Summer high school passing tournaments have morphed into big business with super teams and national competitions.
Many coaches think it’s too much pressure for too little reward.
On the local level, however, there is still plenty to be gained from the 7-on-7 passing events.
“Nobody is going to rank one team over another when the season starts based on 7-on-7 tournaments,” said new St. Augustine High football coach Ron Gladnick.
“It’s passing, no linemen, limited contact. What you can learn is who’s athletic. Who will compete on the fifth game of the day when it’s 90 degrees.
“Who’s a leader? Who will the kids follow? Who will get knocked down, and get back up?”
The Saints were 2-9 last season and Gladnick is in the process of rebuilding the program.
“We have a freshman quarterback (Brady Palmer) and will have as many as eight freshmen on the varsity,” Gladnick said. “So every snap we take, every pass we throw helps us build chemistry.
“I’d hate to go into the season without the base we’ve build this summer.”
Quarterbacks shine
Several quarterbacks showed well over the summer. The list includes:
• Jax Leatherwood of Scripps Ranch, a first-team All-CIF pick as a junior, who performed well in national competitions.
• Conner Annicharico of La Costa Canyon appears ready to lead the Mavericks to the playoffs.
• Mt. Carmel’s Josh Bell takes over the reins and showed well at the La Costa Canyon Tournament. “La Jolla Country Day may throw the ball every down this season,” said Mt. Carmel coach Drew Westling. “We’ll throw it almost every down.”
• LJCD’s Bito Bass-Sulpizio threw 432 of the Torreys’ 576 passes last season for 3,380 yards and 38 TDs. LJCD ran the ball 240 times.
• Carlsbad’s Julian Sayin, a junior, has risen to a five-star player by 24/7Sports. He’s listed as No. 23 nationally and has drawn interest from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC and UCLA as well as others.
• Vista’s Russell Chavez performed well at the Ramona Tournament.
Impressive summers
• As usual, Lincoln turned heads this summer, led by RB Roderick Robinson, who has committed to UCLA.
• RB Major Givens of Steele Canyon looked sharp at La Costa Canyon. He has offers from Army, Navy, Air Force, Cornell and Penn among others.
• University City TE Cayden Dawson was a summer standout.
• Poway QB Dylan Curry looked good as did WR/DB Nico McBride at LCC. OL Louis Zele had a big summer.
• University City athlete Drey Garner has Pac-12 offers.
• La Jolla LB Justin Scully made a major impression.
• Carlsbad WR Griffin Rosenbloom appears ready for a breakout season and WR/TE Zack Marshall has Pac-12 offers.
• Madison LB James Tivao is getting big-time offers.
• Christian TE Hunter Province was all-tournament at the Elite 11 Tournament.
• Madison WR Jake Jackson has committed to play at San Diego State, but he’s getting offers for football and basketball as well.
• OL Roberto Garcia, who checks in at 6-foot-3, 310-pounds, has led Oceanside to a number of wins in competitions for offensive linemen.
• La Jolla WR Makai Smith committed to San Jose State.
• Carlsbad athlete Matai Tagoa’I, a transfer from Nevada, is drawing big-time interest.
• Carlsbad RB Paulo Burak has committed to the Naval Academy.
• Mater Dei Catholic athlete Surhaz Buncom has committed to Kansas and DB Chris Snyder has multiple offers.
• Lincoln LB Christopher Fewell has committed to San Diego State.
• St. Augustine OL Misael Sandoval, who is 6-6, 320-pounds, has committed to San Diego State.
• Cathedral Catholic DE Jack Janikowski is drawing big-time interest as is LB Sean Kagen and DBs Madden Faraimo and Ty Cortes.
• Helix athlete Adren Parker has multiple big-time offers.
• Jack Stevens, a three-star QB from Green Valley High in Nevada, has transferred to Cathedral Catholic. A junior, he has offers from North Texas and Florida State.
• Madison LB JoJo Falo has committed to Hawaii.
Under the radar
Some lesser-known player were impressive this summer, and look like they’re ready for breakout seasons.
The list include Mar Vista QB Aleks Wojcik, Crawford WR Tut Puoch, Poway RB Connor Rath and Poway WR Javion Kendrick, La Jolla DE Wallace Perry and Torrey Pines RB Alex Taylor.
Team competition
• Madison won its bracket at the San Diego State Tournament.
• Lincoln showed well at San Diego State, beating Santa Ana Mater Dei and Rancho Cucamonga.
• El Camino won a bracket at San Diego State.
• Carlsbad lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei 21-14 in the championship game of the Brave 8 Tournament at St. John Bosco. The Lancers had wins over Servite and Simi Valley in the Brave 8.
• San Juan Hills edged La Costa Canyon 18-15 to win the La Costa Canyon Tournament. St. Augustine and Poway tied 21-21 in the consolation championship. The Saints won on the first play of OT.
• Ramona has a number of starters back on both sides of the ball.
Early Top 10
In some order, the preseason Top 10 could include Mater Dei Catholic, Cathedral Catholic, Carlsbad, Lincoln, Helix, Madison, Torrey Pines, Scripps Ranch, Mission Hills, Patrick Henry, Poway, University City, Granite Hills, Steele Canyon, Eastlake, El Camino, Eastlake and Ramona.
New fields
Mater Dei Catholic and Cathedral Catholic have new fields for the 2022 season. Castle Park, which has endured under horrible conditions for years, has been promised a new facility. It won’t, however, be ready for this season.
