Battle New Orleans Top Performers
NEW ORLEANS — The annual two-day Battle 7-on-7 stop in The Boot concluded on Sunday with 24K cruising to victory over Def Con.
The tournament included On300 recruits from all over the South, including talent-laden states like Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The West Coast was also well-represented. On3 was on hand to take in all the action.
Here are On3’s top performers for the weekend, headlined by 2025 Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian quarterback Colin Hurley, who sparked the 24K offense with outstanding play for the weekend paired with a defense that was lights out back-to-back days.
On3 MVP: QB Colin Hurley (2025)
Very rare do quarterbacks steal the show in these sort of settings, but 2025 Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity passer Colin Hurley did just that en route to a championship for 24K.
Despite being 15 years old, Hurley has an advanced understanding of the game and how to attack defenses. Equally as impressive is his physical skill-set to make it a reality. Hurley was nearly flawless for consecutive days in New Orleans exhibiting pump fakes, freezing safeties and designed rollouts to showcase his vast array of tools.
The Class of 2025 quarterback has the calmness and coolness commanding an offense of any upperclassman. By Sunday evening, everybody in at Tad Gormley Stadium knew who Colin Hurley was.
2. WR Omarion Miller – LSU
Four-star Vivian (La.) North Caddo wide receiver Omarion Miller was LSU’s first commitment in the 2023 class that stuck in the coaching transition from Ed Orgeron to Brian Kelly, and he’s giving the Tigers another elite receiver to insert into the rotation.
Miller, at 6-foot-3 and close to 190 pounds, was a difference-maker from the slot and out wide. He consistently beats defensive backs out off the line and showed off his strong hands in traffic and in jump-ball scenarios. Miller has a massive vertical jump and aggressively attacked the ball this weekend.
3. WR Jalen Brown
Watching the nation’s No. 4-ranked receiver on separate occasions in Las Vegas and New Orleans, there is an obvious parallel between Jalen Brown and Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. Both receivers possess thin frames at 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds and are dangerously smooth and deceptively quick.
Brown was outstanding over the middle and attacking vertically, and was dangerous whenever he was left in space. He effortlessly gains separation and has home-run potential. Miami is the RPM favorite for the local standout.
4. WR Mikey Matthews
Mikey Matthews made the trek cross-country from Mission Viejo (Calif.) to help EPS Blaze make a deep run in New Orleans. Matthews came away with a handful of the biggest receptions throughout the week, especially on championship Sunday.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder is undersized, but electric getting downfield and exceptional making catches in traffic. Matthews has outstanding hands, great stop-start quickness and gave defensive backs fits since he landed in Louisiana. There’s a Steve Smith element to Matthews’ game.
Arizona is leading the RPM for Matthews.
5. CB Desmond Ricks (2024)
Desmond Ricks is built in a lab at a long 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds. The Virginia notice is lanky with a massive wingspan and is natural and smooth in coverage. The No. 2 overall player in the On3 Consensus, can close in a hurry and even more impactful in the short field. He stymied bigger receivers routinely and can glide with faster pass-catchers playing a lot like another Virginia native Tony Grimes. The RPM leader for Ricks is North Carolina.
6. S Jaydan Hardy (2024)
Jaydan Hardy is a Swiss Army knife in the secondary capable of playing corner, safety or in the nickel, and regardless of where he lines up, he’s good for a game-changing play or two.
Hardy, a top-50 recruit in the On3 Consensus, was a ballhawk at safety for the Miami Immortals. The Texas transplant has added almost 20 pounds to his frame since enrolling at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, but hasn’t lost any of his explosiveness or instincts to jump routes. Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M are among the teams in pursuit of the four-star defensive back.
8. WR Ayden Williams
On300 WR Ayden Williams helped guide the Coastline Stars deep into the tournament on Sunday afternoon after making a splash on the tournament’s opening day. Williams, who is close to 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, has not only size but a major dose of explosiveness and smoothness to his game. He found holes in opposing defenses and consistently extended the play after the catch. Williams is very sure-handed and didn’t miss a beat hauling in passes over the middle or outside the numbers. Ole Miss is the RPM leader, but several other SEC teams are strongly in play.
7. CB Aaron Butler (2024) – USC
USC commit Aaron Butler was among the top cover cornerbacks on hand and shined playing on both the left and right sides of the field for the Fast 7v7 national squad. The 6-foot, 170-pounder is incredibly athletic and is drawing college offers to play not only corner, but also wide receiver. Butler was fluid in coverage throughout the weekend and came away with a handful of breakups and a pick, and the game comes easy to the 2024 standout.
9. TE Trey’Dez Green (2024)
Four-star tight end Trey’Dez Green possesses so many of the traits to be an elite tight end, and he displayed a few of them for F3 Elite on Sunday. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound dual-sport standout flashed the massive catch radius and ability to attack down the seams as well as in the red zone. He’s a mismatch because of his frame, but also his athleticism. LSU, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Purdue are all in pursuit of the On3 Consensus‘ No. 2-rated tight end.
10. CB Jahlil Hurley – Alabama
The Miami Immortals have an embarrassment of riches when they’re at full strength with Ricks manning on side of the field and on On3 Consensus five-star cornerback Jahlil Hurley patrolling the other. Hurley’s frame (6-foot-3, 185 pounds) is ready for Saturdays now and he’s so fluid quietly locking down part of the field. Hurley was rarely tested but stepped up when action was headed in his direction. Alabama is getting a prototype at the position.
Additional notes
***A handful of other 2023 defensive backs who showed well in New Orleans include local Metairie (La.) Rummel cornerback Ashton Stamps, Destrehan (La.) nickel Kevin Adams and On300 safety Isaac Smith. Stamps checks in at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds and was sharp in coverage and kept receivers in front of him throughout the tournament. He had a handful of breakups and nearly came away with a few picks. Adams, who added a Mississippi State offer this spring, has elite speed and flashed it from the nickel. He can accelerate in a hurry. Smith’s game is built for pads, but he shined in coverage playing over the top at safety. He crashes down in a hurry and has a massive frame built for the SEC.
***Two 2023 receivers worth recognition include Darren Lawrence, the No. 1 target for On3 MVP Hurley for a reason. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder from Sanford (Fla.) Seminole is a big-framed target with sure hands and can make contested catches. Lawrence also flashed the speed to win downfield and packs a home-run punch to his game, too. UCF currently leads the RPM for the in-state receiver. The other is Harvey Broussard, who is coming into his own after a strong junior campaign for St. Martinville (La.). Broussard came away with several 50-50 balls on Sunday for highlight-worthy plays. The Acadiana-area pass-catcher is just scratching the surface.
***Some 2024 defensive backs who made noise included Baton Rouge (La.) University corner Tony Burns, the younger brother of LSU safety Major Burns. Like his older brother, Tony is physical and isn’t shy about testing opposing receivers. He also excels in trail coverage. Portsmouth (Va.) Oscar Smith cornerback Asaad Brown is another thick-framed corner at 6-foot-1 and close to 180 pounds. He closes in a hurry and had impressive closing speed in coverage. Slidell (La.) Northshore defensive back Kyle Williams was another in-state recruit who came away with a pick and made a slew of plays in coverage from the slot. He’s added size to a 6-foot, 170-pound frame.