RZE 7v7 Defensive Standouts
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The Redzone Elite 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.
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.
One player who consistently stood out during both days of the event was Blake Bishop (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.
Pine Creek’s Emmanuel Hill Emmanuel Hill 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Pine Creek | 2025 State CO (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.
Jake Scobey Jake Scobey 6'3" | 210 lbs | TE Thomas Jefferson | 2024 CO (2024 TE/LB) and Jake Tapia Jake Tapia 6'2" | 220 lbs | ATH Thomas Jefferson | 2024 State CO (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 James Basinger James Basinger 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Columbine | 2025 State CO (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.
One of Team Full Gorilla’s 18U teams has a stacked secondary that played exceptionally well on Saturday. Eaglecrest cornerback Cory Jackson Cory Jackson 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Eaglecrest | 2024 State CO (2024), Cherry Creek free safety Aiden Knapke Aiden Knapke 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB Cherry Creek | 2025 State CO (2025), Broomfield cornerback Mikhail Benner Mikhail Benner 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Broomfield | 2025 State CO (2025), Rock Canyon cornerback Will Rosenmeyer Will Rosenmeyer 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Rock Canyon | 2024 State CO (2024), and Pine Creek defensive back Ramon Pacheco Ramon Pacheco 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Pine Creek | 2024 State CO (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.