Hialeah Wins 1st Annual FAU 7-on-7 Tournament

Ten teams from across the state of Florida made the journey to Boca Raton Saturday morning for an opportunity to claim the first annual 7-on-7 passing tournament hosted by FAU. While teams were out competing, the Owls coaching staff was on hand evaluating the talent.

Running back Jerron Seymour was a key component of the Hialeah Senior High School offense and had an impressive day for the championship team, which good enough for a verbal scholarship offer from the Owls coaching staff.

“I was just told today that I was offered by FAU. I’m happy about that and looking forward to being able to look at the program and get to know the school,” Seymour said after the championship game.

Tennessee, West Virginia, Minnesota, Memphis, and Marshall all had already offered the 5’8” 190 pound running back, but FAU coaches wanted to wait and see Seymour in person before extending a scholarship.

“Before we had saw some of these guy we thought they would have a chance, but then  some of them jumped up and had a really good day, making us think that they were a lot better than what we had thought before,” defensive coordinator Kirk Van Valkenburgh explained at the conclusion of the tournament. “We probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see that, but throughout the course of the day we were able to get a good read.”

Seymour wasn’t the only member of the championship team with an offer from the Owls, tight end Carlos Carvajal was on display using his 6’7” 215 pound frame to make plays throughout the tournament. Carvajal recently picked up a verbal offer from the Owls and looks to be an almost younger mold of current Florida Atlantic tightened Rob Housler. Carvajal is set to visit the University of Tennessee on
Monday and has already visited Purdue.

“I want to visit here and keep my mind open,” Carvajal told Fauowlsnest.com in-between games.

With teams playing three games before lunch to determine seeding for the single elimination bracket set for the afternoon, Hialeah was named the top seed and cruised into the championship game. The long hard-fought day came down to final play of the tournament, a 4th and goal for North Broward Preparatory School, who was trailing 20-12 to Hialeah. An interception sealed the deal and tournament director Dale Williams awarded Hialeah the first annual FAU 7-on-7 championship plaque.

“It was a good opportunity to get teams on campus and evaluate talent kids and let them see what FAU has to offer for them,” Williams said of the tournaments. “We want to get this going to being the biggest it can.”

Tournament Notes:

-Freedom High School offensive linemen Josue Joseph, a FAU verbal commitment for the 2011 recruiting class, traveled with his team to campus and cheer them on. Joseph also brought along his brother, Dieugot Joseph, a 2013 offensive lineman prospect that plays with his brother at Freedom. FAU coaches are not allowed to contact Dieugot due to the new NCAA recruiting regulations that have been set in place, but that doesn’t mean the 6’3” 215 product isn’t on their radar.

- Former FAU defensive coordinator Kirk Hoza helped coach the 1-A Calvary Christian High School into the semifinals, creating an underdog story as most of the other teams participating where class 4-A or higher. Hoza’s son was the quarterback for the team that lost a close game to North Broward sending them home.

-St. Cloud, Evans and Freedom High School all made the three hour drive from the central Florida area to compete, and Mulberry High School came from Polk county. West Boca, Calvary Chrisitan, North Broward, John C. Leonard and Hialeah all made the short trip.

- North Broward wide receiver A.J. Sebastiano had one of the most impressive performances in the camp, and was hoping to gain an offer from FAU’s coaching staff. "I don't have any offers on the table right now," Sebastiano said when leaving the tournament field. Listed as a three-star prospect on Rivals.com, Sebastiano is still looking for his first offer and remarked, “It’s a lot of frustrating nights looking at the computer looking and all of stuff, but it’s motivation for me and my team to push harder.”

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