Every weekend, somewhere in the country, there are 7-on-7 football events.
These tournaments feature some of the best high school football quarterbacks, receivers, running backs, tight ends, linebackers and defensive backs in the country, competing to be called the best teams in the country.
As these events are held from coast-to-coast, the emphasis is on those athletes who will be seniors (2026) high school all the way down to elementary school athletes.
With trophies being awarded along with MVP hardware, very little attention has been paid to how this off-season craze began.
Over two decades ago, before there was Battle, Pylon or any other brand name sponsorship, there was south Florida. The epicenter for 7-on-7 football – with some of the top prospects in the state, and of course the nation, getting together for local game and tournaments.
While California, Texas and other hotbeds have long had the elite football talent, very few would take part in organized competition.
At the very beginning, with teams such as the South Florida Express, Strong Arm and a few other Miami-Dade and Broward teams was the Florida Fire.
Started by Coach Dennis Marroquin, this organization began small in Miami-Dade County with one team, and then over a few years, started to attract players and local coaches to build what is today one of the most recognized 7-on-7 brands in the country.
Throughout much of the past two decades, the Fire has grown into an organization that has produced NFL and collegiate stars and added Palm Beach County to the mix of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
With national championships won throughout the nation, the Florida Fire continues to make a statement as a group of dedicated coaches, sponsors and prospects who go beyond January, February, March and April. The brand is something that carries weight year-round – with Marroquin and his many coaches giving back to the community throughout the year.
With the No. 1 youth team (14 and under) in the country, this is a program that is in this for the long run.
With some of the top 9th, 10th and 11th graders ready to impact high school programs in 2025, the rosters are packed with the many players they put on the fields each weekend – from south Florida to California, Nevada, Tennessee and everywhere in between.
“We have been blessed to have some quality young men who have worn this Florida Fire jersey through the years,” Marroquin said. “Turn on the television any Saturday and Sunday and you will see many gifted young men who began their careers with us. It is a tribute to the coaches that have taught them from the start.
Here is a look at some of the Class of 2026 prospects who represent this organization this off-season.
Among those prospects include Ahmad Adams (DB, 6-0, 175, Pembroke Pines Flanagan – 3.6 GPA), Shmar Akande (DB, 6-2, 180, Miami International Academy – Pembroke Pines West Broward – 3.6 GPA), Jemarcus Askew III (WR/DB, 5-10, 150, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer), Raoul Brown (WR/S, 6-3, 170, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer), Tyler Brown (DB, 5-11, 165, Miami Southridge), Rory Butler (Athlete, 6-0, 170, Palm Beach Gardens – 3.0 GPA), Jordan Campbell (LB/Athlete, 6-2, 210, Carol City – 3.0 GPA), Santana Carlos (WR, 5-11, 180, Pembroke Pines Flanagan – 3.1 GPA), Wilfred Coicou (RB/CB, 6-1, 165, Palm Beach Gardens – 3.0 GPA), and William Favors (S/LB, 6-0, 165, Miami Southridge – 3.43 GPA).
This rising senior group of standouts also includes Kayden Feaman (Athlete, 6-2, 190, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer), Braylen Green (Athlete, 6-0, 180, Miami Palmetto), Robert Green III (QB, 6-2, 180, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer – 3.9 GPA), Jhakari Johnson (WR, 5-11, 160, Miami Southridge), Wynton Jones (DB, 5-11, 165, Miami Palmetto), Leslie Mosley Jr. (WR, 5-10, 175, West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman – 3.5 GPA), Malik Penson (WR, 5-11, 160, Miami True North Classical Academy), Antoine Perry (WR/RB/DB, 5-6, 160, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer), Jahkari Reynolds (DB, 6-0, 175, Miramar), and Derrick Simmons III (RB, 5-8, 175, Pembroke Pines West Broward – 3.5 GPA).
The varsity squads also boast players such as Ladarious Smith (WR, 5-10, 175, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas), Kamari St. Vil (DB, 5-10, 161, Davie Nova), Corey Swint (WR, 6-0, 175, Miami Palmetto), Varían Terry (RB, 5-7, 165, Miami Palmetto – 3.0 GPA), Dominic Turnbull (DB, 6-2, 180, Miami True North Classical Academy - 3.4 GPA), Kevin White (DB, 6-1, 170, Miami Palmetto), Marquis Williams (WR/DB, 6-0, 175, Miami True North Classical Academy. Track & Field), and Willie Wilson (WR, 6-2, 175, Homestead Somerset Silver Palms).
UNDERCLASSMEN ARE ALSO MAKING SOME NOISE
As gifted as the rising senior class has been, there are also a solid group of Class of 2027 athletes who have also stepped up and started to gain recognition.
Prospects such as Bernard Cannon (WR, 5-10, 165, Miami Christopher Columbus), Jordan Dale (Athlete, 5-10,165, Jupiter), Lorontae’ “Nomo” Davis (WR, 6-0, 180, Palm Beach Gardens – 3.0 GPA), Malik Denson (WR/Athlete, 5-10, 175, Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy), Kenton Dopson III (DB, 6-1, 185, Miami Norland), Kaden Howard (Athlete, 5-11, 160, Goulds Palm Glades), Arthur Lambright (WR, 5-10 140, Miami Carol City), Tari Miller (DB, 6-4, 180, Miami Southridge), Cedric Mitchell (WR/FS, 6-1, 170, Pembroke Pines West Broward), and Kai Moore (QB, 6-1, 190, Miami Norland – 3.8 GPA).
Other underclassmen performing each week includes Turmarian Moreland Jr. (CB, 6-2, 185, Palm Beach Lakes), James Perrone (QB, 6-2, 185, Miami Southridge – 3.8 GPA), Trae Proctor (TE, 6-6, 213, Miami Norland), Immanuel Simmons (WR/DB, 6-0, 175, Miami Northwestern – 3.7 GPA), Cecil Smith (RB, 5-8, 160, Miami True North Classical Academy), Jack Spaeder (QB, 6-3, 185, Pembroke Pines West Broward – 3.7 GPA), and Deandre Young (DB, 6-0, 160, Palm Beach Gardens). There is also Class of 2028 rising sophomore Justin Antenor (Athlete, 6-2, 165, Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy).
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For the past 55 years, we have spent more time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..