RZE 7v7 Defensive Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For those new to the Prep Redzone Colorado scene and interested in a subscription, use code <strong>WESLEY30</strong> for 30% off your first subscription!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <a href="https://www.rzelite.com/">Redzone Elite</a> national 7v7 tournament is a massive event where athletes traveled from all over the country to showcase their talents while fighting for the championship title. With the number of matches that took place over the weekend, seeing every player from each team was no easy task.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This article will briefly examine 10 athletes from the teams of Team Full Gorilla and Ducks7v7 who stood out during the Redzone Elite 7v7 tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One player who consistently stood out during both days of the event was <strong>Blake Bishop</strong> (2026 DB) from Dakota Ridge. Bishop plays safety for Team Full Gorilla and is a member of the squad that had the deepest playoff run for the program. Bishop snagged attention on Saturday by snagging a handful of interceptions on the day, showing real promise as a coverage player.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pine Creek's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='571088' first='Emmanuel' last='Hill']</strong> (2025 OLB/SS) is another Team Full Gorilla defender who was on the squad with Bishop. He is an athlete who immediately stands out because of his size, making him an easy player to watch during competition. Hill is an athletic player who has been on the radar for a short time and is building an impressive reputation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='826238' first='Jake' last='Scobey']</strong> (2024 TE/LB) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='147171' first='Jake' last='Tapia']</strong> (2024 OLB/ATH) from Thomas Jefferson were teammates on the Ducks7v7 squad that had the most success for the program during the event. The pair put on impressive performances with their coverage skills and ability to lead through communication. Two-way player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='276508' first='James' last='Basinger']</strong> (2025 RB/S) from Columbine was a member of that Ducks7v7's secondary. Basinger's instincts and athleticism make him just as dangerous of a safety as he is a running back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of Team Full Gorilla's 18U teams has a stacked secondary that played exceptionally well on Saturday. Eaglecrest cornerback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624823' first='Cory' last='Jackson'] </strong>(2024), Cherry Creek free safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232189' first='Aiden' last='Knapke']</strong> (2025), Broomfield cornerback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404963' first='Mikhail' last='Benner']</strong> (2025), Rock Canyon cornerback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146076' first='Will' last='Rosenmeyer'] </strong>(2024), and Pine Creek defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146050' first='Ramon' last='Pacheco'] </strong>(2024) proved to be key players for a defense that helped to secure the second seed going into Sunday's competition. Each player is a standout prospect on their own, with Benner currently holding two Division I offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->