Battle Vegas Top Performers
LAS VEGAS – The two-day Battle 7-on-7 stop in the desert concluded on Sunday with Game-Changers cruising onto victory with big plays on offense from Zachariah Branch and defensively from an array of contributors.
The tournament included On300 recruits from all over the West Coast, Florida and Texas, with several other states also represented. On3 was on hand to take in the action.
Here are On3’s top performers for the weekend, headlined by the nation’s No. 12 overall player committed to USC, who was simply unguardable for most of the weekend.
On3 MVP: USC WR commitment Zachariah Branch
In a field littered with talented pass-catchers, no star shined brighter than Branch.
Playing in his backyard, Branch was electric. He was strategically placed at different spots on the field to create mismatches and delivered consistently. Branch has elite acceleration and is explosive in the short field or stretching the field.
Throughout the tournament, Branch found holes in opposing defenses and was prolific with the ball in his hands. In the title game, Branch scored thrice — twice on routes in the end zone and another time rushing, which never happens in this type of setting.
It’s not the least bit difficult to see why Lincoln Riley targeted Branch to restock his receivers room after arriving at Southern Cal.
2. Louisville QB commitment Pierce Clarkson
Clarkson had a compelling case as the best quarterback. The Louisville commitment is a student of the game and plays with astounding confidence, and it translates onto the field.
The On3 Consensus four-star quarterback seizes up defenses and attacks carefully but is also well-equipped to attack downfield and make off-schedule throws. Arrow is pointing up.
3. On300 WR Kyle Kasper
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Kasper packs size with excellent athleticism and speed to create mismatches at multiple positions.
Over the weekend, the Iowa legacy beat defenses over the top, down the seams and in the red zone. Kasper, who plans to add more weight when he arrives in college, also flashed on short receptions in the open field.
4. On300 WR Johntay Cook
Cook, the prolific slot receiver from the Dallas Metroplex, possesses a similar skill-set to Branch. He was certainly the No. 1 target for Clarkson on the Premium Trendsetters squad.
The On3 Consensus‘ No. 11-ranked wide receiver can win downfield and is impressive in space. He’s exceptionally quick off the line with pure straight-line speed. Cook caught everything thrown his direction on Sunday.
5. On300 WR Ja’Kobi Lane
Much like his Tucson Turf counterpart Kasper, Lane is a gifted receiver that can not only take the top off a defense but create severe mismatches across the formation.
The Mesa (Ariz.) Red Mountain four-star was among the best deep-ball receivers in the tournament and also shined in the red zone with his frame advantage. Lane also flashed good hands throughout the weekend.
6. Ohio State TE commitment Ty Lockwood
The Buckeyes have a major weapon awaiting them in Tennessee in Lockwood.
The On300 tight end was the focal point of Nashville’s Dream Team running crisp routes underneath and making contested grabs over the middle and along the sidelines. Lockwood is sure-handed and impressed as the obvious top target on this 7-on-7 squad; he’ll be even more dangerous surrounded by more talent in Columbus.
7. Notre Dame CB commitment Justyn Rhett
Rhett bounced back in a major way and was stellar throughout the weekend for champion Game-Changers.
At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Rhett has a great frame to play cornerback. He’s long and moves fluid and possesses a vast wingspan to contest passes. The Notre Dame commitment flashed a ton en route to the trophy.
8. DB Makhai Connor
Connor, out of Inglewood (Calif.) High School, covered a ton of real estate for Premium LA over the course of the weekend.
Connor impressed on the opening day of action with several pass breakups. On Sunday, that translated to an interception deep into tournament play. He’s a versatile piece that can play safety and thrived in the nickel.
9. WR David Wells
Not that David Wells. This David Wells was an offensive machine for consecutive days near the desert as the unranked Washington receiver was prolific beating defenders, especially with the home-run ball.
Wells saw a huge volume of targets for runners-up Heir and made well with strong hands and a large catch radius, especially in traffic in the middle of the field. One FBS and one FCS offer simply isn’t fitting.
10. DB Jeremiah Hughes
Playing opposite of Rhett and receiving a good share of attention was Hughes, who certainly rose to the occasions in Game Changers’ title run.
The Pac-12 defensive back target played his best when it counted most, coming up with multiple break-ups in the end zone in the semifinals on top of an interception.