Phoenix Event Brings Out The Stars

NUC Phoenix AZ Event 2/10/2008

The 2008 National Underclassmen Combine season started off with a bang this past weekend at Apache Junction High School, in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Leading the way during the first event of the season was an outstanding performance by sophomore Justin Rodriguez of Marcos de Niza High School, who was named the Overall MVP.

Rodriguez, 6-foot-1 and 170-pounds, was fantastic during individual drills and unstoppable during the 1-on-1's. He was equally impressive during the combine events, as he had a 31.5-inch vertical, 9'7" broad, 4.51 shuttle, 4.56 40, and 13 reps on 155-pounds. Another receiver who excelled in Phoenix was sophomore Deche' Milburn of Buena High School, who took home the WR MVP. Milburn, 5-foot-11 and 167-pounds, showed a great combination of route running ability and hands, to dominate a majority of the defensive backs in attendance. During the combine events, he finished with a 26-inch vertical, 8'6"broad, 4.43 shuttle, 4.69 40, and 10 reps on 155-pounds.

Justin Rodriguez with Coach Schuman

Deche Milburn with Coach Schuman

Coming from Tolleson Union High School was RB MVP Patrick Browne. The sophomore, 5-foot-7 ½ and 181-pounds, showed great feet, athleticism and hands during the 1-on-1's, plus during the combine events he had a 4.57 40, 4.50 shuttle, 29.5-inch vertical, 8'6 ½" broad, and an impressive 28 reps on 155-pounds.

Toheson Union High School Patrick Browne

The top combine performance by a freshman also came at the running back position, as RB Xavier Cooper of Buena High School took home the Freshman Combine King award. Cooper, 5-foot-6 ½ and 145-pounds, had a 30.5-inch vertical, 10' broad, 4.70 shuttle, 4.52 40, and 12 reps on 135-pounds.

Xavier Cooper of Buena High School

The top overall freshman in Phoenix was Carlton Williams of Westview High School, who took home the Freshman MVP. Williams, 5-foot-8 and 165-pounds, was unstoppable during 1-on-1's, and had a 4.52 shuttle, 4.75 40, and 8'8" broad. One of the most memorable performances in Phoenix was turned in by freshman

Carlton Williams of Westview High School

Derek Hubbard of La Joya High School. Hubbard ran a blazing 4.36 40, which not only won him the Fastest Man Award, but also made him the fastest freshman of all-time at the National Underclassmen Combine. Hubbard, 5-foot-5 and 139-pounds, also had a 29-inch vertical, 9'5" broad, and 4.62 shuttle.

Derek Hubbard of La Joya High School

The remaining awards in Phoenix all went to sophomores. Coming from host Apache Junction High School was DL MVP Cy Maughmar. The big lineman, 6-foot-1 and 256-pounds, had a good combination of speed and power, plus he showcased some powerful rush techniques. With 25 reps on 185-pounds, Maughmar also took home the Strongest Man Award at the event. Along with his power numbers, he also had a 24-inch vertical, 7'8" broad, 5.01 shuttle, and 5.22 40.

Cy Maughmar, Apache Junction High School
The QB MVP went to Kevin Spain of Horizon High School, who at 6-foot-0 ½ and 180-pounds, showed pin-point accuracy, great drops, and a quick release. The sophomore also had a 25-inch vertical, 8'11" broad, 4.91 shuttle, 4.91 40, and 10 reps on 155-pounds during the combine events.

Kevin Spain of Horizon High School

Sophomore Ben Cannon, 6-foot-0 ½ and 258-pounds, of Tucson High School was the winner of the OL MVP. Cannon showed great technique and drive during the 1-on-1 portion of the event. He also had a 7'1" broad, 5.22 shuttle, 5.53 40, and 14 reps on 185-pounds.

Ben Cannon, of Tucson High School

The LB MVP went to Austin Garday of Centennial High School, who at 5-foot-11 ½ and 198-pounds, did not give up any pass completions during 1-on-1's and is a physically dominating player. He also showed that during the combine events by getting 23 reps on 155-pounds, plus an 8'2" broad, 4.54 shuttle, and 4.71 40.

Austin Garday of Centennial High School

The last positional award of the event went to sophomore Yusef Muhammad of Chandler High School, who won the DB MVP. Muhammad, 5-foot-8 ½ and 145-pounds, showcased his athleticism throughout the event, plus he possessed great footwork and skills in coverage which helped him break up several passes during 1-on-1's. During the combine events he had a 26-inch vertical, 8'7" broad, and 4.74 40.

Yusef Muhammad of Chandler High School

The sophomore Combine King was LB Raymon Abreu of Marcos de Niza High School. Along with getting an incredible 37-inch vertical, 9'2" broad, 4.38 shuttle, 4.48 40, and 11 reps on 155-pounds, Abreu, 5-foot-10 ½ and 164-pounds, was also impressive during 1-on-1's.

Raymon Abreu of Marcos de Niza High School

And finally, the Leadership Award was won by sophomore QB Dain McFarland of Mountain Ridge High School. Aside from having very impressive passing skills, he also showed tremendous command over his receivers during the positional drills and 1-on-1's. McFarland, 5-foot-10 ½ and 166-pounds, also ran a 4.32 shuttle and 4.71 40.

Dain McFarland of Mountain Ridge High School

Up next for the National Underclassmen Combine are stops in Miami/Boca Raton, Birmingham, and Las Vegas during the weekend of February 16-17!