Tag: High School Football

Teddy Bridgewater reflects on his relationship with South Florida football

New Orleans Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater spoke about his relationship with high school football in Liberty City, his old Miami neighborhood.

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The love that New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has for his old hometown is almost famous. He’s a big advocate for high school football, often returning for games when the schedule allows. He discussed his affinity for Liberty City — the Miami neighborhood he hails from, along with other NFL stars like Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Indianapolis Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton, whose father is a legendary coach in the community — with Mina Kimes on the ESPN Daily podcast. Liberty City is a hotbed of football talent and recruiting, often playing host to big-time college recruiters like Alabama coach Nick Saban.

“I come back every chance I get,” Bridgewater said. “Every chance I get. With the schedule that we had in New Orleans, I was able to come home on Sundays after games, and just ride through the community and let them see me like, ‘This guy was playing football on Sunday and he’s back here the Monday after that, visiting high schools and things like that.'”

While some of Bridgewater’s antics have leaned closer to goofiness, like his temporary stint on his high school’s dance team, Bridgewater has also done what he can to support the community with school supplies giveaways and footing the dinner bill for the football team — players, coaches, and support staff included. From his perspective, these actions do a lot to bridge the gap between the current and future generations of Liberty City talent.

Bridgewater continued, “I just want to show everyone that I’m just like them still. I still get the same 24 hours you get, and I still bleed just the way you do. So I try to let them know that I’m still the same guy. That’s why I come back, because in those same neighborhoods there’s the next Teddy Bridgewater, there’s the next Amari Cooper, and the next Duke Johnson. And they need to see us in the flesh. And as long as they’re able to see that we’re able to be touched, we’re within arm’s reach, it makes a difference in our lives, and it makes a difference in their lives.”

These words and actions make Bridgewater’s character easy to measure. His skills on the football field, having gone 5-0 as a starter with the Saints in 2019, speaks for itself. Hopefully the Saints can work out a contract extension with the pending free agent, but it won’t be easy.

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Watch: Tyree and Pyne Shine in Under Armour All-American Game as Notre Dame Future Looks Bright

At the end of the day it’s just an All-Star game but if you’re a Notre Dame fan that has been waiting for some next-level type talents, especially in terms of speed, you can’t help but get excited about what you saw in Orlando tonight.

Much of the talk this week in Orlando in regards to Notre Dame has been about running Chris Tyree and understandably so.

Tyree is the highest rated running back to choose Notre Dame in what seems like ages and he kept making headlines as he was a captain, the second fastest man and the winner of the shuttle competition between players.

Tyree wasn’t the only future Fighting Irish offensive player to turn heads during the week however as quarterback Drew Pyne of New Canaan, Connecticut did well for himself, too.

Pyne and Tyree teamed up with future Irish long-snapper Alex Pietsch on the Savage team in Thursday’s Under Armour All-American game and gave Irish fans everywhere reasons to get excited.

Pyne finished the night 9 for 11 passing for 124 yards, highlighted by a 42 yard touchdown pass to Ohio State-bound Julian Fleming.

Pyne’s Notre Dame teammate Chris Tyree didn’t let his big week go without one last flash either, scoring on a one yard run in the game on a hand-off from none other than Tyree.

At the end of the day it’s just an All-Star game but if you’re a Notre Dame fan that has been waiting for some next-level type talents, especially in terms of speed, you can’t help but get excited about what you saw in Orlando tonight.

240 days until Notre Dame vs. Navy in Ireland in case you were wondering.

Oklahoma receives commitment from 2020 quarterback Chandler Morris

The Sooners get a 2020 quarterback and add a bit more depth to Lincoln Riley’s laboratory.

Much needed.

Chandler Morris, a three-star quarterback according to rivals, just committed to Oklahoma prior to the Under Armour All-American game.

The son of former Arkansas head coach Chad Morris, Chandler was committed to play for his father at Arkansas prior to Chad being fired before the end of the season.

Auburn was in play as much as the Sooners were, as Morris was hired by Gus Malzhan to serve as the Tigers’offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Chandler Morris, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing in at 172 pounds, fits the Riley prototype. Short in stature, Morris can still sling it and can tuck it when he needs to.

Morris is the No. 17 ranked quarterback in the 2020 class and the No. 51 ranked overall prospect in the state of Texas.

Morris passed on offers from , Auburn, USC and TCU among others. Morris will be the only scholarship quarterback in the 2020 class, adding a bit more depth behind Tanner Mordecai and Spencer Rattler.

The Under Armour All-American game broadcast details can be found here.

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How to Watch: 2020 Under Armour All-American Game Featuring Three Notre Dame Signees

Chris Tyree, the No. 1 rated all-purpose back in the nation according to 247Sports will serve as a captain for the “Savage” team.  Tyree was the first-runner-up in the fastest man competition at practices this week.

Right out of the shoot in the new year many of us get a chance to watch some of the future stars of college football in live game-action for the first time as high school all-star games begin taking place.

Saturday will bring us the All-American Game (formerly sponsored by the US Army) that will feature four future Golden Domers.

Thursday night however offers a chance to watch a couple future members of the Notre Dame offense as they’ll be on display in the 2020 Under Armour All-American Game.

Chris Tyree, the No. 1 rated all-purpose back in the nation according to 247Sports will serve as a captain for the “Savage” team.  Tyree was the first-runner-up in the fastest man competition at practices this week.

No. 7 pro-style quarterback Drew Pyne will also play for team Savage.

The final Notre Dame signee who is also a savage, at least on Thursday night is Alex Peitsch who has been graded by some as the best high school long-snapper in the country this past fall.

You can watch all three in action as well as plenty of other future college stars as the Under Armour All-American Game will air:

Date – Thursday, January 2
Time – 6:00 pm E.T.
TV – ESPN2
Venue – Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL

Notre Dame Football: How to Watch Four Future Fighting Irish on Saturday

Although not loaded with future Fighting Irish football stars you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of four signees who will begin their Notre Dame careers in 2020.

Saturday brings us the start of the NFL’s postseason as Wild Card weekend gets underway but before the ball goes in the air in those games some of college football’s next stars will participate in the annual All-American Game in San Antonio.

It’s one of multiple all-star games for high school football’s biggest stars to participate in before they join the college ranks.  We’ll fill you in on the All-American Game first before looking at other all-star contests

This year’s game, the first that I can remember not being sponsored by the US Army, can be seen on NBC this Saturday afternoon.

Although not loaded with future Fighting Irish football stars you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of four signees who will begin their Notre Dame careers in 2020.

Representing the East will be wide receiver Jordan Johnson of St. Louis, tight end Michael Mayer of Kentucky and offensive tackle Michael Carmody of Pennsylvania.

Offensive tackle Tosh Baker of Phoenix is Notre Dame’s only representative on the West.

 

 

WATCH: 2020 Texas commit talks after winning state championship game

2020 commit Xavion Alford won the school’s first state championship Friday night. After the game, Alford caught up with a reporter to talk.

2020 four-star Texas commit Xavion Alford and the Shadow Creek Sharks won the school’s first state championship Friday night against Denton Ryan. With a final score of 28-22, the Sharks were able to stop a last-second hail mary attempt to win the game.

After the game, Alford caught up with a reporter to talk about his season and what it meant for him to win a championship.

“It’s unreal,” said Alford. “This season has been real emotional for me. I got hurt first game of the season.”

After falling short in 2018, Shadow Creek was able to win the 5A Divison 1 state championship in 2019. When asked what it meant to be a state champion, Alford said it meant “a lot.”

Here are Alford’s full comments:

Alford signed his national letter of intent with the Longhorns on National Signing Day. Playing safety, he is the sixth highest-rated prospect in the 2020 class for the Longhorns. Alford joins two other secondary players in the class, as Jerrin Thompson is another safety, while Kitan Crawford is listed as a cornerback.

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Twin brother charged in fatal shooting of Philadelphia HS football star

Fayaadh Gillard has been charged with fatally shooting his twin, Suhail. The brothers played HS football in Philadelphia.

A tragic story out of Philadelphia as a brother has been charged with fatally shooting his twin to death Sunday. The twins played for Mastery Charter School.

The shooting took place when the twins’ father was showing them how to use a gun, Philly.com reported.

High school students, some wearing blue and white football jerseys, gathered around Fayaadh Gillard at Penn’s Landing, literally holding him up so he did not collapse to the ground.

Before breaking into sobs, Fayaadh, 18, led the group of students and faculty from Mastery Charter School Lenfest Campus in chanting “Long live Su, long live Su, long live Su.” Then they released blue balloons into the cloudy sky above the bank of the Delaware River.

The vigil Wednesday afternoon, which drew close to 100 members of the senior class and their teachers, was for Suhail Gillard, Fayaadh’s twin brother, whom police say he shot to death Sunday in an Overbrook apartment.

Fayaadh was charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime, unsworn falsification to authorities, and obstructing justice. He was granted bail of $125,000, and was released after paying 10% of that amount.

The Mastery football coach told Philly.com Suhail excelled as a running back. A three-time All-Public League running back for the Pumas, Suhail Gillard had committed to attend West Virginia State University in the fall fall.

“No one at the age of 18 should lose their life. That’s too young. There are things he had yet to experience the pleasure of — being a young man and college athlete. There’s really no words,” John Davidson said.

This is the second tragic around high school football in the Delaware Valley in recent months. A 10-year-old died after shooting broke out at a Camden-Pleasantville playoff game in November.