Prime general performers, rankings implications from OT7 Week 1
DALLAS – OT7 kicked off Week 1 of motion of a multi-week lengthy 7-on-7 this weekend with a star-studded assortment of squads from across the nation.
The schedule kicked off this weekend at Dallas School Mountain View Campus. Right here is the entire Rivals protection from the occasion.
Listed below are the highest performers from the primary weekend of motion motion headlined by USC-bound QB Jonas Williams.
1. FOUR-STAR QB JONAS WILLIAMS (USC COMMIT)
Jonas Williams was Rivals’ Day 1 high performer and completed the weekend off as the general MVP from Week 1 of the OT7 season. We love the longer term Trojans’ arm expertise — and his potential to make high-level throws persistently all through the weekend of competitors. Williams was well timed and correct working in the course of the sphere — and has excellent arm energy and deep-ball accuracy to assault downfield. Williams was capable of ship out lasers within the purple zone and stage throws successfully — and confirmed glorious chemistry together with his receivers, regardless of being a sufferer of a number of drops in on Saturday. Extra importantly, the USC verbal impressed going by his progressions and delivering big-time throws in well timed conditions. Williams had 16 event in Week 1, together with 9 on Day 2.
2. FOUR-STAR WR CHRIS STEWART (TEXAS COMMIT)
Chris Stewart had a busy day on Saturday reeling in practically 20 receptions in a single sport — and the Texas dedication was much more concerned within the offense and extra productive on Sunday. The four-star WR excelled within the slot. Stewart sat in zones and picked aside opposing defenses. He is electrical after the catch and easy in open area with the rock in his arms. Stewart was capable of get open rapidly and carve up zone defenses routinely — and located the top zone repeatedly.
3. FIVE-STAR CB HAVON FINNEY JR.
Havon Finney Jr. was on-point all through the weekend manning an outdoor cornerback spot for SFE. The five-star CB who reclassified into the 2026 cycle had a game-closing interception together with a number of well timed move breakups throughout Saturday’s motion — then was equally as impactful on Day 2 with one other decide and several other sturdy passes defensed on the day. We love Finney’s elite size for the place — and extra so his potential to show and run and break on the ball at 6-foot-3 and 170 kilos.
4. FOUR-STAR CB SAMARI MATTHEWS
Samari Matthews was everywhere in the defensive secondary and continually across the ball throughout Week 1 of OT7 motion. The highest-50 recruit from North Carolina manned a number of spots within the secondary — exhibiting off not solely his protection expertise but in addition his versatility. Matthews stepped in entrance of a number of passes in his path over the course over the weekend, together with on Sunday — arising with a tipped move that led to a decide and an. interception of his personal. Matthews continually put himself in the course of the motion. He can cowl a ton of floor in a rush and is sound in protection and taking part in the soccer.
5. FOUR-STAR SAF TEDARIUS HUGHES (FLORIDA STATE COMMIT)
Tedarius Hughes was a ball-hawking presence again deep for SFE — and got here away with a number of interceptions over the course of the weekend and particularly in Sunday’s motion. Hughes is tough to keep away from at 6-foot-3 and 180 kilos — and he boasts very good vary on the again finish of the secondary. The four-star SAF dedicated to Florida State additionally notched a number of extra move breakups excessive and was a pressure on this star-studded protection.
6. FOUR-STAR ATH SALESI MOA
Salesi Moa turned heads with large performs on either side of the ball throughout OT7 Week 1. The highest recruit from Utah noticed snaps at broad receiver and at cornerback — and was as much as the problem at each premier ability positions. The four-star ATH was sure-handed and a playmaker after the catch — a favourite goal for five-star QB Ryder Lyons working beneath and in the course of the sphere, coming again to the soccer, in addition to considered one of his high deep threats in Sunday’s motion because the offense kicked into gear. Moa additionally impressed in protection — usually working reverse opposing crew’s high receivers and clamping them down alongside the way in which.
7. FOUR-STAR QB DIA BELL (TEXAS COMMIT)
Dia Bell showcased glorious arm expertise and his potential to push the ball downfield successfully and ship within the purple zone. The longer term Longhorn out of South Florida obtained higher because the event progressed. Bell was easy working and shifting inside the pocket with excellent contact on his deep balls. He has an enormous arm and is ready to ship high-level throws outdoors — and accomplish that at a excessive clip. The Texas verbal was surgical working within the purple zone — and showcased his potential to improvise and function out of construction fairly seamlessly. Steve Sarkisian is getting one other good one in Bell — who has many athletic traits that separate him at this premium place.
8. WR ERIC MCFARLAND (2028)
Eric McFarland was considered one of a handful of 2028 prospects to take his sport to totally different heights in Week 1 of the OT7 season. No defensive again might include McFarland for lengthy. The freshman did a little bit little bit of every part — from stretching the sphere deep, to turning brief receptions into large features, and making highlight-level receptions in the long run zone all through the weekend. McFarland is twitchy and might separate with ease as an underclassman. We anticipate listening to his identify again and again in a number of settings the following few years.
9. THREE-STAR WR JAMES SCOTT
James Scott emerged as one of many high pass-catchers on this event — discovering his rhythm as sport motion went on. The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder is a mismatch working downfield. Scott is ready to play above the rim and make contested catches with defenders in his face. He additionally got here up with some large grabs within the purple zone — engaged on the perimeter and making the most of 50-50 balls thrown in his neighborhood. We love the 2026 receiver’s vary and upside — and is due for a rankings bump as a real perimeter weapon that may make large performs in numerous settings.
10. FOUR-STAR WR DAKOTA GUERRANT (2027)
Dakota Guerrant was considered one of many very productive receivers for SFE. The 2027 top-100 WR from Michigan was extremely environment friendly compiling yardage after the catch. Guerrant is elusive within the open discipline and capable of maneuver properly working with defenders in his face, too. He has sturdy arms and is ready to play above the rim and work by tight protection, and made receptions at totally different ranges of the sphere. He is a stock-up WR within the 2027 class with large upside taking part in within the slot or engaged on the perimeter.
MORE NOTES ON PERFORMANCES AT OT7
–2028 QB Niemann Lawrence: Lawrence was one of many Day 1 high performers. Lawrence took benefit of every the weapons round of him — delivering correct throws with incredible timing and even higher anticipation — for a freshman or a passer at any stage. Lawrence could make high-level throws and operates properly above the curve for the place, and there’s nonetheless room for development for the touted passer slowly changing into a family identify
–4-star SAF Chace Calicut: The Texas four-star SAF was one other ball-hawk for SFE. Calicut snagged a number of interceptions on Saturday and once more on Sunday. He boasts glorious vary and size at 6-foot-3 and 190 kilos — with plus protection expertise and an innate really feel for the place taking part in again deep.
–4-star WR Jaylen Pile (Michigan commit): Pile has an especially excessive ground and was persistently open for RG3 Takeover this weekend. Pile was impactful working within the slot and in addition outdoors. He is sure-handed and a crisp route-runner — with a professionalism about how he operates.
–4-star WR Daniel Odom: Odom was considered one of Bell’s high pass-catchers for Hellstar and elevated his sport in an enormous approach throughout Sunday’s motion. The Oklahoma verbal was at his finest close to the top zone. He comes again to the soccer very sturdy and might actually play above the rim in jump-ball conditions. Odom additionally used his large 6-foot-3, 180-pound body to work in the course of the sphere successfully.
–4-star WR Jabari Mack: No participant got here up with extra highlights grabs over the course of the weekend than Mack, a top-100 WR from The Boot. Mack got here away with a number of touchdowns and several other extra highlight-reel type of receptions in Week 1 motion — turning heads just a few occasions all through the motion.
–4-star WR Easton Royal: The 2027 four-star WR from New Orleans was excellent getting open deep and separating in the course of the sphere. Royal is dynamic with the ball in his arms and is an enormous play ready to occur. Royal ran incredible routes and got here up with a number of clutch grabs for Fleaux this weekend.
–2029 QB CJ Cypher: As an incoming freshman, Cyper stood tall with a number of of the nation’s finest quarterbacks within the 2026 class. Cypher, who will play for Carrollton (Ga.) Excessive in Georgia, was on time and correct all through the weekend. He was in-rhythm, on-point, and able to making throws in any respect ranges of the sphere this weekend. Our eyes stay on Cypher as he steps into the varsity ranks.
–Three-star QB Grant Smith had a massively productive weekend working the RG3 Takeover. Smith made use of all of his gifted receivers — making robust throws into tight home windows for 2 days in a row. Smith is a big-armed passer that may push the ball downfield — and did his finest working within the short-passing sport and by the purple zone making sturdy selections time and time once more.