With the high school football season in the rearview, the offseason officially begins and for serious athletes, this is where real separation is created. The Lionhearted 7v7 tryouts served as an early proving ground for players committed to sharpening their craft, improving football IQ, and positioning themselves for a strong offseason heading into spring and summer.
From established varsity contributors to young prospects just beginning their climb, the tryouts showcased a wide range of talent across multiple classes. Below is a detailed breakdown of the standouts who impressed and why they are names to track closely moving forward.
High School Standouts
Wyatt Bryant | Tight End
Class of 2027 (Junior)
6’3”, 225 lbs | Fort Worth Paschal HS
Bryant was one of the most complete prospects in attendance, checking boxes both physically and technically. As a route runner, he shows advanced understanding of leverage, pacing, and spacing, consistently creating separation against linebackers and defensive backs alike. His get-off is quick for a tight end, and he moves fluidly in space for a player of his size.
At the catch point, Bryant is at his best. He uses his frame to shield defenders, attacks the football with confidence, and wins in traffic thanks to strong hands and excellent arm length. His ability to handle press coverage stood out during 1-on-1 reps. On film, Bryant shows positional versatility, lining up inline, in the slot, or split wide. As a blocker, he plays with a physical edge, finishing through the whistle and showing the toughness coaches value at the position. His well-rounded skill set gives him clear next-level upside.
Charlie Bunch | Wide Receiver
Class of 2027 (Junior)
6’3”, 185 lbs | Grapevine Faith HS
Bunch brings prototypical size paired with polish and reliability. His long, lean frame creates a natural catch radius, and he uses it well in contested situations. He’s quick off the line, runs disciplined routes, and shows strong awareness when settling into zones.
Throughout the tryouts, Bunch repeatedly came down with contested catches, reinforcing what shows up on his game tape. He tracks the ball well in flight, adjusts naturally, and finishes plays with strong hands. Beyond his receiving ability, Bunch’s effort as a blocker stood out, he plays with physicality and intent in the run game. Coming off a junior season where he totaled 58 receptions for 632 yards and four touchdowns, Bunch continues to trend upward as a dependable, high-ceiling target.
Christian Kargbo | Running Back
Class of 2026 (Senior)
Birdville HS
Kargbo runs with power and purpose. Built with a compact, stout frame and a strong lower half, he shows good burst out of his stance and accelerates quickly through the hole. His hands are reliable out of the backfield, allowing him to contribute in the passing game.
On film, Kargbo consistently runs with excellent forward lean, maximizing yards after contact and finishing runs falling forward. He doesn’t shy away from physicality and shows the type of downhill mentality that translates well at the next level.
Cody Bowman | Quarterback
Class of 2027 (Junior)
6’2”, 185 lbs | Grapevine Faith HS
Bowman’s performance reflected a quarterback who is comfortable commanding the offense. He throws with clean mechanics, a smooth release, and plenty of arm strength to challenge coverage vertically and horizontally. He consistently fit balls into tight windows during competitive periods.
During the fall 2025 season, Bowman showed excellent pocket awareness, keeping his eyes downfield while navigating pressure. His mobility allows him to extend plays, and he’s effective throwing on the move from multiple arm angles. With 1,010 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, Bowman’s trajectory points toward continued growth as he heads into the offseason.
Denilson Irungu | Defensive Back
Class of 2026 (Senior)
5’10”, 165 lbs
Irungu displayed refined technique throughout the tryouts. His footwork is clean, his backpedal is smooth, and his arm length helps him disrupt passing lanes. He plays with patience and confidence in coverage.
During 7v7 play, Irungu made his presence felt with multiple pass breakups and a pick-six, showcasing strong ball skills and awareness. His fall tape confirms his instincts and reliability as a tackler. He’s a defender who understands positioning and timing, making him effective in both man and zone coverage.
Caleb Steen | Athlete
Class of 2029 (Freshman)
5’9”, 155 lbs | Flower Mound Marcus
Steen was one of the more intriguing young prospects at the event. As a receiver, he shows suddenness off the line, elite short-area quickness, and efficient movement through his routes, no wasted steps. Once the ball is in his hands, he becomes a dynamic playmaker with the ability to create in space.
His fall tape highlights his versatility as a dual-threat quarterback. Steen throws well on the run, maintains good pocket mobility, and shows natural instincts as a ball carrier. His multi-position skill set makes him a name to circle early in the 2029 class.
Ja’Qualon Mays | Defensive Back
Class of 2029 | South Oak Cliff
Mays emerged as the top defensive performer at the tryouts. His ball skills immediately stood out, he reads quarterbacks well, shows disciplined eye control, and reacts decisively when the ball is in the air. His footwork is clean and precise, allowing him to stay in phase throughout routes.
Mays plays fast but under control, closing quickly on the football and finishing plays. His versatility allows him to project at either cornerback or safety. On film, he’s a consistent tackler and a true competitor. Multiple interceptions and pass breakups during the tryouts solidified his status as a standout.
Joshua Majors | Athlete
Class of 2029 | Waco La Vega
Majors brings rare explosiveness for his age group. His quickness and speed allow him to separate instantly, and his change-of-direction skills make defenders miss in the open field. As a receiver, he’s technically sound, clean routes, strong hands, and aggressive at the catch point.
On fall tape, Majors shines as a running back, displaying excellent vision and the ability to turn small creases into big plays. His home-run speed makes him a constant threat to score from anywhere on the field. Majors is one of the premier long-term prospects in the 2029 class.
Kash Konowall | Linebacker
Class of 2029 | Hewitt-Midway HS
Konowall plays with natural instincts and urgency. He diagnoses quickly, takes efficient angles, and attacks downhill with authority. A sure tackler, he consistently finishes plays and shows a nose for the football on tape. His physical approach and football instincts give him a strong foundation to build on as he develops.
Middle School / Up Next
Michael Hernandez | Quarterback
Class of 2030 | Eagle Mountain MS
Hernandez already displays advanced throwing traits for his age. He has the arm strength to drive the football outside the numbers and pairs it with clean mechanics and a consistent base. During 7v7 play, he showed touch on deep throws and confidence fitting the ball into tight windows.
A multi-sport athlete who also excels in baseball, Hernandez’s coordination and arm talent project well as he continues to mature.
Storm Belton | Athlete
Class of 2032
Belton flashed elite athletic traits throughout the tryouts. He showed sudden quickness, smooth change of direction, and natural hands as a receiver. His explosion and leaping ability allow him to play above the rim, and he consistently created separation for touchdowns.
Defensively, Belton made plays as a defensive back, recording multiple pass breakups and showing strong instincts for the ball.
Caleb Marinelli | Athlete
Class of 2031 | Celina
Marinelli continues to make steady strides each time he’s evaluated. He’s a savvy route runner with an understanding of timing and leverage, and he uses late hands effectively to avoid tipping off defenders. On defense, he competes with edge, showing solid technique and finishing plays through the whistle.
During 7v7 play, Marinelli produced both as a receiver and defender, recording multiple scores and pass breakups. His fall tape at running back highlights his shiftiness and quickness, adding another layer to his athletic profile.
The Wrap Up
The Lionhearted 7v7 tryouts offered a clear glimpse into the future, highlighting athletes who are already refining their games and younger prospects who are just beginning to emerge. As the offseason unfolds, these players will be names to monitor closely, whether it’s through spring ball, camps, or continued development on the 7v7 circuit.
This group represents the next wave of talent, and many are poised to make significant strides in the months ahead.
