Over the weekend, some of the country’s most promising football prospects gathered in South Florida to compete for the prestigious Battle Miami 7v7 title. For the second consecutive year, the tournament was won by a Miami Hurricanes quarterback commit. This year, 2026 commit Dereon Coleman led his team, Defcon, to victory, following in the footsteps of Miami freshman Luke Nickel, who won with his C1N team last year.
Coleman was the standout player from the opening round of pool play to the championship game. His performance was so impressive that he was named MVP of the tournament. Reflecting on his success, Coleman shared his excitement and self-awareness, acknowledging areas for improvement despite his dominant showing.
Live from The Crib: Miami commit Dereon Coleman wins Battle Miami. Second year in a row Hurricane commit wins the championship pic.twitter.com/tkTkeQ5wnO
— CaneSport Miami Hurricanes (@CaneSport) January 19, 2025
Throughout the two-day event, Coleman showcased his remarkable arm talent, making difficult throws from various arm angles, both in the pocket and while on the move. His ability to evade defenders and deliver accurate passes made him virtually unstoppable. A national scout described Coleman’s arm as exceptional, noting that he was the most dominant player at the tournament, regardless of position.
Since committing to the Hurricanes last summer, Coleman has remained steadfast in his decision, effectively ending his recruitment process to focus entirely on Miami. He expressed deep trust in Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, who visited him recently. Coleman highlighted their genuine approach and family-oriented demeanor, which solidified his commitment. He also spoke about the motivation he gained from seeing other recruits join the program and emphasized his eagerness to contribute to the team’s success.