Alan Popadines hired to lead youth football expansion

Minneapolis, MN — Prep Network announced a new hire this weekend as well as a new arm of its football coverage. Prep Redzone Next National Scouting Director Alan Popadines will lead the expansion.

“Pops” will work closely with Prep Network’s content team to provide unparalleled coverage and analysis to the top 7th-9th grade football players in the country. Additionally, he will collaborate with the Events team to build and execute a national showcase schedule.

“We’re thrilled to add someone with Al’s skillset & background to the Prep Redzone brand,” Jake Lemming, National Director of Scouting, said. “His knowledge of the youth football space is a game-changer for youth athletes throughout the country.”

Pops has been in the prep football space since 2009 when he served as the Assistant National Combine Director and Public Relations Representative for the All-American Bowl (formerly the Army All-American Bowl). He served as the National Football Scouting Director for Youth1 Media where he established a reputation as the nation’s authority on youth football, garnering media attention and praise from Bleacher Report, The Washington Post, ESPN and more. Pops would go on to co-host the FBU National Championship show and was a sideline reporter for ESPN.

Most recently, Pops was the Director of Player Personnel for Team USA at USA Football. His role for the sport’s National Governing Body included evaluating and selecting athletes across seven age groups to wear red, white and blue at the International Bowl in AT&T Stadium against different countries such as Japan, Mexico, Panama, Canada and others.