The 15U bracket at Road To The Crown DFW was loaded with legitimate next-level talent. This was not just a collection of good 7v7 players. This was a group of prospects who showed translatable football traits, footwork, spatial awareness, ball skills, competitive toughness, and positional versatility.
Several of these young men are already contributing on Friday nights. Others are positioning themselves to compete for meaningful varsity snaps when the 2026 season arrives. Across the board, I saw bona fide playmakers and future impact players.
Here is my notebook from the weekend.
Braylen Cunningham
DB | Class of 2029 | North Crowley HS
7v7: Texas Chaos
Cunningham is one of the top freshmen in Texas, and that statement is based on evaluation, not hype.
He is a smooth, technically advanced defensive back with elite footwork and fluid hips. His transition from pedal to drive phase is efficient and controlled. He plays press-man coverage with confidence and discipline. What separates him is his poise. He started as a freshman at North Crowley last fall and showed maturity in big moments.
He is a sure tackler in run support and a legitimate special teams weapon as a returner. His recruitment reflects his trajectory, with offers from Ohio State, Penn State, SMU, Kansas State, Mississippi State, and Nebraska.
He projects as a national-level cover corner.
Harley Smith
ATH | Class of 2030 | Burleson Centennial
7v7: AP Ranch
Smith flashed early in pool play and elevated his performance on Crown Sunday.
He has a lean 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame with room to develop physically. At wide receiver, he consistently used his extended catch radius and strong hands to finish through contact. He is a smooth route runner who understands leverage. On defense, he showed ball skills and recorded multiple pass breakups.
Smith helped lead AP Ranch to the 15U Crown Championship and proved he is a name to track as he enters high school.
Casen Christenson
WR | Class of 2029 | Brock HS
7v7: AP Ranch
Christenson was the most consistent receiver all weekend.
He is a polished route runner who understands how to attack coverage. He finds voids against zone, defeats press coverage, and consistently wins at the catch point. He made multiple contested grabs and showed vertical speed to stack defensive backs.
As a freshman, he earned Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 3-4A Division II and 1st Team All-District honors. His trajectory is trending upward rapidly.
Joseph Driskill
WR | Class of 2029 | Converse Judson
7v7: SA Ducks
Driskill showed quickness off the line of scrimmage and reliable hands throughout the weekend. He separated effectively and made multiple tough catches in traffic. He finished drives with several touchdown receptions and displayed competitive toughness at the catch point.
Daniel Gray
RB | Class of 2029 | San Antonio Clemens
7v7: SA Ducks
Gray has a compact, powerful build and plays with controlled explosion.
He caught the football cleanly through contact and ran crisp routes when flexed out. On film, he is a downhill runner who breaks tackles and finishes runs with authority. He accelerates decisively and shows natural balance through contact. His versatility as both a runner and pass catcher makes him a multidimensional weapon.
He is just scratching the surface of his development.
Elijah Harris
WR | Class of 2028 | Prosper Richland
7v7: Buzz Sports Agency
Harris consistently demonstrated reliable hands and clean route execution. He is explosive off the line and creates separation efficiently. He scored multiple touchdowns in traffic and showed the ability to stretch the field vertically on film. After the catch, he transitions quickly and maximizes yardage.
Myles Lewis
WR | Class of 2029 | Frisco Heritage
7v7: Buzz Sports Agency
Lewis possesses prototype size at 6-foot-4 and uses it effectively.
He consistently wins above the rim and presents a large strike zone for quarterbacks. His body control on contested catches stands out, and he shows the speed to get vertical. He is comfortable in one-on-one situations and plays with confidence at the catch point.
Length, catch radius, and ball skills give him long-term upside.
Ahzahn Thomas
DB | Class of 2028 | Dallas Madison HS
7v7: Buzz Sports Agency
Thomas is a technically disciplined defensive back. He plays press coverage with strong hand placement and maintains excellent eye discipline. His hips are fluid, and he reacts efficiently in phase. He recorded multiple pass breakups and two interceptions during bracket play, demonstrating natural ball skills.
Brayden Delati
DB | Class of 2028 | Prosper Rock Hill
7v7: Buzz Sports Agency
At 6-foot-3, Delati offers length and range on the back end. He covers ground quickly and reads the quarterback well. He recorded multiple pass breakups, including one that directly led to an interception. His size-to-mobility combination makes him intriguing at safety.
Noah Davison
ATH | Class of 2029 | DeSoto HS
7v7: Buzz Sports Agency
Davison impacted the game on both sides of the ball. As a defensive back, he tracked the football naturally and showed strong instincts. On offense, he made contested catches in traffic and displayed dependable hands. His versatility increases his value.
Silas Grace
WR | Class of 2029 | DeSoto HS
7v7: Buzz Sports Agency
Grace runs disciplined routes and catches the football confidently through contact. He has quick feet at the line of scrimmage and enough speed to threaten vertically. His large catch radius and competitive nature make him a consistent target.
Cole Cunningham
TE/LB | Class of 2029 | Southlake Carroll
7v7: The Outlaws
Cunningham projects naturally as a tight end at the next level.
He understands leverage and spacing in the passing game and consistently catches the football through contact. At linebacker, he shows good feet in coverage and processes quickly. He plays with physicality and finishes runs after the catch. His combination of toughness, awareness, and functional speed makes him a well-rounded prospect.
Riley Lewis
DB | Class of 2029 | Duncanville HS
7v7: Texas Chaos
Lewis displayed elite cover corner traits throughout the weekend.
He has clean footwork, fluid hips, and outstanding eye discipline. He recorded multiple pass breakups and a pick-six, showcasing both instincts and finishing ability. His early offers from SMU, Texas Tech, Texas State, UTSA, Tulsa, Austin Peay, SFA, and Tarleton State reflect his upward momentum.
Tylan Florey
TE/LB | Class of 2029 | Valley View HS
7v7: Cat Takeover Arkansas
Florey at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, moves efficiently in space. On film at linebacker, he plays downhill with controlled aggression and sound tackling fundamentals. He diagnoses plays quickly and runs sideline to sideline with balance. He also brings multi-sport athleticism as a standout baseball player. An early offer from Syracuse signals long-term upside. Over the weekend he showed that he has the coverage skills to be effective in a 7v7 setting. He has a high ceiling.
Hayden Patterson
ATH | Class of 2029 | Amarillo HS
7v7: AP Ranch
Patterson is a true two-way playmaker.
On offense, he runs clean routes and catches the football naturally. On defense, he shows fluid hips, strong ball skills, and the ability to mirror receivers. He saw varsity action as a freshman at defensive back and contributes on special teams as a returner. His competitiveness and versatility make him a prospect to monitor closely.
Rising Talent
The 15U division at Road To The Crown DFW featured legitimate varsity-level traits across multiple position groups. The 2029 class in particular is deep with length, ball skills, and positional versatility. Several of these prospects are already ahead of the developmental curve.
The exposure mission remains critical. Talent evaluation must be thorough, objective, and consistent.
And this group made evaluation easy.
