Elite3 held their 7v7 tryouts on Saturday, December 14th at the indoor facility of Lipscomb Academy. Riley Howard and his team were looking for some of the best of the best from across the southeast region of the country to compete in the summertime premier 7v7 circuit. This tryout brought athletes from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia for a chance to make the highly touted Elite3 team.
The 2021 class did not disappoint as one of the highlights for the day in this classification was River Helms out of Alabama. Helms stands at 6’4, 215lbs plays the WR/TE position at West Limestone High School in Lester, AL. Great hands, agile, and just enough speed to break away from defenders made him elusive throughout the tryouts. He’s a sure lock for the team.
One of the highlights for the afternoon for the 2021 class was wide receiver out of Maplewood, Marzeion Jones. This two-sport athlete (football & basketball) turned heads with his long frame at 6’1, jumping ability, and good hands. Coming off a great 2019 campaign where he earned himself First Team All-Region honors, Jones is poised to have a great summer and sharpen his abilities to set himself up as one of the top receivers in metro Nashville.
In the D2 TSSAA classification out of John Pope II High School was defensive back Brandon Shockley. At 6’3, 185lbs, Shockley was the most intriguing 2021 DB that was in attendance. Long arms, height and speed made him a good coverage defender. Looking forward to seeing his development throughout the summer and how it transpires onto the football field once pads are on. He definitely has all of the measurements needed to be a force this upcoming summer and fall. 7v7 competition is valuable to young men like him because it allows reps, reps that will ultimately connect the dots and make Shockley a potential household name. Oh, and did we mention that he was a track star with the hurdles?
His aggressiveness with physical stature makes him a lock for a final roster spot.
Jaden Payne, 2021, WR/DB and recent recipient of an offer from the University of Kentucky stands at 6’0 and 170lbs. Payne has been a part of the Elite3 program for quite some time. You can definitely tell that he has been with Elite3 for some time as his development can be summarized simply as a shutdown defensive back. Riley Howard went on to say that Payne was quite possibly the best Defensive player of the tryouts with four interceptions on the day in addition to several pass breakups. We are excited to see his development over the course of the summer leading into the fall. He is one that we’ve had our eye on for quite some time, every time we get a chance to watch them perform he stands out as one of the top players in any setting.
This 2021 breakthrough & newcomer on the scene at the tryouts from Wilson Central High School in Lebanon Tennessee was Emanuel Tramontano. This 5’7, 155lbs receiver was lightning quick and displayed flashes of being able to be a possession receiver with his elusiveness. He earned himself the name 420 (his id number on the back of his jersey) due to several other coaches taking notice of this young man and asking who he was. So many times that he was making plays, coaches were like “have you seen 420 over there”!? He’s definitely going to be a name to watch for during the 7v7 competition circuit leading into the summer. With Elite3’s guidance and training, Tramontano could be an unknown known when it’s all said and done.
When we look at the 2022 and 2023 athletes that showed up and competed, two quarterbacks stood out amongst the rest. 2022, 6’5, 210lbs, Trayvon Jefferson out of Bayshore HS in Bradenton, Florida. His pocket presence, quick throwing motion, and accuracy made him elite level status. When speaking with Riley Howard about Jefferson, Howard was excited to have the opportunity to coach up this young man throughout the off-season. His thick frame and athletic ability make him a legitimate Division I athlete, and he is being touted to play the defense of back position at the next level. As of the last week of December, there was an SEC East school looking to pull the trigger on him. Stay tuned! The 2023 quarterback, Kenny Minchey that also was in attendance and turned heads is a 6’2, 195lbs, pure pocket passer with the ability to move around/scramble if needed. According to Howard, Minchey has the size, measurable, moves well and the best quarterback of them all that was at the tryouts. Knowing Howard‘s background of helping put young men into college and on to the NFL, in addition to this year helping establish three Mr. Football winners, that is some pretty high praise for Minchey considering all the talent Howard has seen before. Minchey is poised to lead the John Paul II high school out of Hendersonville this upcoming season in the D2 private school classification.
