FBU National Championship: Utah Tryout Recap

Programs around the nation are gearing up for the FBU National Championship tournament and holding tryouts to find the <img class="alignright wp-image-213368 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/FBUNCLOGO-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> best athletes in their area to compete. The FBU National Championship tournament celebrates and promotes youth football through uniting all-star athletes of all backgrounds from across the United States in a true, one-of-a-kind national tournament. The only national football tournament of its kind, the annual FBU National Championship crowns a national champion from brackets in grades 6th, 7th, and 8th. On September 18^th, team Utah held a tryout at Summit Academy High School and saw several athletes come out and compete for a spot to represent their state. Here are some of the standouts [caption id="attachment_213370" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-213370 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/EastonKojima-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: https://sfjhs.nebo.edu/[/caption] <strong>Easton Kojima | 8^th Grade – 2026 | Running Back/Linebacker</strong> Selected to play last year as a 7^th grader also, Kojima was back at it again this year to prove last year was no coincidence. The Spanish Fork Junior High student-athlete looked great on both sides of the ball during the tryout. At running back, he showed increased speed from last year and with it came some formattable power. On defense he showed a knack for filling the gaps during drills and looked sharp moving laterally. Look for him to be a two-way standout for Utah. &nbsp; <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-213373 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/BrittonJohnson-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Britton Johnson | 7^th Grade – 2027 | Tight End/Wide Receiver</strong> After having his first taste of the FBU National Championship experience last year, Johnson was back at it again for 2021. The 5-foot-8, 150 pound athlete was a head turner at the tryout, specifically in his route running. Coaches marveled at how clean, crisp and tight his routes were the whole day. The sure-handed athlete also showed the advanced skill of being able to highpoint the ball and make plays over the opposing defensive backs. Another part of his game that really stood out was his ability to block and set the edge, as a tight end. The jury is still out on how exactly he’ll be used, but he certainly showed his value. <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-213375 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/LJFevealaki--150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />LJ Fevealaki | 7^th Grade – 2027 | Offensive Line/Defensive Line</strong> If it’s one thing the tournament has proven over the years, it’s that teams will go as far as their offensive and defensive lines will take them. Utah may have the cornerstone of their offensive line with Fevealaki at 5-foot-7 and 190 pounds. The athletic big body looks to be a lock at one of the guard positions across the front five. He showed the ability to open his hips and pull with ease and arrived with great power and force. In addition to his athletic skills, coaches were impressed with his advanced technique for only being in 7^th grade. [caption id="attachment_213383" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-213383 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/Zion-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: Submitted[/caption] <strong>Zion Hunkin | 7^th Grade – 2027 | Offensive Line/Defensive Line</strong> Another lineman on the 7^th grade level that stood out, Hunkin earned praise from coaches and scouts. At 5-foot-6 and 210 pounds Hunkin understood leverage on both sides of the ball and was the adage “low man wins” personified. On the offensive side, he appears to be the answer at center for Utah due to his fast hands and explosive punch that threw defenders off balance at the snap. On the defensive side, look for him to be a stout problem on the interior defensive line. He looks like an ideal nose guard in a 3-4 defense, if Utah goes that route. <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-213388 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/PrestonFerran-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Preston Ferran | 7^th Grade – 2027 | Quarterback</strong> While there is still a while before the tournament kicks off, Ferran certainly looked the part of QB1 at the tryout. The 5-foot-7, 135-pound righty showed off a powerful arm all day long. The Alta Hawks signal caller was extremely consistent and accurate hitting receivers on 35–40-yard passes with relative ease. Additionally, he was able to use more touch on some of the shorter/intermediate passes but was still accurate. An added bonus to his game, coaches liked what they saw when he tucked the ball and kept it himself—showing that he certainly has dual-threat capabilities, <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-213389 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/AydenLaws-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Ayden Laws | 7^th Grade – 2027 | Wide Receiver/Defensive Back</strong> By no stretch of the imagination is Laws one of the biggest kids on the field, but what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for with ability. The two-way standout displayed phenomenal hands at the tryout, catching everything thrown his way regardless of what side of the ball he was playing. A returner from last year’s 6^th grade team, Laws has extremely quick feet and easily gained a step on defensive backs while running routes as a receiver. On the defensive side of the ball he competed hard and went after every 50/50 ball he could.