Elite 11 - Malcolm Weaver

Malcolm Weaver from Loyola Academy participated in the ESPN RISE's Elite 11 quarterback competition at Ohio State University on May 20.  The Elite 11 event is the nation's premier quarterback competition for prep athletes.

As a junior last fall, Weaver led the Loyola Ramblers to the Illinois state 8A semifinals.  This spring, he has been demonstrating his talents in 7-on-7 tournaments as the quarterback of the TEAM ILLINOIS all-star team. 

It's been a very productive spring/summer for Weaver.  The rising senior lead TEAM ILLINOIS to the championship at the Eastern Michigan University 7-on-7 event on April 30 and spent last weekend participating in the Chi-town Invitational tournament in Lake Barrington, Illinois. The Chi-town Invite hosts all-star 7-on-7 teams from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

High school juniors commit to new workouts — 7-on-7 style

Farmington Hills— Latham Donald sprints through his passing drills as the sleet hits his face on a cold spring afternoon.

It's spring in Michigan, and yes, football is being played.

But it's not your typical spring football practice, like the ones taking place in Ann Arbor (Michigan) or East Lansing (Michigan State).

It's high school football, and it's 7-on-7 football.

"It's game time," said Donald, an all-conference running back at St. Clair Shores Lakeview. "I haven't received any (scholarship) offers. I'm definitely excited to be here. I want to see where I stack up. I'll gain experience competing. At the next level everybody is great. I want a head start."

In its infancy in Michigan, 7-on-7 football has been all the rage in the South, where football is king on states like Florida, Alabama and Texas.

The sport is for underclassmen — most are juniors who are entering their senior season in the fall.

"You hear so much about kids down South," said Mill Coleman, who along with Ron Rice has organized the two Michigan Elite 7-on-7 teams. "They look the same. Ron and I talk about it all the time. We want the kids to compete against kids from around the country."  (read more)

TEAM ILLINOIS - 7on7 Competition at EMU

Congratulations to all the TEAM ILLINOIS (sponsored by Muscle Milk) athletes that took part in the Midwest Elite 7on7 games at Eastern Michigan University today!   TEAM ILLINOIS beat some excellent all-star teams from Kentucky, Michigan & Ohio including two very big wins against Michigan Elite.  Michigan Elite is one of the best teams in the country.  Just recently, they won the Badger Sport / New Level Athletics 7on7 tournament at University of Pittsburgh and were named the top seed from the Midwest/East regions at the national tournament July 1-3 in Dallas (read more).  It was a great accomplishment in the first competition of the season.

Coach TK Ehlebracht stated, “the [TEAM ILLINOIS] athletes with us this weekend not only have great athletic potential but each of them has a lot of class and character which will make them even more attractive to colleges and universities”.