Syracuse Elite 15u: Elite Roster at Garden State Gridiron

At the end of Saturday's first round of games at the Garden State Gridiron 7v7, you would have put Syracuse Elite as heavy favorites to take home the title on Sunday. Going 3-0 in convincing fashion, Syracuse tore through their opponents Saturday by putting up the most points (95) in three games, and letting up the third least. While their success on Saturday did not translate over into Sunday, there is still a lot to like about what this team showed on Saturday. This is was the second weekend in a row I got the chance to see this squad, and it is becoming clear which players really have the power to take over a game.    [player_tooltip player_id='2172837' first='Graham' last='Dauksza'] continued to impress this past weekend at the Garden State Gridiron 7v7 and earned the spot as a Top Performer at the QB position for 15u. Not knowing much about him heading into these past two weekends due to the squad coming from New York, Graham has solidified himself as a name to know in my mind. He continued to impress with how he can layer the ball in with different velocities and touch, proving that he is capable of placing the ball anywhere on the field. Lastly, Graham showed high IQ in the pocket. He would get a really good grasp of what the defense was showing him and would be able to deliver the ball to the open man with ease.     Few players elevated their stock the way [player_tooltip player_id='2174172' first='Quazire' last='Hawkins'] did over the course of the Garden State Gridiron, emerging as one of the clear standouts at wide receiver and earning the title as a Top Performer. Every time he stepped on the field, he looked like a go-to playmaker, consistently separating himself from the rest of the competition.   What really set him apart, though, was how he handled physical situations. He wasn't just winning with speed, he attacked the ball in traffic and came down with it. Across the board, Hawkins proved he wasn't just productive but was one of the most impactful players at the entire event.     [player_tooltip player_id='2169446' first='Luis' last='Alvarado Jr.'] is a big time presence when he steps onto the field. Lining up as a receiver all weekend, Luis has more size to his frame and looks the part of an elite tight end. Luis once again put his pass catching skills on display in Elizabeth, NJ by catching pass after pass away from his body, and adjusting mid air to put himself in position to come down with the ball. A physical receiver too, Luis is the favorite when it comes to pulling in the contested pass. He has the body to box out a defenders and can display his dominance down the field. Luis is probably even more impactful once the pads are on, so I am excited to hear more about his play on the field come September.     Lockdown coverage was hard to come by all weekend, but [player_tooltip player_id='2058081' first='Najil' last='Tearney'] made it look routine at the Garden State Gridiron. Lining up as a true CB1 for his group, he consistently gave opposing receivers little to work with. There weren't many reps where he looked out of place, instead showing a calm, controlled presence on the field.   His footwork and movement skills were what really stood out. He stayed balanced in his backpedal, flipped his hips effortlessly, and kept a low, disciplined base when breaking on routes, allowing him to mirror receivers without losing leverage. Najil's play this weekend cemented him as one of the top defensive backs in the 15u field.     Fast. That is the first word that came to my mind when I was watching [player_tooltip player_id='2174173' first='Kaimere' last='Thomas'] run around the field this past weekend. Nearly every defender he lined up against in man to man was at a mismatch. Kaimere would turn on the jets, dart across the field, and by the time he crossed the midfield have a few yards of separation between himself and the defender. The speed doesn't stop with his route running, though. Once the ball is in Kaimere's hands he hits a second gear and can leave defenders in the dust. His ability to accelerate out of a full stop is something to keep an eye on.

At the end of Saturday's first round of games at the Garden State Gridiron 7v7, you would have put Syracuse Elite as heavy favorites to take home the title on Sunday. Going 3-0 in convincing fashion, Syracuse tore through their opponents Saturday by putting up the most points (95) in three games, and letting up the third least. While their success on Saturday did not translate over into Sunday, there is still a lot to like about what this team showed on Saturday. This is was the second weekend in a row I got the chance to see this squad, and it is becoming clear which players really have the power to take over a game.