- April 28, 2024
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Mainland football players battle for the ball against East Lake at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland High School football players prepare for the 7on7 and Big Man Camps at the University of South Florida. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Elyjah Gilyard makes the catch while he warms up for the 7on7 camp games at USF. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Emmanuel Yisrael plays in the first 7on7 game against Bloomingdale at the USF football camps. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland coach Travis Roland goofs around with Dennis King III at the 7on7 camp at USF. Photo by Michele Meyers
USF Big Man Camp defensive lineman MVP Christian Hudson is going to be a junior at Mainland in the fall where he started for the Mainland football team as a freshman and sophomore. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland defensive tackle Christian Hudson receives his defensive lineman MVP at the USF Big Man Camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Emmanuel Yisrael laughs after he toes a touchdown in for Mainland against East Lake at the USF 7-on-7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Khalil Wilmore scores a touchdown for Mainland against East Lake at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Khalil Wilmore scores a touchdown for Mainland against East Lake at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer David Hall warms up before the first game at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Emmanuel Yisrael fights to get the pass in the game against East Lake at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland athletic director Terry Anthony calls the shots from the sideline at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Khalil Wilmore celebrates after another touchdown against East Lake at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Clarence McCloud runs the ball toward the end zone during the game against East Lake at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland coach Travis Roland and his son Paxton walk toward the indoor field at the USF football camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland quarterback Sebastian Johnson passes during a 7on7 game at the USF camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland breaks up a pass by East Lake at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Tyree Weatherspoon goes for the pass in the end zone at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainlaind's quarterback coach Snap Wood warms his guys up before their first game at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland football player Rodney Hill was all smiles at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Tyshawn Pitts (left) battles his opponent in the one-on-one exercise during the USF Big Man camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Skyler Summers (right) battles in the one-on-one exercise during the USF Big Man camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer George Armstrong (3) runs drills during the Big Man camp at USF. Photo by Michele Meyers
Touchdown Mainland at the 7on7 camp at USF. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Emmanuel Yisrael attempts to avoid the touch during a game at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland coach Travis Roland goofs around with his players in between games at the USF 7on7 camp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Christian Hudson tears it up in the one-on-one drill during the Big Man camp at USF. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland football coach Travis Roland and his Buccaneers headed to the University of South Florida’s 7on7 and Big Man camps on June 10 to seek out the competition. His seven-on-seven crew spent the nearly 90-degree day playing five games on the outdoor fields while the offensive and defensive linemen ran drills on the indoor field.
“The only way to get competition is go find it,” Roland said. “You can go against each other in practice, but it’s different when you’re playing somebody that doesn’t know what you’re doing, you don’t know what they’re doing. You get way more reps and way more quality.”
Seven-on-seven is played on a 40-yard field with unique rules that force a faster-paced game and usually more points. Players are not allowed to tackle and must touch below the neck to consider the player running the ball downed.
“It’s great team building because you find out about yourselves,” Roland said. “You find out what you need to work on — who’s ready to compete. All in all, it was a good day. We got out healthy and found out what we need to work on. Lawrence Campbell made some plays today; that bodes well for us. I was surprised by our young guy, Khalil Wilmore, who I am excited about. He’s got a chance to be really good.”
The only way to get competition is go find it. You can go against each other in practice but it’s different when you’re playing somebody that doesn’t know what you’re doing, you don’t know what they’re doing. You get way more reps and way more quality.
—TRAVIS ROLAND, Mainland football coach
The Buccaneers had a win against Bloomingdale and East Lake but lost their games against Wharton, Plant A and Gainesville. Team captain Jerard Bell’s favorite game was against East Lake. He is impressed that his teammates maintained their composure even after they made mistakes.
“We have to work on our intensity and moving at a faster pace,” he said. “They (his teammates) did a good job. We made a few mistakes but still held our composure. My teammates are amazing. We do good with each other. We keep each other up.”
Out of the nearly 200 players participating in the Big Man camp, Mainland captain Christian Hudson took home the defensive lineman most valuable player award. He has been part of Mainland’s starting lineup since his freshman year and will continue to be as a junior in the fall. He has played on both offense and defense.
“He is one of the strongest players on our team,” Roland said. “He is a phenomenal kid. He has a 3.2 or 3.3 GPA. He is good in every facet of life. It’s not a surprise he was chosen. We see how he works throughout the year in the weight room, off the field and leadership-wise.”
Hudson has played football since he was 4 years old. He attributes his success to lifting weights as often as possible and working hard. He believes the job is never finished.
“I’m going to tell my teammates to work harder than me and be better than me so they can get this award,” he said. “I’m going to push them to the best of my ability. I love my teammates. I wouldn’t be here without them.”
