Okay, so it’s March, and while baseball, track and tennis are dominating the headlines, football is also starting to get some play.

While we can talk about the girls starting the flag football season with a jamboree at the Miami Dolphins training facility in Davie, the boys are also at it again as well.

I guess by now, we all should be used to the fact that football really never ends in the state of Florida, and for many BCAA athletes, the Nike and Under Armour combines seem to start immediately after the regular season ends.

Last weekend, some of the top football players in the state of Florida got together at the University of South Florida in Tampa for the Third Annual Badger 7-on-7 Tournament, and at the center of all that talent were BCAA players competed for two teams that went to play for exposure, and of course a chance to win it all.

While the BCAA players came up short in the quest for a team title, several players, including Plantation safety Jeremy Cash, defensive back Malcolm Lewis and linebacker Ryan Shazier and quarterback Immoni Carswell all had the opportunity to gain valuable recognition as talent scouts from Rivals.com, Scout.com and Elite Scouting Services watched and talked with a number of players.

Whether it was for fan exposure, which most of the websites represented, or a chance for colleges to find out more about the players from Elite Scouting Services, the weekend was all about making the hard work pay off in March, so things will be easier n August, September, October, November and December.

“Having the chance to play against some of the best players in the state was really a huge thrill,” said Cash, who has schools such as Ohio State and Miami watching his every move. “Picking off a pass or making a play against a quality receiver is what gets you noticed at an event like this.”

Cash, Shazier, Lewis and Carswell weren’t the only athletes from the BCAA involved in the weekend. Broward’s No. 1 Class of 2011 player, safety Wayne Lyons of Dillard had the chance to showcase his many skills. So did Miramar Class of 2012 defensive back Tracy Howard and athlete Devonte Mathis, and McArthur Class of 2011 safety Nick North.

“I love the competition an event like this provides,” said Lyons, who is one of the top student/athletes in Broward County. “To come to Tampa and play against some of the best players in Florida will tell a lot about how much work you have to do to be at the top level.”

South Plantation receiver Robbie Anderson, Blanche Ely defensive back Courtney Hall, Dillard defensive back Allen Ramsey, Stranahan athlete Corey Tindal, and Boyd Anderson’s Jesse York (receiver), Kent Turene (linebacker), defensive end Shaun Ward and defensive back Harmon Brown all took part as well.

You can reach Larry Blustein via e-mail at FloridaKids1@hotmail.com. He can also be heard every Thursday night (9-10) on the Miami Dolphins High School Gridiron Report on WQAM (560 AM).