It is a busy weekend at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples as Football University takes over. The FBU national championships are underway for youth and middle school football teams from around the country. However, the weekend's main event is the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl.
The country's top 60 high school freshman football players are going head to head this weekend in the 16th annual FBU All-American Bowl.
“It feels great to finally be here," First Baptist Academy quarterback Brady Quinn said.
Thousands of freshmen from around the nation attempt to play in this game. However, through tons of scouting and research, the bowl game's director Anthony Williams whittles it down to the top 60.
Playing in this game is the highest honor a ninth-grader can receive. Some notable alumni from the bowl are NFL players, Christian McCaffrey, Trevor Lawrence and Bryce Young — all of which used the game to bolster their recruiting since hundreds of college coaches watch and take notes.
“Playing in a game like this, if you do good, it’ll get your name out there," Quinn said.
“When kids leave here, their recruiting goes up and to the right, and their number of offers goes up and to the right," Williams added.
This year's group is stacked with talent. Numerous players already have multiple Division I scholarship offers, headlined by Quinn at QB and defensive lineman Asher Ghioto, who already has 19 offers.
“This year is very talented," Williams said. "This year’s team and the amount of talent on it is going to be in the top five overall.”
Two of the All-Americans hail from Southwest Florida. FBA's Brady Quinn grew up around the bowl game since his dad, Steve, is the Managing Partner of FBU. After years of being on the sidelines, now Quinn can call himself a Freshman All-American.
“Every year watching the older kids, imagining myself playing on that field and thinking of the things I can do," Quinn recalled.
The other SWFL product is Irell Dale. The Bishop Verot defensive back is also on Team Impact with Quinn.
“I earned this," Dale said. "I worked hard for this. I stayed disciplined. I don’t do all the talking. I just stay silent.”
The local duo both have high expectations for their stat lines on Saturday.
“Two picks and a couple tackles," Dale said.
“I think we can expect three touchdowns, about 200 yards and a win," Quinn said.
Quinn, Dale and all of the freshman phenoms play in the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples.