GFL’s Elite: Spotlight on the Top 5 Athletes of the Class of 2031

On Saturdays in the GFL, the Class of 2031 is already redefining what “next-level” truly means. The top five athletes in this rising group aren't just good—they're pure, undeniable talent, the kind of young playmakers who flip fields, take over games, and make you check the roster twice just to remember they're still in middle school. From explosive two-way standouts to natural leaders with sky-high ceilings, these are the kids turning whispers of potential into full-on buzz, and the ones every coach in the league knows they'll be game-planning around for years to come.   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>Joseph Davis III (3J) | 2. Andrew Taylor (Mijo) | 3. MJ Whitt | 4. Derrick Tatum Jr. | 5. Drew Mohammed </li> </ol>    Let me tell you something—this young man right here isn't just playing football—he's mastering it on both sides of the ball. When he gets that rock in his hands, slipping out of the backfield or snatching a pass like it was meant for him since birth, it's like he's been here before. Déjà vu talent. And the way he runs? Whew… he's got that Saquon Barkley magic—making defenders miss on the first couple of tackles, exploding through openings, and leaving folks grasping at air. But don't get it twisted—he's not just an offensive nightmare. Put him on defense, and he turns into a heat-seeking missile, making tackles, breaking up plays, and letting everyone know real quick that you better come correct.   We are witnessing a star forming in real time, a bona fide playmaker carved from a completely different cloth. The wild part? This kid played up on an 8th-grade team and made it look easy—EASY. Now he's coming back to run it again in the 8th grade, and I'm telling you, it's about to be scary hours for every offense and defense in the league. This isn't normal. This isn't just talent. This is special. The kind of kid you have to bring extra help for. The best athlete in the GFL for the Class of 2031, no doubt about it.     Every once in a while, a kid comes along who makes you stop in your tracks and say, “Yeah… this one's special.” Standing at 5'9", this kid is Mister Do-It-All, and trust me, he's on his way to being a 5-star. Wildcat quarterback? He runs the offense like he's been scheming varsity plays since he could walk, reading defenses, making throws with poise, and keeping defenders guessing. Running back? He's barreling through, over, and around defenders—collecting names, leaving bodies in his wake, and turning every carry into a statement. Linebacker? Lights out—every tackle comes with authority, every play a message: don't test me. Receiver? He's snatching balls, taking it sideline to sideline, hitting the end zone like it's routine. Special teams? You better kick it anywhere but near him, because he'll turn that play into a highlight.   This kid isn't just talented—he's a total game-changer. Grown-man strength, grown-man confidence, grown-man hits, and a football IQ that's off the charts. He's a kid who elevates everyone around him, forces opponents to game-plan around him, and makes his presence felt every snap. You can see it in the way he moves, reads the field, and dominates every angle of the game. A future 5-star, a true force, a problem every opponent will have to account for—this is the kind of talent that doesn't just play football. He changes it. He's already a star in the making, and the best is yet to come.     Let me tell you somethin', this young fella right here? Whew! this boy is the FUTURE at quarterback. I ain't exaggeratin'—this a five-star kid in the makin'. Everything you wanna see in a QB, EVERYTHING, he got it in the bag. He runnin' like Lamar Jackson with that skrrt skrrt make-you-miss juice, and he got an arm that'll make Tom Brady raise an eyebrow. The accuracy? On point. The IQ? Through the roof, up in the attic, sittin' on top of the chimney. And the way he look off defenders? Man, it's like he's been here before—like he's playin' chess while everybody else is playin' Connect Four.   This kid's ceiling ain't just high—it's in a different ZIP code. He's gonna be one of the top quarterbacks in the entire Class of 2031, no doubt in my mind. A TRUE dual threat. And the read-option? Lawd have mercy… I ain't NEVER seen somebody his age run it like that. This boy special. He ain't next up… he's NOW.     Derrick Tatum Jr.? Whew! This kid is electric from the first snap to the last whistle. His dad, Derrick Tatum, played at Kentucky and even made it to the NFL, so you already know the pedigree is real—and the teaching is on point. But Tatum Jr.? He's not just following in footsteps—he's carving his own path, and he's doing it in a way that makes you stop and watch. This season, he averaged 100 yards a game like it was nothing, and nearly every outing he walked off with an interception. That's not luck—that's football IQ, instincts, and preparation baked into every single play.   Built like a lion and fearless in every moment, no pressure is too heavy, no spotlight too bright. On the field, he's sideline to sideline, making plays on both sides, and demanding respect with every tackle, every catch, every break on the ball. Film sessions? He's locked in, eyes sharp, soaking it all in—and then taking it to the field where it translates into dominance. Every team in the league wishes they had a Tatum on their roster because Derrick Tatum Jr. doesn't just show up—he changes the game. A star? Absolutely. But make no mistake—he's already on the path to greatness, and he's only getting started.     This kid right here? Man, he's sideline to sideline like he's got a GPS locked on the football. If a receiver even thinks about catching a hitch, he's right there—BOOM—cleanin' their clock and handin' out damage control like a first responder. I'd put money on him leadin' the entire GFL in tackles because every play, every drive, every snap, he's in the mix like he's allergic to standin' still. And don't you dare think he's just a defensive problem—on offense, at wide receiver, he's a flat-out mismatch. Towering over defenders, snaggin' jump balls like he's pluckin' apples off a tree. With him, ain't no 50/50 balls… it's more like 90/10, and he's takin' the 90 every time. This kid is a monster on both sides of the ball, a true game-wrecker, and I'm tellin' you right now—he's gonna be a star, no doubt about it.

On Saturdays in the GFL, the Class of 2031 is already redefining what “next-level” truly means. The top five athletes in this rising group aren't just good—they're pure, undeniable talent, the kind of young playmakers who flip fields, take over games, and make you check the roster twice just to remember they're still in middle school. From explosive two-way standouts to natural leaders with sky-high ceilings, these are the kids turning whispers of potential into full-on buzz, and the ones every coach in the league knows they'll be game-planning around for years to come.