Battle of Bama Champion Spotlight: 18U Real Sports Snipers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a long weekend of competition, Real Sports Snipers took home our inaugural Battle of Bama championship, punching their ticket to our National Championship in Cartersville, GA. Here's some love to their standouts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Standout Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["657186"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698219e9540e3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What a weekend it was for [player_tooltip player_id='657186' first='Malik' last='Smith'], who I already highlighted for his day 1 performance. Everything I said about Smith held true in bracket play. He was reliable on both sides of the ball, but his IQ for the game and ability to get his teammates in the right spot was what made an impact on every down. A smart, vocal leader who doubles as a reliable playmaker on both sides of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"JaMorris Young","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"200","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Anniston","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698219e9541d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Young, a new name to me, got better as the tournment went on and made big throw after big throw to lead his team to a championship. He is a tall, well filled out prospect with plenty of horsepower on the ball. Quick, efficient mechanics with easy life on the ball. He is a patient, drive-ball thrower with both the patience and arm strength to attack middle field windows when they come open, and that's what he did all weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1076286"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698219e95422b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I also highlighted McNeil earlier this week, who was one of the smoothest, most efficient playmakers at the tournament. Not many players in a 7v7 setting are capable of making defenders miss in space, at least enough to actually generate YAC opportunities. McNeil did that, and his ability to create also translated as a route runner when he needed to separate. He flipped around and played outstanding on defense as well. He could match, mirror, and run routes for the receivers, putting him in a consistent position to make a play on the ball. Just a solid player on both sides of the ball with time and space to get bigger and better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Braxton Salster","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"215","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Pleasant Valley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698219e9542c7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As I alluded to yesterday, it was fun watching Salster up close for the first time to fully get a feel for his game. It's clear that he will project out as a TE prospect. He is tall, thicker than I expected, and can settle down in soft spots to present a big target to receivers. He can box out, but his ability to go outside of his frame to reliably make catches is what stood out to me. He is picking up D1 attention, and I think more exposure like this during the offseason will continue to help his recruitment. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"AJ Ford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"160","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Oxford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698219e954360"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Similar to Smith, Ford was a reliable receiver throughout the weekend and was a tough guard, mostly thanks to his speed. He is a smaller player, but he can burn and has legit track speed. What he does on Friday nights is more applicable to what you can expect out of him long term, as he can be a difference maker after the catch. Regardless, he made plays and was a catalyst for this championship run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Other Participants</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 DB Malik Fegans - Oxford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2115827' first='Lyric' last='Ware'] - Cleburne County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 DB [player_tooltip player_id='2113106' first='Kamari' last='Embery'] - Oxford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 WR [player_tooltip player_id='424420' first='Jayden' last='Heard'] - Anniston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 WR [player_tooltip player_id='2119542' first='Carson' last='Sanders'] - Piedmont</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 WR [player_tooltip player_id='2113108' first='Javen' last='Nix'] - Oxford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1635703' first='Kelveyon' last='Malone'] - Oxford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 ATH Josh Dupree - Oxford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->