Day 1 of the OT7 Finals brought plenty of impressive performances from the collection of talent gathered in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES — The OT7 Finals are playing out this weekend in Los Angeles, and Day 1 of the event featured several highlight plays. There are eight teams overall competing for the OT7 crown after a spring of events. In all, 12 games were played Friday with another round of pool play set for Saturday at Loyola Marymount University.
Raw Miami had the best day Saturday by taking home three victories over their opponents. The Florida-based team features several top prospects including Georgia TE commit Jaxon Dollar and LSU ATH commit Braylon Calais.
Raw Miami will head into Day 2 in strong position to earn the top spot in the knockout round that will begin Sunday.
By the end of the day five teams collected at least two wins making for an important Day 2 of the event.
OT7 Finals Day 1 Top Performers
Before that, however, we must look back on Day 1 of the event and recount the standout performers from the OT7 Finals.
WR DJ Tubbs (2028 | Trillion Boys)
The rising junior from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) was impressive from start to finish during Friday’s action at the OT7 Finals. The speedy receiver seemingly caught everything thrown in his direction. Tubbs ended up with a handful of the top catches on the day. His production was due in large part to his ability to create separation and get behind the defense. Tubbs was a favorite target for Trillion Boys quarterback Ryan Rakowski on Day 1.
WR Eric McFarland (2027 | SFE)
Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M are the finalists for the Las Vegas native. One of those programs is going to be thrilled with what they get when McFarland makes a college decision. The IMG Academy standout shined on Day 1 with several impressive catches. He can be moved all over the field, and McFarland’s ability to get open and make plays in space allowed him to have success Friday. At 5-foot-8, he has plenty of speed and is right at home in a 7-on-7 setting.
CB Ace Alston (2027 | SFE | Notre Dame)
From the onset of Friday’s action at the Elite 11 Finals, the Notre Dame commit was locked in. Alston has great instincts and that showed with a big pick-6 in SFE’s first game of the day. He has a knack for being around the ball, and plays with a ton of confidence. Alston is fluid in his technique and has the right demeanor for playing the position at a high level.
CB John Meredith III (2027 | Wunna Warriors)
It is difficult to be physical in the 7-on-7 setting, but the elite cornerback shined with his ability to get into receivers Friday. He is impressive at the point of attack, and really locked down his side of the field on the first day of games. Rivals named the North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) standout its MVP for Day 1 at the OT7 Finals, and he certainly has all the tools to be a star at the next level.
WR Brysen Wright (2028 | C1N)
Cam Newton’s C1N squad won its first two games of the day Friday, and Wright was a big part of why. The elite 2028 receiver is one of the best prospects in the country, and he continually showed why on Day 1. His ability to make plays in traffic was as impressive as there was Friday. At 6-foot-3, he has the size teams covet at the receiver spot, and his confidence is off the charts. Wright will be a name to know for years to come, and he showed a glimpse into why he has gained so much attention already heading into his junior season.
DB Semaj Stanford (2027 | Cali Power | Oregon)
At one point Friday it looked like the Oregon commit was playing offense for the opposing teams. Stanford turned it on by the end of the day for Cali Power with multiple interceptions and several near picks Friday. Stanford was in a zone late in the day and was picking on quarterbacks with his ability to read their eyes. He stepped in front of a ton of passes throughout the day, and teams still didn’t stay away from him. The performance showed his instincts and ability to make game-changing plays.
DB/WR Honor Fa’alave-Johnson (2027 | Trillion Boys | USC)
Plenty of prospects claim to be two-way players, but not everyone has the skill to back it up on both sides of the ball. Fa’alave-Johnson does not fit into that category. He could legitimately play offense or defense at the next level, and he showed why Friday. The USC commit, who is expected to play in the secondary at the next level, made plays on both sides of the ball. He showcased his natural athletic abilities and speed throughout the day. He was particularly impressive defensively against Raw Miami with a couple key pass breakups.
QB Jaden Jefferson (2027 | Cali Power | Hawaii)
We have watched the Centennial (Corona, Calif.) standout quarterback at many events over the years. His composure and ability to make plays all over the field always stands out. Friday, Jefferson was making high-level throws all over the field and had some of the most impressive passes on the day. He has really strong anticipation and is quick to process defenses. He used that to his advantage during Day 1 at the OT7 Finals leading Cali Power to two wins.
