Battle in the Bluegrass State 18U 7v7 Session 1 MVP Performers

26 total 18U teams are competing for their ticket to the PRZ 7v7 National Championship in April, and have shown out during session one of pool play at the Battle in the Bluegrass State in Elizabethtown, KY! We'll cover all of our Top Performers over the next few days, but here are some of the best of the best MVP Performers from the first session of the loaded 18U group on Saturday morning/afternoon!    [player_tooltip player_id='894941' first='Ronald' last='Lunz'] from team 270 Made looked every bit the top receiver in Kentucky during session one. The 2026 wideout showed elite twitch and burst off the line, snapping off routes with the quickest breaks we saw all day and consistently creating clean separation. He plays fast without rushing, understands leverage, and presents a reliable target with steady hands in traffic or along the boundary. An uncommitted prospect with this level of polish and suddenness should not still be available to colleges.     Isaiah Thomas of ESA Flight backed up his Missouri ranking with a statement in session one. The 2028 wideout has an athletic, filled-out frame that creates matchup problems, and he pairs it with fluid movement skills that stand out immediately. He consistently won his one-on-one reps, attacked the ball in the air, and finished catches away from his body with strong extension. His ability to control jump ball situations and play above defenders marked him as one of the most dominant receivers we saw on the field.     [player_tooltip player_id='2117018' first='Cavon' last='Carter'] for the Tennessee Rising Stars may be under the radar in Tennessee right now, but he did plenty to change that in session one. The 2027 wideout is a crisp, detailed route runner who explodes out of his breaks and understands how to tempo routes to consistently create separation. He showed elite burst in and out of transitions, and consistently got himself open even when the ball didn't come his way. Carter plays with polish and urgency, and his ability to uncover against quality competition stood out all morning.     Donte Newsome of Huntington Highpoint continues to trend upward as one of the premier athletes in West Virginia's 2027 class. Ranked as the state's top athlete and a top ten overall prospect, he showed his two-way upside but made his biggest impact on defense during session one. Newsome has added noticeable mass since we first saw him as a freshman, and the added strength shows up in his physical coverage. Newsome can run step for step with receivers, stays attached through the route, and closes on the football with the kind of burst that separates high-level defensive prospects from the rest.     Louisville Dream Team's [player_tooltip player_id='1715702' first='Earnest' last='Perry'] made a strong case as the top defensive back we saw in session one. The 2027 DB is a very fluid athlete who moves with ease and stays sticky in coverage from snap to finish. He opens his hips smoothly, carries vertical routes without strain, and has the quickness and long speed to match just about anyone across from him. Perry was especially impressive in press man, where his timing and physicality disrupted releases and set the tone early in reps.     David Boehm of the Ohio Players was one of the more intriguing pass catchers to emerge in session one. The 2027 wideout is currently unranked in Ohio, but his 6'3 frame immediately created matchup issues and forced defenses to account for his size. His length translated into a wide catch radius, allowing him to lift over defenders and finish through contact in contested situations. There is clear upside here, and with continued development, Boehm has the tools to turn this kind of showing into a big senior season and real momentum on the recruiting trail.     ESA Flight's Kingston Alan was one of the most complete quarterbacks we evaluated in session one. The 2027 QB showed strong command of the offense, consistently scanning the field and working through progressions rather than locking onto his first read. He is mechanically sound with clean footwork that stays in sync with his upper body. That balance shows up in his accuracy, especially on rollouts, where he throws well on the move. He delivered catchable balls with good touch at every level and maintained a steady, consistent presence throughout the morning.     Noah Bilinski of TMP Elite showed why he is regarded as one of Ohio's top receivers in the 2027 class. At around 6'1 with length and an athletic build, he brings a strong physical profile that translates well on the outside. He ran routes with purpose, created workable separation, and consistently finished plays with reliable hands and strong concentration through contact. Bilinski's polish and dependability make him the type of receiver quarterbacks love to target often and have great trust in.     Another Tennessee Rising Stars prospect that came in under the radar and left as our first 18U top performer of the day was WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1704651' first='Cullen' last='Heck']. The 2028 prospect is currently unranked, but his length, wingspan, and catch radius immediately stood out and gave him a clear advantage at the catch point. He showed natural ball skills and the ability to impact the game on both sides, flashing legitimate two-way upside throughout the session. Performances like this suggest his name is one evaluators will not overlook for long.     [player_tooltip player_id='2071486' first='Patrick' last='Riddle'] of Quarterboys put together one of the more polished quarterback showings from session one. The 2027 passer has good height at 6'2 and pairs it with a mechanically sound throwing motion that stays consistent from rep to rep. He generated impressive velocity without sacrificing touch, spinning a tight spiral and delivering catchable balls across the field. Riddle's combination of physical tools and clean mechanics made him stand out in a competitive quarterback group.     TFP Flite Boyz had several playmakers who looked the part of a top-tier receiver throughout session one, and that began with Elijah Thompson. Ranked as the #8 WR in Indiana's 2027 class, he brings a strong 6'2 195 frame that immediately stands out and creates problems on the outside. His length and athletic build make him a natural mismatch, especially in isolated coverage, where he can use his size to shield defenders and win at the catch point. Thompson's physical presence and upside were evident from the first series, and he consistently looked like one of the more imposing targets on the field.     The other standout TFP Flite Boyz WR of session one was Kyler Hardacre, and he showed why he is already regarded as one of Indiana's top 2028 receivers. He plays with quickness and true game speed, creating separation with sharp movement and burst out of his breaks. Hardacre displayed reliable hands throughout the session and did a nice job maintaining balance and body control with a highlight-reel worthy toe tap in the front of the end zone for a score. His combination of speed, polish, and consistency made him one of the more dependable targets on the field.

26 total 18U teams are competing for their ticket to the PRZ 7v7 National Championship in April, and have shown out during session one of pool play at the Battle in the Bluegrass State in Elizabethtown, KY! We'll cover all of our Top Performers over the next few days, but here are some of the best of the best MVP Performers from the first session of the loaded 18U group on Saturday morning/afternoon!