taz Wisdom CB - Earl little, Jr.
QB - Gabe Contento
WR - Tyrik Daily
QB - Taverres Blackmon
CB - Twain Massie
