Jax Native Laval Davis has just been named to the 12-athlete roster for USA Football’s U.S. Men’s Flag Football National Team and will compete at the IFAF Flag Football World Championship in Finland this August. Teams from more than 25 total countries are expected to compete in the event.A former SWAC track standout at Mississippi Valley State University, Laval earned his roster spot following the completion of USA Football’s training camp in Charlotte, N.C. this past weekend, which trimmed the rosters from 18 athletes each down to 12. He is looking to win his third gold medal as a member of the U.S. National Team following successes at The World Games in 2022 and IFAF’s Americas Continental Championship in 2023.
Flag football is played by millions of people worldwide across 100 countries and will debut as an Olympic sport in Los Angeles in 2028.
USA FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES FINAL ROSTERS FOR 2024 MEN’S AND WOMEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAMS
U.S. National Teams will represent the country in international competition at IFAF World Championships this August
INDIANAPOLIS – USA Football, a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the sport’s governing body, has announced the final rosters for the 2024 U.S. Men’s and Women’s Flag Football National Teams travel to Lahti, Finland in August to compete in the 2024 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Flag Football World Championship.
The final 12-athlete U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams were decided following a multi-day training camp conducted at the United States Performance Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from Thursday, May 30 – Saturday, June 1.
“We brought 18 world class athletes from each team into Training Camp and are pleased with the elite competitiveness and preparation they all showcased,” said Eric Mayes, USA Football’s Managing Director of High Performance and National Teams. “Picking the final 12 is always a tough decision, but our thorough selection process ensures the U.S. National Teams are ready to uphold our gold medal standard. We’re excited to continue preparing for the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championship.”
The 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championship is expected to be the largest version of the event in its history with teams from more than 25 countries participating. The U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams are the reigning world champions dating back to the 2021 championships in Jerusalem, Israel. Both teams also won gold medals at the 2018 IFAF Flag Football World Championship in Panama City, Panama.
Last October, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that flag football will make its Olympic debut on home soil in Los Angeles in 2028. The decision brought even more attention to one of the world’s fastest growing sports. Flag football is played by millions worldwide in over 100 countries, more than 70 of which are members of IFAF.
Additionally, flag football’s competitive foundation is scaling incredibly fast in the U.S. Eleven states have approved girls’ flag football as a high school varsity sport and plenty more have laid the framework with pilot programs to eventually sanction the sport. There are also scholarship opportunities and a national championship for women’s flag football at the NAIA level.
According to USA Football research, combined flag football participation for boys and girls ages 6-17 has increased 38% from 2014-2023. Participation among girls ages 6-12 has increased 222% during that time.
The 24 athletes selected to travel to Finland as part of the final U.S. National Team rosters represent 10 states, including Calif., Fla., Ill., La., Md. N.C., Nev. Ohio, Pa. and Texas.
USA Football will return to Charlotte for a second training camp for the U.S. National Team from July 25 – 28 to prepare for international competition.
2024 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team Roster
Name; Position; Hometown
Michael Better; RSH/C; Baltimore, Md.
Aamir Brown; ATH; Philadelphia, Pa.
Velton Brown Jr.; WR/DB; Orlando, Fla.
Isaiah Calhoun; DB/WR; Riverside, Calif.
Mike Daniels; DB/WR; Miami Fla.
Laval Davis; WR/RSH; Jacksonville, Fla.
Darrell “Housh” Doucette; QB/C; New Orleans, La.
Johnluis “LuLu” Hernandez; DB/C; Miami, Fla.
Ja’Deion High; WR; Hereford, Texas
Jamie Kennedy; DB/WR; Pompano Beach, Fla.
Bruce Mapp; WR/DB; Philadelphia, Pa.
Laderrick “Pablo” Smith; WR/QB; Pompano Beach, Fla.
2024 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team Alternates
Nico Casares; QB; Coconut Grove, Fla.
Jesus Lorenzo; RSH/WR; Miami, Fla.
Sean Moore; WR/RSH; Miami, Fla.
Michael Pardue; DB/WR; Clarksville, Tenn.
David “Bobo” Price; DB/C; Callahan, Fla.
Dana Taylor; DB/ATH; Dallas, Texas
Head Coach: Jorge Cascudo
Assistant Coach: Patrick Alley
2024 U.S. Women’s Flag National Team Roster
Name; Position; Hometown
Deliah Autry; WR/DB; Tampa, Fla.
Laneah Bryan; WR/DB; El Paso, Texas
Amber Clark; DB/WR; Greenville, N.C.
Ashley Edwards; WR/DB; San Antonio, Texas
Kennedy Foster; WR/DB; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Madison Fulford; WR/DB; Charlotte, N.C.
Isabella Geraci; WR/DB; North Ridgeville, Ohio
Maci Joncich; WR/DB; Henderson, Nev.
Ashlea Klam; C/DB; Austin, Texas
Vanita Krouch; QB; Carrollton, Texas
Megan Majors; DB/WR; Chicago, Ill.
Addison Orsborn; WR/RSH; Round Rock, Texas
2024 U.S. Women’s Flag National Team Alternates
Lacey Abell; QB; Sheboygan, Wis.
Miranda Arellano; DB/C; San Antonio, Texas
Brianna Hernandez-Silva; DB/QB; Las Vegas, Nev.
Leilanni Lopez; C/RSH; San Diego, Calif.
Jo Overstreet; WR/DB; Lewisville, Texas
Brenna Ramirez; DB/WR; Gilbert, Ariz.
Head Coach: Saaid Mortazavi
Assistant Coach: Mary Kate Bula
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About USA Football: USA Football is the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football, and a recognized sports organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its non-profit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including tackle and flag football. USA Football is the only organization that selects and organizes men’s and women’s U.S. National Teams in federation-sanctioned international competition.
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