By: Drew Johnson
The DR7 Road to the Crown seven-on-seven tournament continued with another competitive turnout in sunny Fort Pierce, FL which featured some impressive athletes who deserve recognition. The mission and goal of The Platform is to Expose the Unexposed and provide adequate coverage of athletes participating in the DR7 7v7 circuit. National Scout Drew Johnson was in attendance to give readers and coaches a glimpse of a few notable prospects. Here is a list of some of the top wide receiver standouts from Day One of Pool Play.
Israel Marion | Class of 2025 | 7v7: Epic Elite
Marion was the first prospect that stood out because of his decent frame and impressive athleticism on both sides for his age. It wasn’t until after a head-top catch and about four incredible catch radius displays that it was clear Marion was one of the top standouts of the day in Fort Pierce. The 5’9, 150-pound sophomore showed off his imposing vertical jumping abilities combined with solid route running skills. Marion has good speed, big play ability, and a second burst that helps him get out of his breaks. The MVP of the 15U group also played on defense and recorded an interception at the safety position. College coaches should keep an eye on his overall development in the off-season.
Shamar Rigby | Class of 2024 | 7v7: RI5E
The 6’5, 170-pound Lakewood product has taken the recruiting wave by storm these last few months because of his well-built frame and overall upside potential. Rigby has everything you want in an outside Power 5 receiver – height & length, room to add weight, and already has the fundamentals of the position down. The rising junior caught a couple of head-top catches in the corner of the endzone that landed his name on the list. Rigby has received recent offers from the likes of Liberty, Coastal Carolina, and Pittsburgh.
Anthony Vaglienti | Class of 2024 | 7v7: Jax Knights
Vaglienti made some tough catches in the back of the endzone which landed his name on the list of notable Day One standouts. The 6’2, 170-pound junior wide receiver prospect has a long frame with plenty of time to add needed weight to his already well-built frame. He has the speed to take the top off the defense and uses his strong hands to bring down contested catches. I watched him battle for an interception on the defensive side of the ball which was a testament to his physicality and willingness to battle through tightly contested throws. The Fletcher High product should generate some interest during the off-season 7v7 circuit heading into his senior season. He currently holds offers from FAMU, Georgia Southern, and Campbell University.
ZyMarion Lang | Class of 2024 | 7v7: RI5E
Lang is an incredibly explosive athlete that is a tough cover for about any defensive back in the country. His speed and dynamic big-play ability are what all Power 5 recruiters and coaches look for at the next level. Lang has the skills to be a home run threat but is long and athletic enough to use his arms to extend and snatch the ball mid-air. The 6’3, 170-pound Palmetto High product is tall with great ball skills and is excellent at high pointing catches but also can beat his defender off the line and be a short-game threat. Lang has offers from various P5 schools including Kansas State, South Carolina, and UCF.
Jerry Thomas | Class of 2026 | 7v7: 24K
Thomas has incredible upside as he’s just a freshman that plays well above his age. The 6’2, 175-pound Lake Gibson rising prospect is somebody that coaches in the area need to become familiar with before it’s too late. His route running is really smooth and he gets in-and-out of his breaks, keeping defenders off balance. Thomas has a promising career at the wide receiver position because of his determination to develop and the soft skills that coaches can’t teach. He is a natural athlete with plenty of time to add to his bag of skills. I watched Thomas dominate throughout a College Bus Tour last summer and he’s continuing to improve his overall game.
Kordell Lewis | Class of 2024 | 7v7: RI5E
Each time I watch Lewis perform in the 7v7 circuit he keeps on improving at the position. Lewis has really good route-running skills combined with decent speed and reliable hands. He scored on his team’s first play in game one of pool play with a streak right down the middle. Lewis has a well-built frame at 6’3, 175-pounds which helps the long-limbed Lake Gibson product dominate in the open air. He is effective with his hands at the line of scrimmage with good high-point abilities to come up with tough catches. Lewis will be someone to keep an eye on heading into his senior season. He recently received his first offer from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke but I expect some of the Flordia schools to catch notice in the next months.
Other Notable Standouts:
Mike Peterson Jr | Class of 2025 | 7v7: RI5E
The 6’2, 150-pound wide receiver had to make this list because of the various tough catches he made. Peterson has incredible upside for his age and is already receiving interest from Texas. Coaches in the state of Florida need to get their eyes on the Gainesville product before it’s too late.
Traevon Townsend | Class of 2026 | 7v7: Treasure Coast Elite
This kid is an incredible athlete that I had to add to the list. Has a good frame already combined with good speed and explosive athleticism. I will provide more updates from his overall game after trophy day on Sunday.
Semaj Scott | Class of 2024 | 7v7: KrazyLegz Elite Mustangs
Scott is somebody I will have to get eyes on tomorrow. The four-star running back prospect is good enough of an athlete to play both sides in the 7v7 circuit but junior his tape defines his game.
Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13011121/61633b4896768a0de470a916
Great to see all these young men doing good on the field my son Traveon Townsend is a great football player stay focus