The Liberty Challenge is back, and bigger than ever.
Now entering its 8th year, the highly celebrated showcase returns as one of the premier stages for elite youth football in the Northeast.
This
season, the event welcomes the Brooklyn Titans to the committee, joining the iconic Harlem Jets and Long Island Elite Football in shaping one of the most anticipated matchups of the year.
The 2026 Liberty Challenge will once again spotlight top talent from Long Island and New York City, paired with a powerful salute to first responders and service men and women. Fans can expect vendors, concessions, special guest appearances from the NFL, and a headline
DJ to cap the experience.
Dates and details coming soon. Follow along, this is one you wonβt want to miss.
Vendors and entertainers DM to reserve a spot.
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Spring Football on Long Island: What Ages 7β16 Should Really Be Working On
Spring football gets misunderstood. Some parents think itβs all about trophies. Others think itβs pointless because βthe real season is in the fall.β The truth is, spring football is one of the most important development windows for young players ages 7 through 16. On Long Island and across the New York metro area...
Played varsity as a freshman at Miller Place High School this fall. When the season ended, he stepped up joining the
Long Island Elite National Team and putting together a standout weekend at the New Yearβs Bowl in Texas. One of the most instrumental playmakers in San Antonio, impacting the game on offense, defense, and special teams.Β
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Wide Receiver Eval:Β
Polished route runner with a strong understanding of leverage and spacing. Comfortable winning in contested situations over the middle and down the field. Tracks the ball cleanly on verticals and consistently finishes through contact. Shows real YAC ability, balance, burst, and competitive finish.Β
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Defensive / ST Value:Β
Natural ball skills translate on defense with key interceptions and good anticipation in coverage. Plays with urgency on special teams and changes field position. High motor. Highly competitive. Detail-oriented in his work.
Trustworthy player who does his job and then some. Stock continues to trend up.
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MORE TOP PLAYERS
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#TheBlueprintLIE495
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Enjoyed camp last week with some of our top 8th graders, but nothing here is built by one man.
This is the result of shared standards, aligned values, and like-minded people willing to tell the truth when itβs inconvenient.
Alongside my partner Gerald Filardi and our staff of expert coaches, weβve taken on the responsibility and privilege of developing young men who understand what this game actually demands.Β
On the field it takes extreme commitment. Off the
field it requires good grades, impeccable character, and knowledge on the nuances of recruiting and NIL β no fairy tales, no shortcuts.
This path isnβt curated. Itβs confrontational. It asks for an obsession and fanaticism that most people arenβt willing to give.
It exposes you. It tests families. It punishes ego. And if youβre chasing comfort, applause, or guaranteed outcomes you wonβt
last.
It requires believing in the long-term process which is not always perfect. There will be mistakes; by you, and by us. Itβs hard, it can sometimes disappoint you or break your spirit. Itβs not for everyone.
The success stories are players who work alone long after practice ends. Parents who donβt coddle. Families who demand more than talent. Kids who choose reps over praise, and competition over
protection.
They donβt hide in lines. They seek the hardest opponents.
They want honest evaluation from experts β real scouts, real standards, real consequences.
They want to be judged harshly and without bias by professionals who know the game, not daddies.
People like Al Pops, one of many respected scouts and recruiters in our network.
Over time, the mismatches disappear. Players go to high school and they canβt hide anymore. On our oldest teams, what remains is iron forged by iron β players and families who
embraced the process. These are the names that will rise to the top in high schools across Long Island. We salute them.
No daddy ball. No preservation. No manufactured accolades.
Their play speaks. Their tape backs it up. The performance answers. No hand-holding. No favors.
SIGN UP NOW FOR THE BIGGEST SPRING COMBINE AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CAMP SEASON IN
LONG ISLAND! AGES 6 TO 16 YEARS OLD, ALL ABILITIES BEGINNER TO ADVANCED.
Coaches from Public and Private High Schools, and former
Division 1, Semi-Pro, and NFL coaches and players collaborated at the event.
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Due to the overwhelming success last year we have created TWO dates for this year's combine and added multiple stations and more staff. The combine will again be led by Justin Kull
from Revolution Athletics, Coach King from Big Dawg Athletes, and other top football influencers from the region!Β
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Visit Instagram for all the highlights @lielitefootball Β
Turnout
was tremendous! Hundreds of players from 7 to 16 years old measured their laser timed 40 and showcased their skills.
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PAUL LONGO, WILLIAM FLOYD CHRIS DIESSO, HAUPPAUGE CRAIG PERRINO, SMITHTOWN W. BRYAN SCHAUMLOFFEL, WESTHAMPTON BEACH Justin Kull, Revolutionβ¨Leader of Combine Testing Chuck Prioreβ¨Stonybrook-OL Gerald Filardiβ¨Pittsburgh Steelers-LBs Jack Coanβ¨Indianapolis Colts-QBs Vincent Stewartβ¨Penn State Anthony Sheltonβ¨University of Tennessee Keith Maurinoβ¨Stonybrook-QBs Mike Vanucciβ¨LIWR-WRs Brett Wilsonβ¨LIRB-RBβs Joseph Bonillaβ¨Revolution Athletics-LBs Matt Hachmanβ¨Stonybrook-DL Steve Kingβ¨Revolution Athletics-DBs Luke Gaddisβ¨Stonybrook-Kickers Greg Monfilettoβ¨Stonybrook-OL
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β‘οΈ The top football staff on LI! π KIND people, with integrity, no egos, and a passion for developing young football players!
πππ Educate yourself. Question and vet everything. Be your own best advocate! Surround yourself with excellence, and only add honest and proven attorneys, agents, wealth, managers, and advisors to your team.
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Here are some other High School Coaches that support and give their time to the Long Island Elite National Team Program to develop players that can compete with the best competition in the country:
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Joe Minucci, St Anthony's Paul Longo, William Floyd
Craig Perrino, Smithtown West Steve
Mileti, West Islip Alex Marcelin, Half Hollow Hills East Chad Ellis, Erasmus Hall Eric Meisse, Kellenberg Jason Epps, Amityville Tom Elder, Chaminade
Darren Dawber, Chaminade Phil Alba, St John the Baptist Billy Cardello, Massapequa Kamal Roy, Holy Trinity
Chris Diesso, Hauppauge High School Bryan Schaumloffel, Westhampton Beach Kevin Allen, Freeport Todd Borke, Half Hollow Hills West Chuck Menzer, St Anthonyβs Brian Tenety, Southampton Tim Asbel, St John the Baptist Keith Maurino, St Anthonyβs Al Brown, Erasmus Hall Will Platt, St Anthonyβs Pete Rizzo, St Anthonyβs Chris Reno, Long Island Lutheran
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CLICK THE LINK IN OUR BIO TO APPLY TO COACH OR TO VOLUNTEER AND HELP DEVELOP YOUNG PLAYERS TO COMPETE WITH RECRUITS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY!!
WE ARE NOT JUST A "TOURNAMENT TEAM" WHEN PLAYERS LEAVE OUR PROGRAM THEY ARE DIFFERENT.
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Our Long Island Elite National Team program works with young football players and their families to develop their on and off the field skills and raise them into fine men of character.Β
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We
educate players and their families at a very young age on the details of the high school and college recruitment journey. We do things how they do in the football hotbeds of the country.Β
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Our players and families are passionate about advanced level football, and we teach them #TheBlueprintLIE495 way of getting recruited.Β
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We give players an unbiased recommendation of what skill camps, college camps, trainers, and programs to attend and which ones to avoid.Β
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We tell players when to attend these camps and programs, what to do before they go, what to do while they are there, and what to do afterwards.Β
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We make phone calls and connections for specific (qualified) players on their
behalf before they attend such camps.
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We teach players how to set up their social media properly, what platforms they should be on, what their bios should look like, what to post, what not to post, which hashtags to use, who to tag, and who not to tag.Β
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We don't tell players what high school or college to go to, but WE DO ARM THEM WITH A WEALTH OF FACTS AND INFORMATION to assist them in making their best choice; a choice that fits them whether public or private.Β
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We teach them how to make phone calls to high school and college coaches, who to call, and what to say.Β
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We provide players and their families with a simple proven system to help them get to a high school or college that fits them best and aligns with their goals. Sometimes it
is a school in their town, other times it is a school abroad.Β
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WE ARE A PROGRAM WITH AN UNBIASED AGENDA THAT DELIVERS A ROBUST EDUCATION AND PROVIDES FACTS, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES TO HELP PLAYERS AND THEIR FAMILIES MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.
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We have a Media and Ethics Training to teach players how to give a proper handshake, how to carry themselves, how to speak articulately, posture and body language tips, how to speak to coaches and people of influence, how to interview, what to say and what not to say, how to listen (yes listening is a skill), what to wear on college visits,
how to sit for an interview, how to sit for dinner, how to operate from an abundance and growth mindset vs a scarcity mindset, and more.Β
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We teach players how to act like men of character during games, after they score a touchdown, after they win, after they lose, after bad officiating calls. We teach them how to
dress and act respectfully when traveling and representing their families, town, and school. We teach them how to act like men of character in school, at home, in their inter-personal relationships, in their jobs, during their interviews, and we show them examples of what to avoid.Β
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Our program teaches life
lessons that transcend the field. Β
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Coaches don't just want talented players, THEY WANT GOOD MEN!!!
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All of this is part of the Long
Island Elite Football Program. It is woven into the fabric of everything we do.Β
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We do this starting with players and their families at 6 years old. If you think that is fanatical, this program is not for you. You would be better served by going to one of the "recreational" programs out there. We encourage
multi-sport athletes, especially at the younger ages, but this program is home for kids that choose football over all other sports. If you are looking for a parent influenced program, if you believe in modified football rules, coaches on the field, equal playing time, everyone gets a trophy, or you are easily offended, this program is not for you. Our professional coaches direct the program not the parents. It is for kids looking for skill and character development combined with recruiting
help.Β
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Our successful list of players and coaches speaks for itself. Remember this when you are talking to your local "Know it All".Β
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Reach for your dreams, never settle, and BE YOUR OWN BEST ADVOCATE. QUESTION EVERYTHING!
