After lunch, we filed back out to the practice fields. The vibe was different now - less nervous energy, more competitive intensity. This was what everyone had been waiting for.
Coach Colbert stood at midfield with a clipboard and a whistle, surrounded by other position coaches. Behind him were four fields set up with cones marking end zones and first down markers.
"Alright, receivers and DBs, gather up!" he yelled.
We formed a semi-circle around him - about sixty receivers on one side, and I realized for the first time there were probably fifty defensive backs on the other side. Must've been doing their own drills while we were at combine testing.
"7-on-7 competition starts now," Coach Colbert announced. "Here's how this works. We've split you into twelve teams - six offensive teams, six defensive teams. Each team has ten receivers or ten DBs. You'll play pool play this afternoon - every team plays three games. Games go to 35 points. Touchdowns are worth 7, you have four downs to score from the 40-yard line. No running, all passing, and Win by 2 scores."
35 points. That's five touchdowns. Games are gonna move fast.
"After pool play today, we'll seed teams into a bracket for tomorrow. Wednesday and Thursday are bracket play - single elimination until we crown a champion on Friday morning before the All-Star Game."
He started reading off teams. I listened for my name.
"Team Three offense: Williams, Malibu Prep; Chen, Malibu Prep; Morrison, Malibu Prep..."
Okay, at least I got Derek and Alex with me.
"...Hunter, Saguaro; Martinez, Del Rio..."
Wait, Travis Hunter? On my team?
I glanced over and caught Travis's eye. He nodded, same calm energy as always.
This should be interesting.
Coach Colbert kept reading names. By the end, our team was me, Derek, Alex, Travis, Miguel from Arizona, and five other receivers I hadn't really talked to yet. Our QB was some kid from Nevada named Bryce.
"Teams, huddle up with your quarterback! You got ten minutes to figure out who's playing what position and run through some concepts!"
The twelve of us found a spot on the sideline and circled up around Bryce. He was tall, maybe 6'3", with a cannon arm based on warm-ups I'd seen earlier.
"Alright, y'all, I'm Bryce," he said, looking around the circle. "I play at Bishop Gorman in Vegas. Let me see hands real quick - who feels comfortable at X receiver?"
Travis, me, and two other kids raised our hands.
"Okay, cool. Z receiver?"
Derek, Alex, and three others raised their hands.
"Slot?"
Miguel and two others.
"Alright, we'll rotate throughout the game so everyone gets reps," Bryce said. "They're gonna give us a basic playbook - probably just like five or six plays. We just gotta execute and make plays when the ball comes our way."
One of the receivers I didn't know spoke up. His name tag said "Jordan - St. John Bosco."
"Who's playing what on first drive though?" Jordan asked. "We should figure that out now."
"I can start at X," Travis said simply. No ego, just stating a fact.
I mean, yeah. He's the best player here.
"I'll take Z," Derek said.
"I'll run slot first," Miguel added.
"Bet. Jakari, you good being the second X? Rotate in when Travis needs a breather?" Bryce asked.
"Yeah, that works."
We spent the next few minutes going over basic concepts - four verts, spacing concepts, stick routes, mesh. Nothing complicated, just enough to get everyone on the same page.
"They're gonna press us," Travis said, looking at the defensive team we were matched up against for game one. "I can see it already. They got that DB from Mater Dei - he's nice. Probably gonna put him on me."
"How you wanna beat press?" Bryce asked.
"Give me the fade or back shoulder on the first play," Travis said. "Test him early, see how physical he wants to get."
Smart. Set the tone immediately.
A coach came over with a sheet of plays - exactly six concepts like Bryce predicted. We huddled up and walked through each one, making sure everyone knew their assignments.
Tyler and Cameron found me on the sideline while we were waiting for games to start.
"Yo, you got Travis on your team?" Tyler asked.
"Yeah, and Miguel too. We got a solid squad."
"That's lucky as hell," Cameron said. "My team is all random kids I don't know. Half of them look like they've never played 7-on-7 before."
"It's a lottery, bro. Some teams are gonna be stacked, others aren't."
"Facts. Which field y'all on?"
"Field Two. First game is against Team One defense."
"Good luck, bro. Go get some touchdowns."
They dapped me up and headed to their own fields.
I looked around at the setup. Field One was where the Florida kids had gathered - looked like CJ Williams and his Mater Dei crew made up most of that offensive team. Field Three had a bunch of Texas kids. Field Four was more West Coast players.
This really was the best of the best.
Derek walked up, stretching his hamstrings. "Bro, I'm nervous as hell."
"Why? This is just football."
"Yeah, but like... this matters. Coaches are watching everything. One bad game and they might write you off."
"Or one good game and you get offers," I countered. "Can't think negative."
"You're right. Just gotta play our game."
Alex joined us, holding a water bottle. "Y'all see who's on defense for our first game? That DB from Long Beach Poly is supposed to be ranked like top 50 nationally."
"They're all good," I said. "That's why we're here. Just gotta compete."
Travis walked over, surprisingly casual. "Y'all ready?"
"Yeah, we're good," Derek said.
"Cool. Just play fast and confident. Don't overthink it." He paused, then added with a slight smile, "And if the ball comes your way, catch it. Pretty simple."
Easy for him to say.
"What about you?" Alex asked Travis. "You nervous at all?"
Travis shrugged. "Not really. I've played against good DBs before. This is just another game."
"Must be nice being that confident," Derek said.
"It's not confidence, it's just... I prepare. I know what I can do. So when I get out there, I just play."
That's a different level of mental. No doubt, no hesitation. Just belief.
Coach Colbert's whistle blew across all four fields.
"FIVE MINUTES UNTIL GAMES START! TEAMS TO YOUR FIELDS!"
My heartbeat picked up. This was it.
Our team walked over to Field Two. The defensive team was already there, stretching and talking amongst themselves. I scanned their jerseys - kids from Long Beach Poly, Serra, Corona Centennial. All legit programs.
Their best corner, the kid from Long Beach Poly, was about 6'0" with long arms. He looked fast just standing there. His name tag read "Damien."
"Yo, that's the dude," Miguel said quietly, nodding toward Damien. "He's got like eight offers already."
"Who's he gonna cover?" Alex asked.
"Probably Travis," I said. "Best on best."
"Facts. That's gonna be a battle."
Bryce gathered us for a quick huddle. "Alright, first possession. Let's come out aggressive. Travis at X, Derek at Z, Miguel in the slot. First play is four verts - everyone clear out and I'll find the open man. On one. Ready?"
"READY!"
We clapped and broke the huddle. I stood on the sideline with the other receivers who weren't in on the first play.
Jordan stood next to me. "You think we got a shot to win this pool?"
"If we execute, yeah. We got talent."
"True. Hunter is different though. Having him on our team is like having a cheat code."
Not wrong.
The defensive team lined up. As predicted, Damien pressed up on Travis on the outside. Another DB pressed Derek on the other side. Miguel had a smaller corner over him in the slot - probably trying to take away the quick game.
Bryce called out the cadence. "BLUE 42! BLUE 42! SET HUT!"
The ball snapped.
Travis exploded off the line with a speed release, his hands violent against Damien's press attempt. Damien recovered quick though, staying in Travis's hip pocket as they both streaked downfield.
Derek released clean on his side, running straight up the seam.
Miguel got jammed at the line but fought through it, releasing into his vertical route.
Bryce took his drop - smooth five-step drop, his feet quick and balanced. He planted his back foot, shifted his hips to survey the field. Travis was covered. Derek was covered. Miguel was...
He pumped once toward Derek, making the safety bite, then whipped the ball to Miguel who had gotten a step on his man.
The ball sailed toward Miguel, who reached up and caught it in stride at about 25 yards and kept running. The safety came over but too late.
TOUCHDOWN.
"YEAH! LET'S GO!" Miguel celebrated, getting mobbed by Travis and Derek.
"7-0!" Coach Colbert announced.
Our sideline erupted. Good start.
"See, that's what I'm talking about!" Bryce said as they came back to the sideline. "When one guy is covered, someone else is open. Just gotta trust it."
The defense got the ball now - their offense versus our defense at the other end of the field. But I wasn't really watching that. I was focused on our next possession, knowing I'd probably be in on the second drive.
Their offense scored quick - some kid from Corona Centennial caught a deep post for a touchdown. 7-7.
"Alright, second unit!" Bryce called out. "Jakari at X, Alex at Z, Jordan in the slot. Let's go!"
Here we go.
I jogged onto the field, my heart pounding. The corner lined up across from me was shorter than Damien, maybe 5'10", but he looked quick. His eyes were locked on me, sizing me up.
Alright. Let's see what you got.
We lined up on the 40-yard line. Bryce called the play in the huddle - "Spacing concept. Jakari, you're running a comeback at 15. Alex, you got the corner. Jordan, option route in the slot based on coverage."
"Got it."
We broke the huddle and got to the line. I aligned outside the numbers, about 7 yards from the sideline. The corner pressed up on me, getting physical before the snap.
Wants to jam me. Okay.
"GREEN 18! GREEN 18! SET HUT!"
The ball snapped.
The corner immediately put his hands on me, trying to disrupt my release. I used a quick swim move, getting my right arm over his left shoulder and clearing his hands. My first three steps were explosive, getting vertical fast to make him think go route.
At twelve yards, I gave a subtle head fake to the outside, selling the go route for another second. Then at exactly fifteen yards, I planted my outside foot hard - feeling the turf compress under my cleat - and snapped my hips back toward the quarterback.
The corner was on my hip but not in front of me. I had inside leverage.
Bryce finished his three-step drop, planted both feet, and fired the ball on a line.
The throw was a little behind me - not terrible but not perfect. I adjusted mid-air, reaching back with both hands and snatching it out of the air.
CAUGHT IT.
But the corner was right there. I secured the ball, turned upfield, and tried to make something happen. Got about five yards before he wrapped me up.
First down. Maybe 20-yard gain.
"Good adjustment!" Bryce yelled as I jogged back to the huddle.
That felt good. Route was clean, hands were solid.
"Same concept, different side," Bryce said in the huddle. "Alex, you're getting the ball this time."
We lined up again. This time the defense adjusted - they dropped into zone coverage instead of pressing.
Bryce took his drop, his eyes scanning from right to left. He pump-faked to Jordan in the flat, freezing the linebacker, then whipped it across his body to Alex on a deep dig route. Another first down.
Two plays later, Jordan caught a touchdown on a corner route. Bryce had lofted it perfectly over the corner's outstretched hands. 14-7.
The game moved FAST. Just like Coach said, no huddles, quick pace, everyone competing.
By halftime - which wasn't really a halftime, just a two-minute water break - the score was 21-21. Both offenses were moving the ball well.
I had caught three passes so far for about 45 yards. Nothing crazy but solid production.
Travis had two touchdowns. Of course.
"We're good," Bryce said during the break. "Defense just needs to get a stop and we can pull away."
Miguel was breathing hard, bent over with his hands on his knees. "Bro, this pace is insane. I'm already tired."
"Facts," Derek agreed. "This is way faster than high school games."
"That's the point," Travis said, somehow not even winded. "They want to see who can sustain it."
Bro really is built different.
The second half started and both teams traded scores again. 28-28.
Then their offense went on a drive and scored. 35-28. They hit game point first.
"Alright, this is it," Bryce said as we huddled up for what could be our last possession. "We need a touchdown to tie and keep playing, or we lose. No mistakes. Let's go with levels concept - Travis and Jakari on the outside running double moves, everyone else work the middle of the field."
Double move. That means selling the first route hard, then breaking the opposite way.
We broke the huddle and lined up. I was at X receiver on the right side. Travis was at X on the left side. The defense looked like they were in Cover 3.
"BLUE 80! BLUE 80! SET HUT!"
Ball snapped.
I took off like I was running a nine route - straight vertical, selling it with my eyes and my speed. The corner bit on it, opening his hips to run with me.
At eighteen yards, I planted my right foot hard and broke it back toward the post - a double move.
The corner was caught off balance. I had two steps on him.
Bryce took his five-step drop, his head swiveling as he surveyed the coverage. He saw Travis covered on the left. His hips rotated to the right side, his eyes finding me breaking open on the post. He planted his back foot, stepped into the throw, and let it rip.
The ball was in the air, sailing toward me. I tracked it over my shoulder, extended my hands, and...
The safety came flying in from nowhere.
He went up with me. The ball was right there. Both of us went for it.
I jumped off my left foot, exploding upward to meet the ball at its highest point. Felt my hands touch the leather. Felt the safety's hands hitting mine. Felt us both falling.
And then...
Everything went into slow motion as we hit the ground.