Some of the nation’s top seventh-grade football players took the field Wednesday night at Paradise Coast Sports Complex, competing in the Football University 7th Grade Under Armour All-American Bowl.Back in June, hundreds of youth football players competed at the same Naples venue during Football University’s Top Gun showcase, all vying for a chance to qualify for the All-American Bowl. Six months later, 60 of those seventh-grade athletes returned, representing communities from across the country with a national championship on the line.For many players, the event marks their first experience in a national championship setting, complete with a full week of practices, coaching and organized competition.“I’m grateful for everything everybody gave me,” said Xzavier Jean, one of the participating athletes from Naples. “And it’s just good to be in this environment with good kids, the best seventh-graders.”The game is the first of its kind at the seventh-grade level in Naples for Football University, which has hosted All-American events for older age groups for more than a decade.“It’s the first time we’ve done a seventh-grade Under Armour All-American game,” said FBU organizer Steve Quinn. “So about 3,000 people have invaded Naples, Florida, for this game! And their parents, so about 8000 in total, going to be a great weekend.”Throughout the week, players trained under the guidance of experienced coaches, including several from Southwest Florida.“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Barron Collier head football coach Brannon Tidwell, one of the coaches involved. “The kids are fantastic and they’re really good football players.”Tidwell said the experience offers young athletes a chance to continue developing outside of their regular seasons.“All these kids here have goals to go all in and play at the next level,” Tidwell said. “So they’re getting really good coaching by everybody here.”For players like Jean, just being selected to participate is an accomplishment on its own.“That feels good. That feels nice,” he said. “I’m welcome to be here.”The seventh-grade championship is part of Football University’s All-American week in Naples. The showcase continues with the Freshman All-American Bowl on Sunday, which will feature 60 of the nation’s top freshman players. Past FBU All-American alumni include Trevor Lawrence, Christian McCaffrey, Bryce Young and Sony Michel.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

NAPLES, Fla. —

Some of the nation’s top seventh-grade football players took the field Wednesday night at Paradise Coast Sports Complex, competing in the Football University 7th Grade Under Armour All-American Bowl.

Back in June, hundreds of youth football players competed at the same Naples venue during Football University’s Top Gun showcase, all vying for a chance to qualify for the All-American Bowl. Six months later, 60 of those seventh-grade athletes returned, representing communities from across the country with a national championship on the line.

For many players, the event marks their first experience in a national championship setting, complete with a full week of practices, coaching and organized competition.

“I’m grateful for everything everybody gave me,” said Xzavier Jean, one of the participating athletes from Naples. “And it’s just good to be in this environment with good kids, the best seventh-graders.”

The game is the first of its kind at the seventh-grade level in Naples for Football University, which has hosted All-American events for older age groups for more than a decade.

“It’s the first time we’ve done a seventh-grade Under Armour All-American game,” said FBU organizer Steve Quinn. “So about 3,000 people have invaded Naples, Florida, for this game! And their parents, so about 8000 in total, going to be a great weekend.”

Throughout the week, players trained under the guidance of experienced coaches, including several from Southwest Florida.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Barron Collier head football coach Brannon Tidwell, one of the coaches involved. “The kids are fantastic and they’re really good football players.”

Tidwell said the experience offers young athletes a chance to continue developing outside of their regular seasons.

“All these kids here have goals to go all in and play at the next level,” Tidwell said. “So they’re getting really good coaching by everybody here.”

For players like Jean, just being selected to participate is an accomplishment on its own.

“That feels good. That feels nice,” he said. “I’m welcome to be here.”

The seventh-grade championship is part of Football University’s All-American week in Naples. The showcase continues with the Freshman All-American Bowl on Sunday, which will feature 60 of the nation’s top freshman players.

Past FBU All-American alumni include Trevor Lawrence, Christian McCaffrey, Bryce Young and Sony Michel.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.