Battle Dallas Top Performers

DeSOTO, Texas – The annual two-day Battle 7-on-7 stop in Texas concluded on Sunday with ProWay claiming victory in the loaded 100-plus-team tournament.

The tournament included On300 recruits from South Florida to Iowa and all across the host Lone Star State came together in the Metroplex to compete in the annual Battle 7-on-7 stop this weekend.  On3 was on hand to take in all the action.

Here are On3’s top performers for the weekend, headlined by On3 MVP Jaden Rashada, who quarterbacked the star-studded Miami Immortals and continued to cement himself as one of the best quarterbacks in a very loaded group in the 2023 cycle.

On3 MVP: QB Jaden Rashada

It’s not easy for a quarterback to make their way to a top performer in a 7-on-7 setting with a four-second clock limiting their options. Jaden Rashada quickly dispelled that notion with a deep touchdown to new Miami commitment Robby Washington on his first play on Saturday. From that point on, Rashada was dealing.

The 6-foot-5, 185-pound quarterback from Pittsburg (Calif.) has astounding touch on his deep balls and is equally as sharp near the end zone, where he effectively led his receivers or put it where only his elite pass-catchers could make a play on it.

Rashada didn’t shy away from the long ball either. He took advantage of the speedy South Florida pass-catchers deep downfield and was also careful not to turn it over. He was accurate delivering in traffic and at all levels of the field in what was an absolutely brilliant two-day performance. Ole Miss is the current leader on the Recruiting Prediction Machine.

2. WR Johntay Cook

Johntay Cook made a compelling case to be the MVP. As a wide receiver, Cook brought the fireworks to each of his games since arriving late Saturday night. The top-50 recruit was carving up defensive backs with fantastic route-running and was equally as impressive on the receiving end. That includes home-run balls downfield throughout the weekend. 

The On300 wide receiver also showed great body control and aggressiveness competing for the ball. He was locked in and it showed. Cook brings explosiveness to a receiving corps and was in a rhythm on Saturday and Sunday. Texas is leading the way for Cook on the RPM.

3. WR Joshisa Trader (2024)

The No. 1 player in 2024 on the On3 Consensus has some insane athletic ability, which showed during championship Sunday when the stakes were raised. Joshisa Trader is deceptively explosive at 6-foot and 170 pounds. He accelerates is a hurry and has elite speed to get downfield, and flashed his hands in a few ways throughout the tournament, including some one-handers.

The traits would certainly translate to cornerback, and some colleges like the five-star on defense as well. Without question, Trader brings big-play potential to offense or defense. He had two touchdowns and two pick-sixes in the Florida state championship game, and that same game-breaking ability translated this weekend.

4. DB Jaydan Hardy (2024)

Making his way back to the Metroplex, Jaydan Hardy turned this tournament into a homecoming. Hardy, a top-100 defensive back on the On3 Consensus, is a prolific nickel. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder originally from Lewisville (Tex.) was aggressive jamming receivers in the slot and was reactive every time the ball was thrown his direction.

Hardy had a statement Saturday with two picks in one game — one plucking it in zone coverage and another to seal a Miami Immortals win playing free. He’s a ballhawk and finds the football consistently, and was built to be an elite nickel. Currently, the RPM favors a pair of SEC teams.

5. Desmond Ricks

Desmond Ricks nearly came away with an interception on his first defensive snap on Saturday and remained locked in from that moment out. The five-star cornerback ranked No. 2 nationally in the 2024 class is reactive and has exceptional length to take away or contest balls underneath.

Ricks also moves fluidly and can cover a ton of real estate, and didn’t miss a beat defending the long ball. For a cornerback, he’s drawn up in a lab and is uniquely poised and always disciplined. The RPM has Alabama in front for the top 2024 cornerback.

6. DB Peyton Bowen (Notre Dame)

Peyton Bowen is a big play waiting to happen in the back end of the secondary and he delivered during tournament play on Saturday when the Notre Dame pledge came away with a pick roaming in center field.

Bowen is instinctual and often makes the right decision. He can jump routes and cover like a cornerback, and with some added weight this off-season he can certainly impose his will on receivers in the middle of the field.

7. Robby Washington (Miami)

Newly minted Miami commitment Robby Washington was one of a handful of major benefactors from playing alongside of the nation’s best quarterbacks in Rashada. Washington went off showing off a wide range of his game-breaking ability, from his body control on deep balls, twitch with the ball in his hand in space and the ability to separate over and over again. 

Washington was adept as making contested grabs along the sideline and in the end zone and in traffic crossing in the middle of the field. He’ll be prolific in Josh Gattis’ offense.

8. DB Eli Bowen (2024)

Eli Bowen was also fantastic in coverage throughout the weekend at cornerback and is beginning to fill out his frame at 6-foot and 180 pounds.The soon-to-be junior out of Denton (Tex.) Guyer, who collected 10 interceptions last season, also flashed on the offensive side of the ball as a receiver and speedy playmaker with the ball in his hands.

Bowen’s older brother Peyton is committed to Notre Dame. The RPM favors the Irish for Eli, too.

9. WR Jeremiah Smith (2024)

Jeremiah Smith is a long-strider with speed. At 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds he blends size, speed and outstanding ball skills, not to mention some fantastic hands. He was a deep-ball aficionado and showed off his ball skills in the process, sparking South Florida Express’ loaded junior squad. Smith’s upside is through the roof.

Ohio State is the early leader on the RPM.

10. WR Jamarion Woods

Jamarion Woods was a 5-foot-8, 165-pound spark-plug for Team Grind in a statement victory to open championship Sunday. The local standout from Mesquite (Tex.) is quick and smooth and certainly proved to be sure-handed. Woods made contested catch after contested catch in the middle of the field and along the sidelines seamlessly. He can provide some juice to any offense or in the return game.

Additional notes

–Four-star Notre Dame cornerback pledge Justyn Rhett had a daunting task of manning Jamryi Cauley, an absolutely physical mismatch at 6-foot-3 and 215-plus pounds. Rhett showed some grit manning up with Cauley, who’ll likely play off the edge or with his hand in the dirt in college. He’s sharp in coverage and doesn’t shy away from a physical showdown.

—Caimon Mathis has added weight and is a long 6-foot-1 170 pounds entering spring football. His length and wingspan was crucial in obstructing receivers and clogging passing lanes this weekend. It’s no wonder his recruitment is also taking off after a breakout junior campaign at DeSoto (Tex.).

–Three-star Gilmer (Tex.) athlete Rohan Fluellen was impressive as a jack of all trades. For C4, the 6-foot, 170-pounder lined out as a receiver, in the backfield and On3 tabs him as a defensive back. He’s a slight receiver with a smoothness to his game. He was quick to the end zone and can certainly create mismatches in the passing game. He’s sure-handed, too.

—Abdul Muhammad filled up the box score with tackles in Dallas (Tex.) South Oak Cliff’s title game victory. In this setting he played in space and shined as a nickel safety. He played well in space to help bracket prolific receiver Zachariah Branch and stepped up in a big way with an interception Sunday.

–Three-star Newport (Ark.) wide receiver Isiah Kendall flashed in spurts for Arkansas Elite throughout the tournament. The big-framed 6-foot-4 pass-catcher came away with some wow grabs taking the top off the defense and provides a massive target for his quarterbacks in the red zone. 

–Round Rock (Tex.) three-star cornerback Leonard Moore passes the eye test. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder is built much like Oklahoma’s Joshua Eaton; he’s long, lean and moves very well in coverage. He could be in for a big spring as coaches hit the road.

—Phoenix Grant is a sleeper that shined in his first action at defensive back for Texas/Oklahoma-based C4. Grant, who is expected to play quarterback for Gunter (Tex.) next season, is long at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds and looked the part in coverage. He has a long wingspan to break up passes and moves extremely well for his size. Louisiana Tech is showing early interest, but Power 5 teams will like his versatility and athletic this spring.