Previewing Battle New Orleans 7v7 event

NEW ORLEANS — This weekend marks one of the crown jewels on the 7-on-7 circuit as Battle hosts its annual tournament in The Big Easy.

Programs with college recruits from Florida to California, Georgia to Arizona and all over the host state Louisiana will be in New Orleans. On3 will be on hand for the two-day tournament that will feature:

• 52 total blue-chip recruits (rated as four-star or higher by the On3 Industry Ranking)
• 30 players ranked inside the On300 for 2024
• 17 players currently committed to Power 5 programs, including LSU, South Carolina, Florida State, Georgia, Clemson, Notre Dame, Colorado, Alabama, Indiana and Louisville
• 3 quarterbacks ranked inside the On3 Industry Top 15 including Colin Hurley (LSU), Michael Van Buren and CJ Carr (Notre Dame).
• 1 On3 five-star recruit in Ellis Robinson (Georgia)

LSU commit Hurley, 24K 7v7 aim to repeat

Led by LSU-committed quarterback Colin Hurley, 24K 7v7 returns to The Boot as the defending champions of this tournament. Last year, Hurley was spectacular leading this team to the title and will have a new cast and crew around him as they attempt to repeat.

The 24K 7v7 receiving corps is highlighted by On3 top-20 WR Cameron Coleman from Phenix City (Ala.) Central Tampa (Fla.) and Carrollwood Day WR Izaiah Willaims. Also to be accounted for are prolific 2025 WRs DL Hardison (Florida State commit), WR Joshua Guerrier and WR Koby Howard, a top-60 player in next year’s class on the On3 Industry Ranking.

Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola RB Tavion Swint sees action out of the backfield. Swint is an Industry Ranking top-50 recruit in 2025.

Defensively, 24K 7v7 is anchored by a talented secondary headlined by On300 S Kensley Faustin and quick-rising 2024 CB Andrew Brinson, Jiquan Sanks, Cameron Powell and 2025 Juan Berchal out of Alabama. On3’s No. 37-ranked S Jalon Thompson and Rydarrius Morgan round out the safety group.

Raw bringing national firepower to play

Early on this spring, we’ve seen the nationally powered Raw 7v7 offense led by Alabama-bound passer Julian Sayin. In New Orleans, the torch will be passed onto On300 QB Michael Van Buren.

Van Buren, the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 12 QB in 2024, has a wealth of weapons at his disposal. That group is headed by On300 South Carolina commit Mazeo Bennett, four-star ATH Lawayne McCoy and dynamic pass-catcher K.J. Duff, one of the best hybrid receivers/tight ends in the nation out of Melville (N.Y.) St. Anthony’s High School

South Florida-based 2025 receivers Naeshaun Montgomery, Darriel Harper and Anjuan Coleman are three more to watch on offense.

Raw 7v7 is equally as imposing on the defensive side of the ball with the tournament’s highest-rated recruit leading the secondary. Georgia-committed five-star CB Ellis Robinson is joined by four-star S Jaydan Hardy and Anquon Fegans, the On3 Industry Ranking’s top safety in the 2025 cycle. Top-25 LB TJ Capers, who committed to Louisville at the top of the year, mans the middle of the unit.

Other underclassmen in the Raw secondary include CB Blake Woodby, CB Kevyn Humes, S Keon Young and CB Guy Edmond 2026 Miami (Fla.) Central CB Jvari Flowers is another promising young defensive back along with teammate 2025 ATH Sekou Smith.

Hurricanes legacy Demetrius Kinchens rounds out the group.

Talented Deuces team poised to make noise

Some of the nation’s best players across the Southeast and West Coast compromise a Deuces 7v7 team ready to make a run in New Orleans over the weekend.

The talented Saraland (Ala.) High School team is well-represented on Deuces with elite Alabama WR commit Ryan Williams Jr. and 2025 QB K.J. Lacey. Fellow 2025 WR Carson Gill is joined by Bolingbrook (Ill.) WR Kyan Berry-Johnson as well as Georgia commits Landen Thomas and Ny Carr on offense. Thomas is the Industry Ranking’s top tight end.

There’s an influx of West Coast star power on Dueces, too, headlined by top-20 RB Jordan Davison and coveted Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei standouts Ajon Bryant and Marcus Harris.

The defense is powered by a pair of ACC commits in Florida State-bound CJ Heard and Clemson verbal Tavoy Feagin, as well as elite Georgia commit Jaylen Heyward, a top-50 player out of Rockledge (Fla.). 2025 ATH Josiah Abdullah rounds out the talented secondary.

Arkansas’ elite heading to town

The star-driven contingent of Arkansas and East Texas heads to the Bayou with firepower scattered all across the roster.

On300 LB Brian Huff and top-30 DL TJ Lindsey are two out of the South’s most coveted defenders. Lindsey, who also sees snaps on offense, will be joined by electric On300 RB Braylen Russell, Pine Bluff (Ark.) RB Austyn Dendy and 2025 Lone Star State transplant Kiandrea Baker.

Prolific 2026 Texarkana (Texas) Liberty-Eylau ATH Dequane Prevo is also worth the price of admission.

Bootleggers Stars boast homegrown, national talent

The Bootleggers will host the tournament and as always deliver one of the most talented squads in the event. This year’s Bootleggers Stars has Division I talent from not only Louisiana, but a heavy dosage of Mississippi, Virginia, Georgia and even some Midwest flare at quarterback in the form of 2025 QB Sebastian Circo.

Offensively, On300 WR Keylan Adams and four-star Ocean Springs (Miss.) WR Noreel White have complemented each other well. LSU-committed JoJo Stone, 2024 New Orleans (La.) St. Aug WR Joshua Jackson 2024 Shreveport (La.) Calvary WR John Simon Jr are a few more to watch.

Both On300 ATH Daniel Hill and explosive 2025 RB James Simon have been sound pass-catchers this spring for the Bootleggers, who will also lean heavily on elite 2025 RB Harlem Berry this weekend. Berry is the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 1 back in the county.

2027 Cotton Valley (La.) Calvary QB Peyton Houston is a youngster on the Bootleggers making a lot of noise this spring. He’s coming off a visit to see USC.

Peach State native and LSU-committed CB Zion Ferguson, New Orleans (La.) Martin Luther King ATH Bernard Causey, and Portsmouth (Va.) Oscar Smith CB Asaad Brown highlight a deep group of long, rangy defensive backs in the Bootleggers’ defensive backfield. Other notable contributors include 2025 Shreveport (La.) Captain Shreve S Tre Fuller.

California Power bringing major star power

One team that’s poised to make a run in this weekend’s tournament is California Power, which will feature massive star power on both sides of the ball.

Notre Dame QB commit CJ Carr leads an offense that features Jaden Reddell, On3’s top-ranked tight end. Additionally, On300 WR Terrance Moore Jr. and Kwazi Gilmer lead a deep receiving corps that also includes four-star ATH Emmett Mosley.

2026 ATH Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is an underclassman that’s been turning heads already this spring on offense.

The California Power defense is highlighted by two of the nation’s best defensive backs in DJ Pickett Jr. and Jason Mitchell II. Mitchell, a USC legacy, recently backed off his longtime commitment to the Trojans. The On300 safety is joined back deep by Pickett, the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 10 player in next year’s cycle.

F3 Elite poised to make a run at home

F3 Elite will return a deep and talent-laden squad to New Orleans with some of the state’s best homemade talent.

Big-armed Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic QB Daniel Beale has playmakers to throw to on offense in On300 TE Trey’Dez Green, the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 2 tight end making his return to football from basketball. Dynamic 2025 receivers Semaj Pierre and Zay Martin, the little brother of 49ers WR Tay Martin, round out a deep group of pass-catchers.

The secondary drives the F3 program and this year’s group is as talented as any. On300 DBs Ju’Juan Johnson (Colorado commit) and Joel Rogers lead a deep group that also features speedy S Dashawn McBryde and CB Dylan Day. Tony Burns, little brother of LSU safety Major Burns, has been excellent so far this spring. Big safety Marcus Dawson is coming off a breakout campaign at Baton Rouge (La.) University.

Elite 2025 LB Keylan Moses mans the middle of the defense and has shined in this setting so far this spring.

NOLA Hot Boyz are loaded with local stars

One of The Boot’s best will lead a talented New Orleans Hot Boyz team headlined by On300 No. 23 CB Wardell Mack. Macks leads a talented secondary that also features Swiss Army Knife DB Anthony Robinson III.

The Hot Boyz offense is driven by talented Salmen (La.) QB Cameron Dorsey, who throws with fantastic precision and touch. Dorsey has a deep group of pass-catchers around him, including River Ridge (La.) speedsters Michael Turner and Jason Gabriel Jr., who are both movable pieces on offense. The offense is also littered with Destrehan (La.) underclassmen playmakers in Johnnie Thiel (2025), Phillip Wright (2025) and Jabari Mack (2026) to keep defenses occupied.

Miami Immortals have South Florida speed

The Miami Immortal made a run in this tournament a year ago and have the tools to contend for a trophy yet again.

This year’s squad is headed by 2026 Lakeland (Fla.) Jones QB Dereon Coleman, who has seen Power 5 offers roll in after a breakthrough campaign last fall. Coleman will lean heavily on prolific 2025 Oklahoma City (Okla.) Millwood WR Jaden Nickens, the No. 8 WR in next year’s class.

Defensively, the Miami Immortals are steady on the back end with DB Matthew Mckenzie and versatile DB La’Varis Stanford. 2025 DB Sebastien-Olivier Lacrete has been steady on the back end this spring.

Gas bringing Alabama talent

A strong group of Alabama’s best will make their way over to neighboring Louisiana ready to make some noise in this tournament.

Offensively, All Gas has multiple On300 playmakers to lean on. The group is headlined by Tuscaloosa County (Ala.) RB Kevin Riley; Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville WR Mario Craver; top-50 Selma (Ala.) ATH Derick Smith, Jonesboro (Ga.) Benjamin Russell ATH Malcolm Simmons and elite Elba (Ala.) RB Alvin Henderson, the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 2 back, rounds out the star power on offense.

The star-studded offense is driven by four-star Montgomery (Ala.) QB St. James QB KJ Jackson, the Industry Ranking’s No. 22 passer in the country. Other notable contributors on this side of the ball include 2024 WR Ziggy Holloway and coveted 2025 WR Daylyn Upshaw 25.

All Gas is quarterbacked by 2024 Alexander City (Ala.) Benjamin Russell QB Gabriel Benton.

Defensively, All Gas is anchored by its second-level defenders Demarcus Riddick and Zion Grady. Riddick, a Georgia commit being pursued by multiple SEC rivals, is On3’s top linebacker. Grady is the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 6 player in 2025.

Keep an eye out for a secondary featuring 2026 CB Jamarrion Gordon, 2025 S Eric Winters and 2024 DB Keion Dunlap coming off a breakthrough season at Enterprise (Ala.) on both sides of the ball. 2024 CB Jay Harper, 2024 S Deion Gunn

Burch has Florida firepower

More young talent representing the Sunshine State will be on hand in the form of Burch Sports.

Leading the offense is the dynamic 1-2 punch of 2025 QB Tramell Jones Jr. and elite 2025 WR Jaime Ffrench, the No. 22 player in the country per the On3 Industry Ranking.

2024 DB Antoine Belgrave-Shorter and Indiana-committed LB Desirrio Riley highlight the defense.

DefCon1 sending South Florida speed

DefCon1 is routinely one of the contenders on the Battle 7-on-7 circuit and have made several deep runs in The Boot. This year, the team is equipped to follow suit.

This offense is stacked with prolific young pass-catchers. The veteran is 2024 Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons TE Colton Heinrich, the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 30 TE. Around Heinrich are highly sought-after 2025 WRs Kamare Williams, Kyle Washington and Waden Charles, as well as 2026 WR Denarius Gray and Jabari Brady.

On300 S Zaquan Patterson highlights the DefCon1 defense which includes young talent like 2026 Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Dillard hybrid S Demitris Mincey and 2027 LB Jaylyn Jones.

Other notable recruits expected to participate:

• 2024 DB Erick Franklin Jr.
• 2024 WR Elijah Garrick
• 2024 WR Kylan Billiot
• 2024 QB JC Evans
• 2024 WR Dontae Carter
• 2025 WR Royal Capell
• 2025 WR Jalen Cooper