Maryland - D.C. Take 7-on-7 Title

The stage was set as a few hundred top prospects attended the Badger Sport/New Level Skills Passing Camp held at the University of Akron this past weekend.

Saturday was the start of something that looked like it would be a special event.  With players coming from several states the rosters were full of talent.  While not everyone held college offers, many knew they’d have a chance to show their wares against some top talent and in the process make a name for themselves.

At check-in the talking started as players learned who they’d be teamed with. While some were able to be with high school teammates or friends they’ve made on the recruiting circuit the past year or few months.  But one thing was for sure, they wanted to be crowned champion and the talk would become tough, hard-nosed play on Sunday in front of many at the University of Akron indoor practice facility.

Scout.com recruiting analyst Bob Lichtenfels was in charge of one of the Pennsylvania teams and felt his group of hand-picked players were set to make a statement and give him a championship.  In Lichtenfels eyes the early battle would come from Team Virginia headed by recent West Virginia verbal’s Tahj Boyd (quarterback) and wide receiver Logan Heastie.  The smooth talking Heastie and Lichtenfels have been talking and confidence was not in short supply.

Early on the talking by Lichtenfels Team PA-1 looked to be just that as they were matched up against Heastie and Boyd’s Virginia team.  The future Mountaineers were not easy on the Keystone State players and made sure to leave a lasting impression early in the day.

But while a lot of attention was focused on the two teams Team Illinois with a couple of players from Michigan went about their work making sure they wouldn’t be left out of the talk. 

While most of the early talk was on quarterbacks Jordan Roberts and Joe Budmay focus soon turned to tight-end Reid Fragel of Grosse Point, Michigan as well as Michigan State commitment Chris Norman. 

Fragel saw talk start as soon as he walked into the player’s hotel on Saturday and didn’t disappoint as he showed he’s not just a 6-foot-7 body.  Showing burst and agility Fragel is fully capable of playing tight-end at the college level but has heard from many programs his future short term and long term could be as an offensive tackle.  Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan and Cincinnati are just a few of the programs that are showing interest in Fragle who will soon become one of the bigger names in the Midwest.

Norman ended his recruiting with is commitment to Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio and Spartan fans are in for a treat.  Only sixteen years old, Norman showed great overall ability and instincts on the day and helped his team go undefeated in early round play.

The team most wanted to see was Team Indiana with quarterbacks Jordan Luallen and Morgan Newton.  The pair didn’t disappoint as Luallen showed his willingness to be a solid teammate by taking reps as a wide receiver when he wasn’t the signal caller. If anyone is questioning Newton’s ability they better take a harder look as the kid bring great athletic ability and a strong arm to the field and shows great leadership abilities.

Three players for Team Indiana also left their marks on the day as tight-end Tyler Eifert and wide receivers Duwyce Wilson and Demory Lawshe showed big-time ability.  Not to be left behind was linebacker TyQuan Hammock who will be a very solid player at the next level.  For the receivers they did a lot of double duty on the day and also showed they were a team to be reckoned with when they knocked off the very talented Virginia team.

But the team everyone wanted a piece of was PA-1 and while they got off to a slow start they did just as their head coach said they would and was there when the championship cup was on the line.

With deep talent at all positions the Keystone team looked and played the part of major talent coming up short in the title game.  Cory Brown was just one of the many top performers on the day and it was believed if pads would have been on these teams they have a good chance of mopping the floor with most of the field.

But while PA-1 made the title game, the hottest team when it counted most was Team Maryland – D.C. who would win the title game using great speed and freakish athletic ability.

The one player who showed his overall athletic ability was Tavon Austin of Dunbar High School.  On several plays Austin proved more than what the competition could handle and embarrassed several players in the process.  On one play he left the crowd and players on both sides of the field rolling and clapping as he took a short pass and made several moves to stay away from defenders before he found the end zone for a score.

But Austin wasn’t the only player as Jonathon Perry who was a late addition proved to be a raw but strong armed quarterback capable of making some big-time throws.  Between his play and the play of Leon Kinnard and Michael Campanaro the team used some solid teamwork in helping lead the squad to the championship.

Scout.com will have more breakdown of this great event posted very soon.