Adidas x Bape Super Bowl 7x7: 5 Players That Shined
ATLANTA, Ga. -- As part of the Super Bowl LIII festivities, adidas football rolled into town and held a star-studded 7-on-7 tournament on Thursday night, complete with celebrity appearances from NFL stars like Shaquill Griffin, James Conner and Alvin Kamara, as well as Migos' rapper Quavo.
High school players from around the Atlanta area came out to participate in the event and were equipped with limited-edition gear from a collaboration between adidas and Bathing Ape, a popular Japanese streetwear company.
While the players were excited to sport the gear, it also turned into a competitive on-field event. Here are five players who stood out for their performances.
Recruiting: Baker is committed to Alabama.
Performance: Baker was the talk of the event among the college players in attendance, including Clemson five-star Justyn Ross. He made big play after big play and racked up touchdowns while showing good speed and excellent hands. There's a reason why Alabama made him a priority early and he showed it on Thursday night.
Recruiting: Del Rio has offers from LSU, Miami and several others
Performance: Del Rio paired with Baker to make quite the connection, regularly hitting for big gains. He also showed a nice ability to fit the ball into tight windows and continues to improve his arm strength as his development continues. Del Rio appears to be the next Power Five quarterback to emerge from McEachern.
Recruiting: Bailey is committed to Tennessee.
Performance: A veteran of the 7-on-7 world, Bailey is no stranger to competing and excelling at elite events. On Thursday night he seemed to get better as the tournament went along, saving his best for last while leading his team to the event's championship. Bailey has great size and arm strength and looks completely healthy after suffering an injury during his junior season.
Recruiting: Oklahoma, Tennessee, Clemson, Georgia
Performance: Gilbert teamed with his close friend and high school teammate Bailey to put on a show down the stretch, using his big frame and leaping ability to box out defenders and make some impressive catches. Gilbert, who also stars at defensive end, is a nightmare matchup for defensive backs who have to deal with his rare combination of size and speed.
Recruiting: Stockton has an early offer from Rutgers.
Performance: The next in a long line of quality quarterbacks to emerge from the Peach State, Stockton more than held his own despite competing against older prospects. Still a freshman in high school academically, Stockton has a strong arm and a good ability to read defenses. His recruitment will likely take off once schools get a chance to see him throw in person this spring.