Gridiron Kings Selected at ESPN Wide World of Sports

Filed in: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Champion Gridiron Kings, the nation’s elite high school football event featuring 64 of the best skill position players in the country, has chosen the first 38 student athletes invited to participate in the 7-on-7 games, skill challenges and performance training that take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. during the ESPNHS Games Presented by GNC.

The top quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties are brought together from July 27-29 and divided into teams based on their region (West, Southwest, Southeast, and Midwest). For the fourth annual year the event, in addition to several other ESPNHS Games, will be televised by ESPNU.

2012 Champion Gridiron Kings Athlete roster highlights as of June 4, 2012:

  • Nine players from Texas, followed by seven from Florida and five from California
  • 14 states currently represented
  • 13 defensive backs, seven wide receivers and six linebackers
Position Player High School
RB  Dontre Wilson (DeSoto, Texas)
DB  Eli Woodard (Eastern; Voorhees, N.J.)
Ath  LaQuvionte Gonzalez (Cedar Hill; Texas)
DB  Leon McQuay (Armwood; Seffner, Fla.)
DB  Priest Willis (Marcos de Niza; Tempe, Ariz.)
WR  Ra’Shaad Samples (Skyline; Dallas, Texas)
RB  Ryan Green (St. Petersburg Catholic; Fla.)
DB  Shaq Wiggins (Sandy Creek; Tyrone, Ga.)
TE Adam Breneman (Cedar Cliff; Camp Hill, Pa.)
RB Alvin Kamara (Norcross, Ga.)
DB Cameron Burrows (Trotwood-Madison; Trotwood, Ohio)
DB Chris Hawkins (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif)
WR Darrell Daniels (Freedom; Oakley, Calif.)
LB Deon Hollins (Thurgood Marhsall; Missouri City, Texas)
TE Durham Smythe (Belton, Texas)
WR Eldridge Massington (West Mesquite; Mesquite, Texas)
RB Ezekiel Elliot (Burroughs, St. Louis, Mo.)
DB Hatari Byrd (Central; Fresno, Calif.)
LB Holland Fisher (Manchester; Midlothian, Va.)
WR Jacorey Warrick (Cypress Falls; Houston, Texas)
WR Jake Oliver (Dallas Jesuit; Dallas, Texas)
ATH Jalin Marshall (Middletown, Ohio)
RB Justin Davis (Lincoln; Stockton, Calif.)
DB Kendall Fuller (Good Counsel; Olney, Md.)
WR Laquon Treadwell (Crete-Monee; Crete, Ill.)
LB Matthew Thomas (B.T. Washington; Miami, Fla.)
LB Mike Mitchell (Prestonwood Christian Academy; Plano, Texas)
TE O.J. Howard (Autauga Academy; Prattville, Ala.)
DB Quin Blanding (’14) (Bayside; Virginia Beach, Va.)
LB Quinton Powell (Mainlan; Daytona Beach, Fla.)
LB Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala.)
WR Ryan Jenkins (Lassiter; Marietta, Ga.)
QB Shane Morris (De La Collegiate; Warren, Mich.)
DB Sojourn Shelton (Plantation, Fla.)
DB Tahaan Goodman (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
RB Taquan Mizzell (Bayside; Virginia Beach, Va.)
DB Vernon Hargreaves (Wharton; Tampa, Fla.)
DB Will Likely (Glades Central, Belle Glade; Fla.)

Previous Gridiron Kings Highlights:

  • 2011 – Southwest team captured the title ending the Southeast two-year run led by MVPs Matt Davis and De’Vante Harris each of whom signed with Texas A&M.
  • 2010 – Every 2010 player is now a NCAA Div. I player
  • 2010 and 2009- The Southeast squad crowned the Gridiron Kings Champions led in 2010 by Florida State University commits, and Champion Gridiron Kings MVPs Nick O’Leary and Karlos Williams.
  • 2009 – Notable players include: Kenny Stills (started every game of 2010 season at Oklahoma) and Christian Bryant (started for Ohio State in 2010 as true freshman)

Additional ESPNHS Games information, along with the final Champion Gridiron Kings roster will be announced at a later date.

For Event Media Credentials: gracie.blackburn@espn.com

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ESPNHS Games Presented by GNC
The ESPN HS Games Presented by GNC – a three-week long elite and competitive level event featuring the premier high school sports talent in the country – will take place between from July 9-30 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The ESPNHS Games are anchored by three elite high school sports events: Champion® All-American Showcase, a US Lacrosse boys and girls event; the AAU 11th Grade Boys Basketball Super Showcase presented by Champion® and Champion® Gridiron Kings.

In addition, the ESPNHS Games features several competitive events in football, lacrosse, field hockey, softball, basketball, baseball and track & field involving high school athletes from around the country. Among those events are AAU U8-U12 National Basketball Championships, the US Lacrosse U15 National Championships, the KSA National Football Summer 7s, the USSSA 16U/18U Fastpitch Softball World Series and the USSSA 18U National Baseball Championships. For more information visit www.espnhs.com/hsgames