AYF National Tournament: PRZOliver Top-15 Favorite Prospects
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This past December I was fortunate enough to be asked by PrepRedzoneNEXT to cover the vaunted 2021 AYF National Championships in Kissimmee, Florida. It was my first time attending the long-standing national tournament, and at the end of my time in central…
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Continue ReadingThis past December I was fortunate enough to be asked by PrepRedzoneNEXT to cover the vaunted 2021 AYF National Championships in Kissimmee, Florida. It was my first time attending the long-standing national tournament, and at the end of my time in central Florida, as I was driving back home to Gainesville, I had that exciting and productive feeling in my bones that people in the recruiting industry get when you realize you may have just found some future stars of the high school and college football landscape. Although I wasn’t able to attend the entire week of games, I got to watch hundreds of middle school prospects across dozens of teams from every corner of America over the three days I was scouting talent in Kissimmee and came away with double-digit articles worth of content on 12, 13, and 14-year old football prospects. There will be a lot of content coming, and to start things off I wanted to begin with a banger and highlight my Top-15 favorite recruits I got my eyes on throughout the tournament. Now, I want to reiterate that I was not able to watch every single team at the tournament, so this list only includes teams and players I got to watch personally from the week. However, all of these kids can ball for a variety of different reasons and I wanted to make sure to bring a diverse array of teams and positions into the mix, so I hope this list reflects that. Thanks for reading and check out these 10 future must-know college football prospects.
#1: CJ Sadler (Motor City Jaguars) C/o 2027. QB/ATH. 5’10.
The most dominant and explosive player that I saw over my time at AYF came from the 13U AA ranks and the Detroit-based Motor City Jaguars squad, a team that was far from lacking in talent. Sadler played QB and would fill in at safety for the Jaguars and was absolutely electric offensively. He was an all-around natural athlete that was simply playing at a different level than his opponents and put on a performance I won’t soon forget against the San Diego Bolts, as he scored 5 or 6 TDs and had put up over 300 yards of total offense in a little more than a half of play and did so in exciting fashion. When he would take off from his QB spot his initial burst is what first catches your eye, but Sadler’s extra gear is what really knocks your socks off. He is so smooth and fluid that he effortlessly glides by defenders angles and can turn on his straight line speed that makes him almost untouchable on the gridiron. He also had a strong arm for his age and was able to impact the passing game, but it’s just hard to not to focus on his speed and elusiveness with the ball in his hands. He also displayed good timing in both his cuts as well as when to take off from the pocket, and had no problem bringing a physical edge to the running game and could bring the contact to the defender. Can’t wait to see how he continues to develop.
CJ Sadler
#2: Ezekial Sua (OG Ducks) C/o 2026. LB.
It’s not a stretch to say that the OG Ducks out of Corona, CA had the most loaded roster at the AYF tournament, and although there were countless recruits on their roster that are future D1 talents, my favorite of the bunch came from the Ducks MLB Ezekial Sua. With long, flowing waves of hair down his back and a frenetic playing style it was hard not to notice #55 during their heavyweight matchup with familiar rival the Vegas Strong in the 14U AA quarterfinal matchup. Sua possesses tremendous speed, instincts, and physicality at the point of contact, and can easily go sideline-to-sideline to get after the football. He was all over the field every game of the tournament and was consistent in his pursuit angles as well as his leverage when tackling RBs and WRs. He also had natural pop and could attack and get off blocking attempts of bigger lineman as well, and it’s also worth noting that he was the most high-energy player I saw at the entire tournament. I loved how he celebrated with teammates after big plays, was vocal when setting the defense, and in general he plays the game with a great attitude. I am very curious which high school he is going to end up attending.
Ezekial Sua
#3: DeAnthony Walker-McGee (Eastside Cowboys) C/o 2026. WR/S. 6’1, 160 lbs.
Another must-know name out of the 313 comes from the 14U bracket and the Eastside Cowboys freaky WR/S DeAnthony Walker-McGee. The Cowboys were one of my favorite teams of the entire tournament, with personable and knowledgeable coaches, a lively fan base, and a stacked roster with size, speed, and aggression. Of the many future studs on the squad (most of whom I will mention in upcoming articles) my favorite of the bunch was Mr. Walker-McGee, who was long, wiry, and built like a high school varsity DB with a ton more room to grow. He had a ton of swag and confidence on the field, and backed it up with his play on both sides of the field. The Cowboys WR1 was a splash play waiting to happen, and first caught my attention during their contest against the So Cal Trojans on my first night of scouting the AYF National Tournament when he exploded into the air for a beautiful high-point of a snag right over a DB for a TD. His hops were quite impressive, and it was very obvious when watching him that this is well-developed and explosive athlete for his age with a high ceiling and a bright future. He also showed off good speed both at the top end and in and out of his breaks and physicality and aggression at the point of attack. From what I gathered, it sounds like a lot of the Cowboys are going to head to Harper Woods High School for their prep ball and I am going to be keeping very close tabs on these guys going forward.
DeAnthony Walker-McGee
#4: Ezaya Tokio (San Diego Bolts) C/o 2027. LB. 6’4, 175 lbs.
Another West Coast standout to make the list comes from the 13U ranks and the San Diego area. In what was one of the crazier football contests I’ve seen, the San Diego Bolts went at it with the Motor City Jaguars on my second day of the scouting the AYF Tournament and of the many notable players in the game I became a big fan of LB Ezaya Tokio. One of the tallest players on the field, Tokio sports some long flow out of the back of his helmet and a distinctive playing style to go along with his memorable aesthetic. He was all over the field and could do just about anything asked of his defensively, from blitzing the QB to covering WRs out in the slot, he was a natural and fluid linebacker who also has a very intriguing frame and a ton of potential as an athlete. He was strong in the open field as a tackler, fast and quick at a legit 6’4, and physical and technical as a tackler. I don’t think I saw him miss a tackle the entire game, and I also appreciated his hustle and effort every play. He displayed some leadership ability and toughness to boot. Keep an eye out for the young man out of 619.
Tokio
#5: Arieus Finley Jr. (Wichita Cowboys) C/o 2027. RB. 5’5, 135 lbs.
In what was my last game scouting the AYF tournament for PrepRedzoneNEXT, I checked out the 13U Wichita Cowboys take on the Southside Wolfpack out of Chicago. I have to be honest, I was not expecting the smaller Cowboys to put a whoopin’ on the much larger Wolfpack, nor to see that much speed from a team out of Kansas. The Cowboys greatest strength was undoubtedly their two-pronged, thunder and lightning rushing attack spearheaded by the electric Arieus Finley Jr. This kid was straight up fast, and over the course of the game that speed helped to completely wear down the Southside defense. He broke off multiple 50-yard+ TD runs that showed off burst, speed, and vision, and was also elusive and quick in the open field and could cut on a dime that noticeably kept defenders on their heels and guessing where he was going to go. It didn’t work well for them, and eventually it just started to look too easy for the 7th grade prospect. He definitely left an impression, and I hope I get to see him and the Wichita Cowboys next year in Kissimmee.
Arieus Finley Jr.
#6: Amir Parker (Cocoa Tigers) C/o 2026. TE/DE. 6’4, 200 lbs.
If you know Florida football then you are already aware that the Cocoa area breeds football talent in droves, and the 14U youth squad is no different as there were some very impressive future college football prospects at the AYF National Tournament. Among the positionally diverse talent on the Tigers I was most drawn to their massive 6’4, 200 lb. TE/DE Amir Parker, who was built like a high school football contributor as an 8th grader and had the game to suggest he may be seeing varsity action earlier than most in the coming years. I liked his skill set and size at the DE position most, as he showed a quick get-off, some active hands, and noteworthy quickness for a kid of his size and age plus the obvious strength to physically dominant offensive lineman and block attempts. With long arms and an affinity for contact he could beat OTs in a variety of ways and had a good motor that never quit on the play. If he continues to grow and hit the weight room hard he has the potential to get very large and very strong, especially if he can retain the athleticism he’s displaying at the 14U level.
Amir Parker
#7: Noah Banhie (Tuscon Jaguars) C/o 2026. DT. 5’11, 265 lbs.
One of the best interior defensive lineman I saw at the entire tournament came out of Arizona and the Tuscon Jaguars 2026er Noah Banhie. In the youth football space, a lot of times the biggest kid on the team gets thrown in at NG/DT, and a lot of the times that kid is simply out there because he’s big and not necessarily because he can move. This is far from the case for Noah Banhie, who put on a show from his DT position in the 14U All-American semifinal matchup against the Marshall Heights Bison for one of the most clutch defensive performances in my three days in Kissimmee. Big #98 was facing double teams all day, and was still able to consistently win in the run game, and towards the end of the second half in the passing game. At a powerful 5’11, 265 lbs., Banhie had some wiggle, and could cut and flip his hips well to split blockers all over the DL. His dad was also a very big man so I think he’s far from done growing. Banhie was also strong enough to easily back down single block attempts, and used technically sound hand placement to his advantage, especially in run defense. He came up with two sacks in a row to seal the victory for Jaguars in their one-score game with the Bison, and I loved his motor and energy as well. Can’t wait to see what his future holds.
Noah Banhie
#8: Dante Kain (Long Branch Jersey Waves) C/o 2026. ATH. 6’, 180 lbs.
Dante Kain opened my eyes to the talent at the AYF National Tournament, as he and his Long Branch Jersey Waves happened to be the very first game I watched in Kissimmee. He started my prospect list off with a bang as the 6’, 180 lb. athlete took a handoff off the right side and completely cleared a defender’s tackle attempt on an athletic hurdle in the open field. He did this while wearing #94, I got even more curious as it would seem that he’s positionally set on the DL, meaning he has some dynamic athleticism and the strength to play in the trenches. He’s a well built 6’, 180 lbs. who could potentially project to multiple positions in high school depending on how he continues to grow and develop. It looks like all the physical tools are there and it was fun to watch him line up and succeed all over the gridiron. Long Branch represent!
Dante Kain
#9: Isaiah Ene Isaiah Ene 5'8" | 185 lbs | ATH Granite Bay | 2026 State CA (OG Ducks) C/o 2026. RB/LB.
I hope no one is surprised that I included another OG Duck on my 15 favorite prospects list, as there was just too much overall talent and positional diversity to not catch my eye. This next kid is – in my opinion – one of the biggest sleepers of a prospect on their loaded roster, and boy was Isaiah Ene Isaiah Ene 5'8" | 185 lbs | ATH Granite Bay | 2026 State CA fun to watch. A squat, thick, bowling ball of a RB/LB, Ene was one of the hardest hitters on the team and an explosive weapon on either side of the ball. I loved watching him smack people, but where he really pushed my excitement over the top was from his RB spot, where he could cut and drop his hips on a dime and created some well-timed missed tackles that sent defenders and their ankles flying off the mark. He was a walking embodiment of power on the football field and brought it to every aspect of his game. He’s going to leave some opponents hurtin’ throughout the course of his prep career.
Isaiah Ene Isaiah Ene 5'8" | 185 lbs | ATH Granite Bay | 2026 State CA#10: Jordan Toribio (New Hampshire) C/o 2028. ATH.
Similar to my surprising fondness for the Wichita Cowboys, I can’t say I came into the AYF National tournament expecting to find a stud from the state of New Hampshire, much less a 6th grader, yet here we are. In a fun and unexpected twist, I was watching a couple of 13U All-American games when a nearby game kept catching my attention over and over. Loud cheers from the crowd would make me turn my head over to the field, and every time I did I continued to see the same #1 for New Hampshire either running free down a sideline, picking off a pass, making someone miss, and/or generally making a big-time play. I was so intrigued that I made my way over to Field 7 and figured out his name from a parent, and here we are. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a picture or a full evaluation of him, but it was as obvious as could be that Toribio was the best player on the field and the undisputed leader & stud of his team. He was also big for his age, so it’s safe to say he’s a must-know for the 2028 class and the most impressive I saw over my time in Kissimmee.
#11: Maika Eugenio (Vegas Strong) C/o 2026. QB.
I am a tough and generally pessimistic evaluator of QBs and believe it is one of the hardest positions to evaluate and scout at the youth football level. It takes a lot for me to think a QB is legit, and throughout the many games and prospects I saw I came away feeling good about my QB1 selection of the tournament in Vegas Strong 2026 gunslinger Maika Eugenio. Playing against the top youth football team in the nation in the OG Ducks, Eugenio was tough, determined, and gritty, and showed off a balanced skill set as a QB and game manager that I think should translate well to the high school football fields of Nevada. The 8th grader had strong fundamentals, saw the field well, and was able to consistently deliver accurate and catchable footballs to his receivers at all levels of the gridiron. His arm strength was solid, especially for his size, and he displayed the ability to work through progressions and not make risky decisions with the football. I thought he was the most polished quarterback I saw in my three days at AYF. Keep your ears to the ground for the name Maika Eugenio!
#12: Aaron “Deuce” Bohanan (Wichita Cowboys) C/o 2027. RB. 5’5, 150 lbs.
I already mentioned the proverbial “thunder and lightning” of the 13U AA Wichita Cowboys rushing attack, and having already introduced the “lighting” in speedster Arieus Finley Jr., I think it’s time for some thunder. Meet Aaron “Deuce” Bohanan, a stocky and physical north-south runner from the plains of Kansas who ran into, over, and through opposing tacklers with ease during his time in Kissimmee. Bohanan showed off quick feet, good balance, and some impressive lower body strength that combined into a runaway train of a RB who could rarely be tackled by a single defender. He’d send tacklers flying when he’d lower his shoulder, and possessed a strong jump-cut that aided him in creating and finding holes around the LOS. By the end of the game there weren’t many Southside Wolfpack defenders willing to tackle the bruiser, and if he can keep growing and hitting the weight room hard he is going to be an absolute tank at the high school level. I hope he and Finley Jr. go to the same high school as well, they got something special going in the offensive backfield.
Deuce Bohanan
#13: Keytrin Harris (Vegas Strong) C/o 2026. RB/TE/DE. 6’3, 200 lbs.
Another Vegas standout to make my list, Harris was the first player you’d see watching the Strom, and for good reason as he is a tall, long, and athletic recruit with a ton of room to continue growing and filling out. For being one of the bigger players on the Strong, Harris lined up as a RB against the OG Ducks and showed some quickness and coordination for a bigger boy at the middle school level, which afforded him a little bit of extra time to try and evade the onslaught of incoming Ducks defenders. He also lined up as a TE and DE, and was able to impact the opposing passing game from his DE spot as well as get open and help out as a blocker as a TE. Seeing a dude that big and long line up and succeed at RB was really what got him on this list though, and I’m excited to see how his versatility will translate to the high school game.
#14: Mason Smith Mason Smith 5'11" | 165 lbs | RB Almont | 2022 MI (South Philly Sharks) C/o 2026. QB/DE. 6’4, 190 lbs.
A massive prospect whose arms seemed to stretch down to below his knees, South Philly Sharks 2026 recruit Mason Smith Mason Smith 5'11" | 165 lbs | RB Almont | 2022 MI was a do-it-all beast of a QB and DE who you simply could not ignore if you were scouting prospects from the youth football ranks. Smith was the Sharks QB, and displayed a cannon of an arm that could really stretch the field vertically and was a testament to just how far ahead of his peers he was in the strength and physical development departments. He was also one of the best defensive ends I saw during the entirety of my time at the AYF National Tournament, and would ragdoll ball carriers when he got ahold of them and could shed blocks like he was swatting away mosquitos on a hot summers day. He used his length to his advantage and kept his hands active, which could freeze and long arm blockers in their tracks while he sought and found the football. I’d be surprised if he didn’t stay primarily at DE during his prep football career, and I think he’s got the chance to be one of the most dominant players on this list.
Mason Smith Mason Smith 5'11" | 165 lbs | RB Almont | 2022 MI#15: Lincoln Terveus (Osceola Kowboys) C/o 2026. RB.
The Osceola Kowboys youth football team channels into the equally talented Osceola Kowboys high school football team, and man does that area grow and develop D1 and P5 football players. There were a lot of Kowboys that caught my eye while watching them in Kissimmee, and my favorite of the group was their long, lean, and speedy RB Lincoln Terveus. He possesses one of those frames that you just know isn’t going to stop growing, as he already was one of the taller kids on his team, had some big feet, and overall just leaves a lot of room to fill in. He covered a ton of ground with his lengthy strides when the ball was in his hands, and used that length and the strength in his hips and thighs to run and slip through tackle attempts on his lower body. He also had solid balance to stay upright through contact, a mean stiff-arm, and the top end speed to take advantage of offered daylight. I’m confident he’s going to be a heckuva player at the next level.
Lincoln Terveus