Battle in the Bluegrass State 18U Next Up Underclassmen Standouts

26 total 18U teams are competing for their ticket to the PRZ 7v7 National Championship in April, and have shown out at the Battle in the Bluegrass State in Elizabethtown, KY! We highlighted some other <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/battle-in-the-bluegrass-state-18u-7v7-session-1-mvp-performers/">underclassmen from </a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/kentucky/">the weekend</a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/battle-in-the-bluegrass-state-18u-7v7-session-1-mvp-performers/"> here</a>, but more young playmakers stood out from this weekend and impressed further!    Lamarcus Army showed exactly why he carries such a high profile in Michigan's 2028 class. Ranked as the state's top athlete and a Top 10 overall prospect with major college offers as a sophomore, he left little doubt after a dominant day one performance and weekend as a whole. GJ Speed leaned on him as their primary playmaker, targeting him frequently, and he delivered with a patient release, elite burst, and real explosiveness off the line and in his route breaks. Army's speed and quickness were evident both in his routes and after the catch, where he consistently stressed defenders.     Tristen Lofton looked every bit the highly regarded prospect he is in Ohio's 2028 class. Ranked as the #8 receiver in the state with Power Four offers already on the table as a sophomore, the 6'3 wideout brings a long, moldable frame that stands out the moment he steps on the field. He shows natural ball skills and a wide catch radius, consistently finishing plays outside his frame, and pairs that with good straight-line speed that allows him to threaten vertically. Lofton is an imposing presence on the perimeter and a young receiver whose upside continues to trend upward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1704059' first='Omar' last='Todd Jr'] brought an electric presence to the field for 270 Made and looked every bit a rising young playmaker. Ranked as the #12 receiver in Kentucky's 2029 class, the WR and DB prospect thrived in the slot, where his twitch and suddenness created problems all weekend. He is elusive in space, makes sharp cuts without losing speed, and shows the kind of quickness that translates immediately after the catch. Todd consistently turned short completions into positive gains and flashed the speed and instincts of a young athlete with real long-term upside.     [player_tooltip player_id='1274991' first='Deion' last='Davidson'] brought explosive energy to the Louisville Dream Team's offense and looked every bit a rising young talent. He's ranked the #10 athlete in Kentucky's 2029 class and showed why this weekend. The 5'8 receiver has a well-developed frame that already carries strength and balance beyond his years. His burst off the line and ability to accelerate in space stood out, allowing him to create separation and stress defenders quickly. Davidson's athleticism and physical maturity make him one of the more intriguing underclassman prospects to monitor moving forward in Kentucky.     [player_tooltip player_id='2136575' first='Kingston' last='Dillard'] looked every bit the #2 receiver in Kentucky's 2028 class and backed up his ranking with a dynamic weekend for KY Elite. He plays with great burst and is an explosive, twitchy athlete who can stress a defense quickly. Dillard moves fluidly in and out of his breaks, creates separation with suddenness, and becomes a true playmaker once the ball is in his hands. His ability to generate yards after the catch adds another layer to his game and makes him one of the more dangerous young wideouts in the state.     [player_tooltip player_id='1650093' first='London' last='Shaw'] quietly put together one of the more impressive underclassman performances of the weekend for Southeast 7. Currently unranked and under the radar in Kentucky, the 2028 wideout showed traits that demand a closer look. He is a legitimate vertical threat who can run past defenders and stretch coverage over the top, and his explosive acceleration shows up both downfield and after the catch. Shaw also displayed good route discipline with the ability to stop and start efficiently, creating separation with more than just pure speed.     Kellen Rife continues to look like one of the more promising young receivers in West Virginia's 2029 class. Repping Huntington Highpoint this weekend, Rife is physically developed for his age and competes with a maturity that stands out against older competition. He tracks the football naturally and does a strong job high-pointing it, showing confidence and timing at the catch point. Rife's athleticism and competitive edge were evident throughout the weekend, and he left as one of the top 2029 receivers we evaluated.     [player_tooltip player_id='1704680' first='Jackson' last='Walters'] reinforced his upside as a pass catcher and not just a blocking option at the Battle in the Bluegrass State. The 2028 tight end consistently showed natural hands, catching the ball cleanly away from his frame, and did an excellent job high-pointing throws. At 6'4 240 with length and strong hands, he understands how to use his size to his advantage, elevating over defenders and finishing plays at the catch point. His ability to win above defenders adds another layer to his game and makes him a legitimate mismatch target, especially in the red zone, and he moved well for his size and age.     Kadar Rahman is another unranked 2029 prospect from the Ohio Players who deserves attention after this weekend. The 5'7 athlete has intriguing two-way upside, but it was his work in the slot that stood out most. Rahman runs quality routes for his age, snapping off sharp cuts and creating separation with suddenness. He has a natural feel for finding soft spots in coverage and consistently works himself open, giving his quarterback an easy target underneath. With continued development, he has the tools to rise quickly in his class.     [player_tooltip player_id='2121642' first='Jacob' last='Holmes'] may not have the ideal size on paper, but the 2028 defensive back from Southeast 7 competes at a high level in the slot and makes plays. He earned top performer honors in our viewing on day one after recording two interceptions in a single game, showing instincts and timing around the football. Holmes is a fluid athlete who covers ground quickly and moves well east and west, allowing him to stay in phase and close on throws underneath. His competitiveness and production stood out in a setting that often favors the offense.     Johnathan Garrett was one of the more impressive first-time evaluations of the weekend. The 2028 prospect from Huntington Highpoint stood out in the three games we watched on day one, showing legitimate two-way value at receiver and defensive back. He plays a physical brand of football, both as a route runner who works through contact and as a defender willing to challenge at the catch point. Garrett showed reliable hands and steady production throughout, and his overall skill set suggests he is poised to make a meaningful varsity impact this fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='1648900' first='Grayson' last='Johnson'] is a promising 2029 receiver who more than held his own while playing up in the 18U division for P2P as the #15 WR in Kentucky for his class. The young slot receiver is shifty and twitchy, with good speed and fluidity for his age, even as he continues to develop physically. He embraced the dirty work in the short and intermediate game, moving the chains and setting up scoring opportunities for teammates with disciplined routes and sharp breaks. Johnson's polish and production against older players point to a bright future as he continues to grow physically.

26 total 18U teams are competing for their ticket to the PRZ 7v7 National Championship in April, and have shown out at the Battle in the Bluegrass State in Elizabethtown, KY! We highlighted some other underclassmen from the weekend here, but more young playmakers stood out from this weekend and impressed further!