If you want to be the best, you need to test yourself against the best.

That was the theme of the second annual Big County Preps Xecutives camp.

The event was held at Southeastern University in Lakeland.

"The competition is great," East Bay senior safety KJ Sails said.  "Everyone out here is competing.  And it's always great to compete against different types of people."

Each of the players competing at Xecutives earned an invitation following three previous Big County Preps camps this year.

The exclusive list included some of the most highly recruited juniors and seniors from the Tampa Bay area.

"They read about each other; they hear about each other; they see each other on videos," Big County Preps founder and CEO Preston Jackson said.  "But not often do they get to play against each other.  So now- they're playing against each other.  The competition level steps up.  And now you're going to see who is the best."

More than a dozen players from the Big County Preps "Fire 79" prospects list competed in the combine-style event.

Lake Gibson senior and Florida State commit Baveon Johnson, who's the 46th-ranked senior in the nation by Rivals.com, says the camp helped him tune up his skills and become a more balanced player.

"Some people I've got to use my technique (against)," Johnson said.  "Some people I've got to use my speed.  You've just got to switch it up sometimes- evaluate 'em- what they're good at.  And it's great practice out here."

A nice bonus to the camp came courtesy of a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks volunteered to coach the linebackers at the event when another coach didn't make it there.

The 11-time Pro Bowler and nine-time All Pro came to the event as a parent, watching his son Decalon, a junior at Gaither High School.

Instead, as he's done in the past, Brooks came off the sideline to share his knowledge with Decalon and the other elite players.

"I've only got one rule of the day, and that's effort," Brooks said.  "Anything we do, we've got to be the position group that's leading this camp in effort.  Because that doesn't take talent.  And thus far- I can say I'm proud of the young men."

Jackson, a former Notre Dame cornerback and Hillsborough High School star, said the best part of the event was having a loyal and dedicated group of kids and coaches.

He said their contributions have been major factor in the success of Big County Preps, and an event like Xecutives could never take place without their support.

"We're talent evaluators," Jackson said.  "And we have to see the talent, the best on best, to get a true evaluation of some of these good kids."