Brigade 7v7 - 14u - 2026

Now that the 7-on-7 season is officially over for the Tennessee Brigade and I've had a few days to let it all sink in, I'm enjoying reflecting on what was really the most fun 7-on-7 season I've gotten to watch Hunter participate in yet. Obviously, it was a really special opportunity, him earning himself the opportunity to play for Peyton Manning, an NFL legend, but it was more than just that. This was a really great group of kids he got to play with. Not only really great football players, but genuinely good kids too. Really enjoyed getting to watch them, and getting to know their parents as well.

Hunter has, historically, not experienced a ton of success on teams he's played on in the past, sadly. That was another aspect of this team that was really great. They were not only a very competitive team in every tournament they played in, but even won a couple of them, bringing home trophies from the first PrepRedZone tournament of the year on a memorably cold January weekend down in Hoover, AL, but also the Pylon tournament down in Panama City Beach, FL. I'm very grateful for the memory of getting to take a picture of my son with that trophy and his coach, Peyton Manning. It was really nice overall just getting to watch him finally get a taste of what it feels like to be a part of a winning team and experience some success.

I'm also grateful as I feel like the role he played on this team prepared him well for how I imagine his upcoming season of football will be at Concord this fall. He is a rising freshman, and this will be his first year of high school football on a team, and at a position, where there are a number of older kids that will likely be ahead of him on the depth chart. Hunter wasn't a starter on this team, but he played a role, and got a fair amount of playing time and reps on a team with players that are much more physically developed than he is currently. I feel like the role he played on this team will be similar to the one he will likely play for Concord this fall, and so learning how to fit that role to the best of his ability, and everything that goes along with that, was a good transition for him this offseason.

The leadership of the organization overall was really nice to work with too. Really appreciate the clarity and communication efforts from Coach Collins and Coach Floyd. Really great bunch of coaches that I’d let Hunter play for anytime. Thanks for all that you did for our boys this season!

It was great getting to know most of the parents around the team as well (I only say most because I’m not sure I actually got to meet all of you). Great group of people that helped make it a fun season.

Good luck this upcoming season to all of our new friends at Baylor, Tyner and Bradley Central. Go Brigade!