For those who watched Teddy Bridgewater for the first time last year, as a sophomore quarterback at Northwestern, you were treated to quite a show. A 16-year-old taking the Bulls to the state title game in his first season at the high school level. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Not this fast.

But having followed this extremely gifted athlete for the past four years on the youth football and baseball field at Bunche Park in North Miami-Dade, I can tell you that this is as impressive an athlete as you will find. Maybe as gifted an all-around talent as I have watched since the late 1960s.

What Bridgewater represents is someone just doesn't play a position or two and does well. This is someone who can lineup at quarterback, receiver, defensive end, linebacker or anywhere in the secondary and garner serious major college attention. Plus, his play on the baseball field as a pure hitter who runs, throws and knows the game inside and out, and you have the total package.

SOME ELITE TALENT

This spring, Bridgewater is introducing himself to some of the elite players in the Class of 2010 as a key member of the South Florida Express, which will travel to the University of South Florida next weekend (March 14-15) for a prestigious 7-on-7 tournament that features such Miami-Dade stars as Darius Davis (American Heritage), Richard Leonard (Killian), Michael Strauss (Gulliver), Jakhari Gore (Columbus), and Booker T. Washington stars such as Eduardo Clements, Quinton Dunbar and Jelani Rouland.

While many in Miami-Dade already know all about this 6-2, 180-pounder, Broward stars such as Ivan McCartney (Miramar), Brandon Doughty (North Broward Prep), Steven Green and Demar Dorsey (Boyd Anderson), and Gilbert St. Louis, Michael Anderson and Devin Drane (Plantation) have been equally as impressed.

Bridgewater is easy to spot on the football field. He's the one doing all the talking and having the most fun. Call it being immature or confident, but there is no mistaking the impressive talent this kid has with two full years left.

''I love this,'' he said after beating Joyner on a 25-yard out pattern. ``To come out here and mix it up with these guys is what my life is all about.''

While many youngsters who have yet to reach their junior year in high school would be reserve and willing to sit back and wait their turn, Bridegwater tells coach Brett Goetz and his staff that he will play anywhere on the field, and he will be the best player at that position. He more than talks the talk, and that's why people across the country will soon understand that this is Vince Young, Andre Johnson and Ray Ray Armstrong all rolled into one.

''You watch him for a period of time and say that he will make a great receiver after catching a ball one-handed against a top prospect,'' Goetz said. ``Then, the next thing you know he is throwing a 65-yard ball right on the money. The young man has the confidence you never see from a kid his age.''

IMPRESSIVE TO SEE

At a time when players are always competitive, and wanting to boast how good they are, every player on the 7-on-7 squad shakes their collective head when watching Bridgewater play. Even though he talks a lot and taunts his teammates in practice, you can can chalk it up to him being this dominating all of his young life.

Clements, who is easily regarded as one of the most complete running backs in the nation, smiles when he sees Bridgewater play. He knows he might be watching the best Class of 2011 prospect in the country.

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