The Cleveland Browns, in partnership with the Deshaun Watson Foundation, hosted the second annual Deshaun Watson Foundation High School 7-on-7 Tournament on July 17.
Sixteen high schools and 320 athletes from across Northeast Ohio took to Berea to take part in a tightly contested tournament that resulted in Kirtland walking away as the tournament's winners, complete with a WWE-style championship belt.
For Watson, hosting the tournament was a chance to further invest in the Northeast Ohio community. Watson started his foundation, which is dedicated to education, health, housing and other charitable causes supporting families in youth in underserved communities, in 2019.
"I use this opportunity, I use these moments to be able to give back advice, give these kids opportunities," Watson said. "It's definitely a blessing to be able to continue to do that and I want to continue to do that for the rest of my career."
Watson, who began the tournament last year, was once in the same shoes as the young athletes who participated Wednesday. In high school, Watson attended quarterback Cam Newton's inaugural 7-on-7 camp in Atlanta, keeping in touch with the 2015 MVP through his high school, collegiate and professional career.
"Just like how these kids were, I went to [Newton's] first-ever 7-on-7 event, he saw me, a local guy from down the street … and then he brought me on his All-Star team and that bond started from there," Watson said, adding that the two would visit one another when Watson was playing at Clemson and Newton in Carolina.
Watson shared the story of his own experience at a 7-on-7 camp with the 320 athletes in attendance, encouraging them to make the most of their opportunity.
"Make sure that whenever you're competing out here, bring the energy, bring the swagger," Watson said. "You never know how far this can go. Everyone's watching … all it takes is one or two plays for your whole life to change."
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the Cleveland Browns hosted a 7ON7 Tournament at Lou Groza Field on July 17, 2024.
Participating schools included Akron Buchtel, Akron East, Austintown Fitch, Bedford, Benedictine, Berea-Midpark, Brush, Canton South, Cleveland Heights, Euclid, Glenville, Rhodes, Kirtland, Maple Heights, Shaker Heights and Villa Angela-St. Joseph.
The competition was held on Berea-Midpark's campus, home of Lou Groza Field – one of the 15 synthetic-turf fields the Browns have installed in Northeast Ohio in the last eight years as part of the field project.
Players were gifted jerseys for the day's competition and had the chance to meet and speak with Watson. While the high school season does not begin for several weeks, the day served as a chance for coaches to evaluate where their skill position players stood at this point in the summer and begin install for their upcoming season.
Berea-Midpark defensive backs coach Todd Swisher said that the opportunity to host such a talented group of athletes from across the state was one he and his players would not soon forget.
"We always like to take advantage of any opportunity to compete in the summertime and to be able to compete against this quality group of schools is really beneficial for our players and it's a great opportunity," Swisher said. "And the fact that the Browns invited us is a cool honor for us and our kids."
