It was a Midwest kind of weekend for the 2017 Regional Development Camps, with stops in Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis. Hundreds of athletes turned out in each location to refine their game, learn from top coaches and attempt to earn an invite to this summer's National Development Games–the next stop in the journey toward representing their country as part of the U.S. National Team. Below are the top performers from all three camps:

CHICAGO

Head shots
Action shots

SEE ALSO: Sign up for a Regional Development Camp near you

Middle school Gold Ball winner:

Tyson Lee, DL, 2021, South Bend, Ind.

Hailing from the shadows of Touchdown Jesus in Fighting Irish territory, Lee brought home the Gold Ball to match the golden helmets of Notre Dame after an impressive showing at the Chicago RDC. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Lee used his rangy build to make life extremely difficult for opposing offensive linemen. Able to create separation right off the snap by using his long arms and quick feet, Lee proved to be a promising young defensive end. On top of what he did at the line of scrimmage, he impressed coaches with his leadership.

Middle school top performers

Nicolas Espejo, LB, 2021, Springfield, Ill.

George Asay, DL, 2024, Downers Grove, Ill.

Jaylen Banks, DL, 2022, Lake St. Louis, Mo.

Jojo Johnson, WR, 2021, Merrillville, Ind.

Maliek Tramble, RB, 2024, Flint, Mich.

High school Gold Ball winner:

Travon Thomas, DL, 2019, Leyden (Northlake, Ill.)

As a sophomore, Thomas was highly productive, registering 64 tackles in just nine games. He also had a knack for getting to the quarterback, as he posted six sacks. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder plays with his hand on the ground at Leyden, but could project as a linebacker at the next level.

High school top performers

Tyler Mays, WR, 2018, Crete-Monee (Crete, Ill.)

Damond Lockner, DB, 2018,  Fort Dodge (Iowa)

Dylan Fagerland, QB, 2018, Watertown (Wis.)

Izaiha Johnson, RB, 2018, MacArthur (Decatur, Ill.)

Lamar Lillard, WR, 2018, Momence (Ill.)

MINNEAPOLIS

40-yard dash times
Roster
Headshots
Action Shots

SEE ALSO: Sign up for a Regional Development Camp near you

Middle school Gold Ball winner:

Garret Hoffman, DB, 2022, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Every team, and every camp for that matter, needs that one athlete who just does the right thing at all times. That was Garrett Hoffman last weekend in Minnesota. Making the nearly four-and-a-half hour trip from Sioux Falls, S.D., Hoffman crossed state lines and made the most of his opportunity. Whether it was on the field, during lunch or any time in between, Hoffman was there encouraging his fellow teammates. Coaches noted that he's the type of player you can build a program around because of both his ability and his intangibles.

Middle school top performers

Aiden Brink, OL, 2022, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Tim Thein, RB, 2021, New London, Minn.

Kristoff Kowalkowski, QB, 2021, Sartell, Minn.

Josiah Hedensten, LB, 2021, Freeborn, Minn.

Carey Vanier Jr., WR, 2021, Cottage Grove, Minn.

Trey Bixby, DL, 2022, Marshfield, Wis.

High school Gold Ball winner:

Raja Nelson, WR, 2020, Lakeville North (Lakeville, Minn.)

How is Nelson keeping in shape for football this fall? By playing lacrosse this spring. And when he's not suiting up for the Lakeville North LAX team, he's spending the weekend dominating at the Minneapolis RDC. The diminutive yet explosive receiver was the camp's top offensive performer. As a freshman, he saw action in four games, catching six passes for 34 yards, all statistics that figure to rise sharply this season.

High school top performers:

Devin Paschke, OL, 2018, Hudson (Wis.)

Keon McCray, RB, 2018, Apollo (St. Cloud, Minn.)

Joe Tingelhoff, DL, 2018, Ellsworth (Wis.)

Kyler Fisher, LB, 2019, Southeast Valley (Gowrie, Iowa)

Caleb Grant, RB, 2019, Bemidji (Minn.)

Anthony Harris, DL, 2019, De La Salle (Minneapolis)

Namdi Obiazor, DB, 2020, Eden Prairie (Minn.)

Brandon Westberg, OL, 2019, Cambridge-Isanti High School (Cambridge, Minn.)

KANSAS CITY

40-yard dash times
Roster
Headshots
Action Shots

SEE ALSO: Sign up for a Regional Development Camp near you

Middle school Gold Ball winner:

Jack Meylan, WR, 2022, Shawnee, Kan.

Mild-mannered off the field, Meylan let his jaw-dropping ability to do the talking for him at the Kansas City Regional Development Camp last weekend. Displaying some of the crispest route-running we've seen all year, Meylan played with the quiet swagger of a seasoned veteran despite only being in the seventh grade. Expect big things from this Kansas native going forward.

Middle school top performers

Collin Williams, DL, 2022, Kansas City, Mo.

Jaxon Smolik, QB, 2023, Waukee, Iowa

Noah Palmer, QB, 2022, Olathe, Kan.

Jaydon Wannstedt, DL, 2022, Lake Saint Louis, Mo.

Grant Schoenrock, LB, 2022, Victoria, Kan.

High school Gold Ball winner:

Isaiah McFall, DL, 2019, Truman (Blue Springs, Mo.)

McFall is extremely difficult to block up front with his stout 6-foot, 280-pound frame. He doubles as a rugby player, and those skills clearly have translated nicely to the gridiron. McFall took home the high school Gold Ball in Kansas City and will look that carry momentum to his junior season, where he'll seek to help Truman rebound from a 3-8 campaign.

High school top performers

Mark McGhee, DL, 2020, Lee's Summit North (Lee's Summit, Mo.)

Kristian Russell, OL, 2018, Lawrence (Kan.)

Larmon Witt, WR, 2018, Washington (Kansas City, Kan.)

Tristan Roper, OL, 2019, Blue Springs South (Blue Springs, Mo.)

Max Penny, LB, 2018, Glendale Springfield, Mo.)