G7 FOUNDERS STATEMENT

DAVION MITCHELL, FOUNDER & CEO

My football journey started in the backyard and streets of Tampa, Florida, when I was just a kid. At seven years old, I found myself playing against athletes who were bigger, older, and more experienced than me. What started as a challenge became the foundation for discovering my talent and developing a love for the game. Looking back, one of the people who pushed me into those early games had a bigger impact on my life than I realized at the time:

“I don’t know who the heck this guy was. I just remember this guy was about 18 years old and I was 7. Every time he saw me, he made me play ball whether I wanted to or not. He saw potential in me and he was right. I may have hated it at times when I was younger, but now I thank him for what he did.”

Those early experiences taught me something that has stayed with me throughout my football career: competition reveals potential. Being challenged by athletes who were bigger, stronger, and more experienced forced me to develop, adapt, and believe I belonged.

That mindset carried me to Southwestern College in Kansas, where I played college football and broke several school records. From there, I went on to play professional Arena Football and eventually earned a private workout with the Miami Dolphins in 2010.

My dream was always to play in the NFL. I took one of the hardest routes possible to get there, and I came close—but I never quite made it.

I was a maverick. I had to will my way forward with very little help, and that experience shaped the coach and mentor I am today.

Because now I understand something I didn’t fully understand as a young athlete:

It takes a village to raise a kid—and it takes a village to develop an athlete.

That is a huge part of why I started G7 Football Academy.

I saw an opportunity to develop the tremendous football talent we have right here in Illinois. For years, states like Florida, Texas, and Georgia have been recognized for producing some of the best football players in the country. I believe Illinois athletes have the ability to compete at that same level. What they need is the development, competition, exposure, leadership, and support to help them reach their potential- G7 was built to provide that support.

We want to give athletes the opportunity to test themselves against strong competition from across the country, prove what they are capable of, and discover just how far they can go. We believe iron sharpens iron. The right competition challenges athletes to prepare more, compete harder, adapt, and become better.

But G7 is about more than winning tournaments.

I wanted to build the kind of program I wish I had growing up—a place where athletes are pushed to compete, but also supported along the way. A place where development matters, character matters, and athletes understand that success isn't just about what happens on the scoreboard.

We will never sacrifice proper football fundamentals, discipline, accountability, respect, humility, or character simply to win a tournament or create attention on social media.

Our goal is to develop the whole athlete: technique, football IQ, physical ability, confidence, toughness, resilience, leadership, and character. We want players who work for their opportunities, embrace competition, respond to adversity, make their teammates better, and represent their team and their community with pride. And we want our athletes to represent Illinois with pride—to show the rest of the country that high-level football talent can be developed right here at home. Ultimately, G7 is about giving athletes something I wish I had more of when I was coming up: a support system that believes in their potential, challenges them to become better, and helps them find out what they're capable of.

Because talent can open the door.
Development prepares you to walk through it.
Competition shows you what you're made of.
Character determines who you become.

That is G7.