ESPN RISE

Can't wait till September? Some of the nation's top teams will be competing in the NIKE 7ON Tournament in Beaverton, Ore. Play begins Thursday. Follow all of the action at ESPNRISE.com.

Meet the teams:

Byrnes (S.C.) -- Team Zoom Blade

Coach: Chris Miller
2008: 14-1, South Carolina 4A-I state champions, 2008 ESPN RISE FAB 50 No. 12
Notes: The Rebels return a ton of offensive skill talent from last season's state title team, headlined by RB Marcus Lattimore, a 6-foot-0, 214 pounder who is arguably the nation's top recruit as his position after ripping off 2,314 yards and 30 TDs last year. He's not alone on offense; quarterback Chas Dodd compiled 2,927 yards and 28 TDs as a junior, and is already a two-time all-state pick. The Rebels figure to be a preseason top five team in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 rankings.
Key Players: QB Chas Dodd, WR Torian Richardson, WR Jazz King, WR/CB Nick Jones, CB Zach Miller

Miami Northwestern -- Vapor Trail

Coach: Billy Rolle
2008: 13-3, Florida 6A state runnerup
Notes: The Bulls reloaded from the '07 FAB 50 national championship team with a strong finish last fall despite starting several youngsters. Those youngsters are a year older and better this fall and Miami Northwestern's secondary and speed should be a tough matchup for any team at Nike 7ON. Teddy Bridgewater, a rising junior, will be one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the Class of 2011.
Key Players: QB Teddy Bridgewater, RB Corvin Lamb, WR Michaelee Harris, TE Charles Fashaw, LB Rashad Gaitor, CB Khalid Marshall, CB Khambrel McGee, S Jerome Thomas

Skyline (Dallas) -- Zoom Fly

Coach: Reginald Samples
2008: 12-2, Texas 5A state semifinalist
Notes: School with rich athletic history, notable alums include NBA star Larry Johnson and sprinter Michael Johnson, will be loaded for a state title run in the fall with speed and depth all across the offense and a talented linebacker corps that includes Corey Nelson, one of the nation's top prospects at the position.
Key Players: QB Javia Hall, RB Tony Drake, WR Demarcus Burks, WR Mike Davis, WR Joe Powell, LB Corey Nelson, LB Domonique Patterson, LB Anthony Wallace, CB Adrian James, CB Adrian Lee, S Franklin Shannon

Serra (Gardena, Calif.) -- Land Sharks

Coach: Scott Altenberg
2008: 13-1, CIF Southern Section finalist
Notes: This small, private Catholic school in SoCal packed a punch last fall and should again in '09 with the return of the consensus top recruit in the Golden State, versatile WR/DB Robert Woods. Serra can rival Skyline and Pahokee for the top group of receivers at 7ON, with not only Woods but transfer Paul Richardson and dynamite junior George Farmer in the lineup. Last season, Woods totaled 1,378 yards and 19 TDs receiving last year, forced seven interceptions and had seven returns (INT, kickoff and punt) for scores. Richardson caught 48 passes for 780 yards and nine TDs last fall at Los Alamitos. Key Players: WR/DB Robert Woods, WR Paul Richardson. WR George Farmer, OLB Jason Gibson, CB Bene Benwikere

Pahokee (Fla.) -- Vapor Jets

Coach: Blaze Thompson 2008: 12-3, Florida Class 2B state champions Notes: The Blue Devils don't have the depth that some of the other bigger programs might, but even with only 30 or so varsity players, this program has showed it can compete with the nation's best over the past decade. Speed and athleticism across the board are a Pahokee calling card. ESPNU 150 Watch List candidate De'Joshua Johnson will play quarterback this fall, but will most likely be a wide receiver at the next level. Key Players: QB/WR De'Joshua Johnson, WR Chris Dunkley, WR Fred Pickett, WR Dennis Hall, LB Zachery Allen, CB Merrill Noel

Lakewood (Calif.) -- Field Generals

Coach: Thadd MacNeal
2008: 10-3, CIF Southern Section semifinalist
Notes: This traditional baseball powerhouse hopes to challenge Poly (Long Beach) for Moore League supremacy this fall with one of it's best football teams returning in sometime led by Elite 11 QBs Jesse Scroggins.
Key Players: QB Jesse Scroggins, RB Jerry Stone, WR Kevin Anderson, WR Chris Davis, CB Brennen Kelly, S Dion Bailey

Gainesville (Ga.) -- Merciless

Coach: Bruce Miller
2008: 12-1, Georgia 3A quarterfinalist
Notes: The Red Elephants will represent Georgia this summer at 7ON and hope to make a finals appearance as Henry County did a year ago. Gainesville is led by a quartet of players as talented as any at their respective positions.
Key Players: QB/DB Blake Sims, WR Tai-ler Jones, LB A.J. Johnson, LB Thomas Sprague, S/WR Daunte Carr

DeSoto (Texas) -- Super Speed

Coach: Claude Mathis
2008: 6-6, Texas District 11-5A co-champs
Notes: The Eagles did well to scrape together a district co-title last fall with 15 new starters and a new coach one month before the season started, but now this traditional recruiting hotbed is loaded once again and set to do big things in the Lone Star State, led by a pair of future Texas Longhorns.
Key Players: QB Ryan Polite, RB Marcus Murphy, RB Antoinne Jimmerson, WR Darius Terrell, LB Zachary Orr, CB Adrian White