Battle in Bama: 18U Day 1 Standouts

We are through the pool play segment of our inaugural Alabama 7v7 event. Here is a look at the guys that caught my eye in day 1. Excited to see who stands out in day 2.    Smith caught my eye early and was an active player on both sides of the ball. He is a stout, explosive, fluid player who played with outstanding instincts on defense and was a reliable receiver on offense. Looks the part of a cerebral player, pointing out assignments for his teammates and keeping others in check. He is a solid prospect himself, but it looks like he elevates those around him, too.     Davis is an early candidate for tournament MVP. You have to love the traits on this kid. Big, tall, strong frame, and doubles as an intriguing baseball prospect. Kid can boom the ball, and does so easily. Each spot of the field is reachable, and he attacked those levels with touch and precision as well. He slung the ball around to an energetic group of receivers who exit pool play with plenty of momentum.     Slaughter is another big QB prospect who flashes all afternoon. He got better as the afternoon went on, and his traits make him an intriguing player to watch. He is a tall, long player with a natural release. He gets easy loft and distance on the ball, and does so amongst conditions where throwing the ball was difficult. He got better as the day went on, and he built off of big plays. He gave his receivers a chance downfield and placed it in spots where only his guys could make a play. Underrated player who is fun to watch when he gets rolling.     Floyd and his squad are coming up from Florida and playing at a high level in brutal conditions. There's plenty to like about this kid. He is tall, lean, long, and made impressive grabs all day. Love the combination of body control, hands, and focus when the ball is in the air. He will be a catalyst offensively for his squad if they want to make a championship run in bracket play. Floyd has D1 offers under his belt, and this afternoon was a clear indication of why.     English is ranked as one of the best 2028 DBs in Alabama, and continued dominance at events like these only helps maintain that high stock. Even on a team loaded with talent, English is a standout. He isn't the biggest player, but his explosiveness and ability to climb the ladder as a defender allows him to play bigger than listed and attack the ball in the air. He is an instinctual player with a nose for the ball, which was put on display frequently.     Proctor is a frequent at our events, and he continues to impress at every watch. Not many players are built like Proctor, he is all of his listed size, and plays even bigger with his length. Even if he isn't in a perfect spot, his length always gives him a chance to make a play on the ball, which was showcased today on both sides of the ball. He is a cloud on defense and a real impact player, even if he isn't directly making a play on the ball every snap. Valuable player.     I highlighted Howard earlier this month on PRZ, so I was excited to see him work in person. Howard isn't the biggest player, but he relies on his twitch and instincts to make a play on the football. He is an active player, but it's his physicality that impressed me. Even in a 7v7 setting, he wasn't afraid to attach to routes with aggression and maintain physicality through the duration of the play. We have him ranked highly here at PRZ, and it looks like for good reason.     This dude right here is a true impact player. It didn't take long to find Rutledge, who is stout, strong, and a contributor at each level of the field. An explosive, but fluid mover with easy access to each level of the field, giving him easy opportunities to settle down and make routine catches. However, he made arguably the catch of the tournament in the afternoon, leaping up through traffic and making a circus grab for a score. Explosiveness, body control, and sheer playmaking ability were put on full display today.

We are through the pool play segment of our inaugural Alabama 7v7 event. Here is a look at the guys that caught my eye in day 1. Excited to see who stands out in day 2.