Smith: Top Early 2021 7-on-7 Performers
7-on-7 football is active across Dixie.
One of the best parts of living down South and being a football fan would be the weather. It allows for top high school players to compete in the offseason at 7-on-7 tournaments and showcases in Florida, Georgia, Texas, etc.
With more tournaments featuring top college football prospects seemingly every weekend, here’s a look at some you might know about, and a few that earned attention for their play along the way over the last several weeks.
All players are class of 2022 unless otherwise noted.
Amari Niblack, WR, 6-4, 215, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Lakewood
The most physically dominant wide receiver at any of the camps I attended thus far would be Niblack. Blessed with speed to go along with his size, he can body up a cornerback and make a back shoulder pass look easy, catch the ball in traffic over the middle of the field or make a defender miss in space despite the long frame.
An intelligent player that also knows when to jump for a corner fade pass, Niblack is a nightmare for most cornerbacks and safeties because he’s tall and powerful. Few defensive backs can really match up with him in a jump ball situation.
Along with several of his teammates, Bay Area Elite played great to win this past weekend’s Championship 7v7 tournament in Kissimmee, Fla. Niblack was the “X” factor on money downs. As for recruiting, he’s no stranger to the process.
Niblack has been a national recruit since he was a freshman in high school and he’s in no hurry to pick a school. Florida, LSU, Georgia, and Florida State are just some of the schools that long since offered this talented young man. There seems to be a long way to go in his recruitment.
Quan Lee, WR, 6-0, 170, Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholtz
Of all the players that continuously made ‘wow’ plays during the Pylon 7-on-7 event in Jacksonville in late January, Lee’s name was on my note card more than any other. He is absolutely quick as a cat, possesses top-notch hands, and makes catches in traffic look easy.
Most importantly, Lee snatches the football out of the air. He’s a natural receiver. Additionally, he’s like an all-purpose running back once he tucks the ball under his arm. Lee gets upfield and wastes no time doing it.
A player that I am anxious to watch again very soon, Lee is simply fun for any football fan to watch. His recruitment is still open, and he earned offers from many programs across the country, including Kentucky, Louisville and Georgia Tech, but he’s still vastly under recruited based on what I have watched with my own two eyes.
Cormani McClain (2023), CB, 6-2, 170, Lakeland (Fla.) Lake Gibson
After seeing McClain perform three times this offseason -- following a 2020 season in which he recorded 10 interceptions for Lake Gibson as a sophomore -- it’s hard to imagine there’s a better class of 2023 cornerback than he.
Built with very long legs and arms, McClain’s transition from back pedal to full stride is as natural as any 5-9 cornerback one will watch. Further, he’s not afraid to get down and dirty and play physical press coverage.
McClain knocked a few receivers down at or near the line of scrimmage at the tournament held at Orlando (Fla.) Jones High School recently. That’s a good sign, as many young cornerbacks fail to utilize all their tools against talented wide receivers. McClain has played for Florida Fire’s Central Florida team and the SOAR organization based out of the Fort Lauderdale area. He has been great for both organizations.
Recruiting has gone well for McClain, with offers from across the land including Alabama, Florida and Miami amongst many.
Brandon Inniss (2023), WR, 6-1, 185-pounds, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Tru Prep Academy
If there was ever a young prep wide receiver to compare to the great Michael Irvin, Inniss fits the bill. By no means is he already Irvin; but that’s not the point. Inniss plays like him, however, as his passion, attention to detail, elite hands, and penchant for making difficult catches look sublime.
This young man plays hard every snap. That might be his best attribute beyond his natural physical skill set. He’s fast and elusive, mind you, while also explosive enough to run by defenders and jump over them.
Bottom line, Inniss always seems to be open. He’s Mr. Third Down in my book. He’s the one a quarterback will oftentimes look to when a big play is needed. Playing for South Florida Express, Inniss is a player everyone should want to see this summer if possible.
The sophomore will have his pick of colleges when the time comes, and he will challenge for the class of 2023 recruiting rankings No. 1 spot at the position down the line.
There are numerous other deserving players that will be mentioned coming up in the next few weeks. We just wanted to give everyone a first look at a few headliners from the seven on seven circuit moving forward.
Here are a few of the 7-on-7 teams that have really caught my attention during the early portion of the tournament season (in no particular order):
TightAction @TightAction
Grind Factory @GrindFactory7v7
UnSignedPreps @st8upfam
SpeedDemons305 @demons305
229Elite 7v7 @229Elite7v7
Bay Area Elite @Bay7v7
YPL Elite 7v7 @YPLElite7v7
SOAR 7v7 @SOARMODE
South Florida Express @SouthFLExpress
Look for more seven on seven updates during the coming weeks and months. Lots of great players performing down here in Dixie.
You can find me on Twitter @fbscout_florida
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