Youth football steadily evolving into mirror image of AAU hoops

Sophomore quarterback Akeem Jones came to the South Florida Express tryouts as a relative unknown, but will gain massive exposure as a member of the travel squad. (Andy Staples/SI.com)HALLANDALE, Fla. -- Those who drifted over to watch the quarterback group couldn't help but notice the pink socks. When their eyes scanned upward, they couldn't help but notice the player occupying those pink socks. Miami Carol City High sophomore Akeem Jones stands 6-foot-3. He weighs 186 pounds. He's raw, but he can run and he has a bazooka attached to his right shoulder.

Jones came to the tryout for the South Florida Express seven-on-seven team as a relative unknown obscured first by a platoon system and second by a broken ankle this past fall at his school. By Sunday night, he was a member of a team that, a few days earlier, had 10 players from its 2010 roster sign FBS scholarships. A few months earlier, Jones' new team had agreed to an apparel deal with Under Armour that will provide Express players with cleats, uniforms and warmups. (Jones will provide his own pink socks, which he wears to honor the memory of his grandmother, Nelly Kirkland, who died of breast cancer in October.) This spring and summer, Jones and the Express will play teams from other regions of Florida -- and the rest of the country -- in tournaments that match seven offensive skill position players against a group of seven linebackers and defensive backs. read more >>

Welcome to the budding world of elite travel football, recruitniks

Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples recently accompanied the South Florida Express travel team, which includes 25 of Florida's top prospects, on an unofficial recruiting trip to a national tournament and four schools in the South.From The Grove to South Beach, Staples got a firsthand look of what it's like to be a top recruit. This is the first installment of a five-part series. read more >

7-on-7 tournaments can be a crucial boost for football players

For those who do not subscribe to offseason 7-on-7 tournaments and other football-related events, maybe you need to see how they have helped North Broward Prep receiver A.J. Sebastiano.

After going to his share of testing combines the past few years and never really gaining much recognition, the 6-1, 180-pounder decided to try out for the South Florida Express, a 7-on-7 team, which has vaulted several top-flight athletes into the spotlight the past two years. read more >