7-on-7 football contest isn’t just about sports
Event provides avenue for ‘positive’ action in community, Elam says.
RIVIERA BEACH — Years removed from his football career, former Cardinal Newman High and NFL standout Abram Elam is still fulfilling a lifelong dream.
“I told myself whenever God gave me the opportunity to give back, that’s what I would do,” Elam said Friday at the second annual T.E.A.M. Elam 7-on-7 Championship. “I just hope these kids take notice of it, make the most out of each opportunity they get, and come back and do some great things as well.”
Once a star quarterback and defensive back for the Crusaders, Elam welcomed more than 200 high school football players to the Wells Recreation Center. Benjamin, Dwyer and Glades Central — which took down Palm Beach Lakes 20-19 in the championship game — were among the 10 schools sending teams to the event.
Dwyer and Lakes each sent two teams. Benjamin, Glades Central, Pahokee, King’s Academy, Palm Beach Gardens, Fort Pierce West- wood, Martin County and Coral Springs-Taravella each sent one.
“We just want to give these kids a platform to do great, positive things in the community,” Elam said. “Compete against some of the best talent as well ... plus the 7-on-7 is giving kids a lot of expo- sure, another way forthem to be able to get opportuni- ties and be seen across the country.”
Many of the players have Division I offers or already have committed to elite programs, something Elam — who played for Notre Dame and Kent State — gleefully noted. His son, Benjamin defensive back Kaiir Elam, is rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports.
Kaiir joked that playing in his father’s event would generate speculation that games were “rigged.”
“People gonna hate, but as long as I do what I’m supposed to do, it’s fun,” Kaiir said.
Former Dwyer quarterback Jacoby Brissett and former Atla n tic corner- back Brandon Flowers were among the Palm Beach County-turned-NFL players in attendance. Before Brissett became a local star and eventually a quarterback for the New England Patri- ots and Indianapolis Colts, he was a high school athlete who looked to Elam as a mentor.
Flowers, a 2013 Pro Bowl selection while with the Kansas City Chiefs, was especially pleased with the event’s growth from last summer.
“You can see all these kids lighting up, playing each other from different schools,” said Flowers, a second-round pick of the Chiefs in 2008. “They’re getting better on and off the field, they’re communicating — they don’t even know (because) they’re communicating, they’re learning. I think it’s a great event to network, get your game up. ... Iron sharpens iron out here.”
Flowers noted the event’s competitive nature is one that provides the 7- on-7 games with “more incentive.”
“A team out here, they can’t sleep at night before coming here, knowing they’re going to play against a cornerback that’s going to Florida State or a receiver that’s going to Michigan,” Flowers said. “A guy that doesn’t even have an offer, he wants to see where his level of game is.
“This could boost his confidence going into his next year of football knowing, ‘I locked that receiver down who’s going to the University of Michigan. I belong at one of these schools, too.’ So it gives them that extra confidence to do well.”