After a fantastic morning session at the National Underclassmen Combine in Los Angeles, could the level of talent actually get even better during the afternoon session?  A number of players definitely made a case for this, including Overall MVP sophomore Usua Amanam of Bellarmine College Prep, who turned in a dominating performance.

Amanam, a 5-foot-8 and 160-pound defensive back, was exceptional during the combine events, individual drills, and 1-on-1’s.  His combine results produced the top vertical of the day, 35 ½ inches, a new Combine record for the broad, 10’5.5”, the second fastest 40 of the day, 4.46, and the second fastest shuttle of the day, 4.21.  Amanam is impressive in all phases of the game and should develop into a top recruit. 

The National Underclassmen Combine returned home to New Jersey after holding its initial events in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  The two day event, which was held in the Sports Factory in Lincoln Park, produced a number of impressive performances, but none greater then that of Damien Thigpen, who started off the morning session on Saturday by breaking two combine records. 

Thigpen, a sophomore from Stonewall Jackson High School in Virginia, dominated in both the combine events and 1-on-1’s and deservedly walked away with the Overall MVP.  Measuring in at 5-foot-9 and 165-pounds, the cornerback set a new National Underclassmen Combine record with a 10’2 ½” broad jump and in the 40 with a blazing 4.34, but also excelled at the other events with a 4.08 shuttle, and 20 reps at 150-pounds.  He was also step for step with every receiver during the 1-on-1’s.

After an action filled morning session on Saturday at the National Underclassmen Combine, the afternoon session produced an even greater number of participants.  Once again, the action was intense, and a number of players stepped forward to produce memorable moments, but at the top was RB Artrele Louis, who won both the Overall MVP and the Fastest Man Award. 

 Louis, 5-foot-10 and 168-pounds, a sophomore from Al Brown High School in North Carolina, was excellent during the individual drills and showcased his explosiveness throughout the day.  During the combine events he finished with a 4.45 40, 4.34 shuttle, 32-inch vertical, and 9’7” broad.  With Louis winning the Overall MVP, the RB MVP went to sophomore Mike Yeager of St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia.  Yeager, 5-foot-9 and 169-pounds, was unstoppable during 1-on-1’s and displayed great footwork during individual drills.  He also had a very impressive 36-inch vertical, 27 reps at 150-pounds, 4.36 shuttle, and 4.62 40

The National Underclassmen Combine began its second day in New Jersey with the home state producing five of the eight morning award winners.  Leading the charge was sophomore TE Tom Bianchi of West Essex (NJ), who was named the Overall MVP, after making the Ultimate 100 Camp in 2006 as a freshman. 

Bianchi, 6-foot-2 and 224-pounds, is impressive physically and was dominant during individual drills and 1-on-1’s.  He runs and catches like a wide receiver, yet he also has the physicality of an offensive lineman.  During the combine events he finished with a 29.5 inch vertical, 8’9.5” broad, 4.51 shuttle, 4.97 40, and 25 reps at 150-pounds.

The National Underclassmen Combine is a great opportunity for a player to get their name on the recruiting landscape, which is exactly what freshman JT Tartacoff of Montgomery High School in New Jersey accomplished.  Tartacoff came away with both the WR/TE MVP and the Fastest Man Award in the morning session.  Tartacoff did start during his freshman season and developed into quite a deep threat, but his performance on Sunday morning took him to the next level.  At 5-foot-11 and 164-pounds, he had a 33-inch vertical, 9’2” broad, 4.54 40, 4.29 shuttle and 27 reps at 135-pounds, plus he was fantastic during both 1-on-1’s and individual drills.

The two day National Underclassmen Combine event in New Jersey concluded on Sunday afternoon with a number of top performances.  Leading the way was sophomore RB Ayo Isijola of Sheepshead Bay High School in New York, who was named Overall MVP after excelling throughout the afternoon. 

Isijola, 5-foot-9 and 175-pounds, showcased his blazing speed during the 1-on-1’s and during the 40 where he ran a 4.42.  It’s should come as no surprise that he also ran a 10.9 100M in the 9^th grade.  With the rest of his combine events, he finished with a 32.5 inch vertical, 9’10” broad, and 19 reps at 150-pounds.

 Aside from Isijola, there were two other impressive running back performances, one of which was from sophomore Carlton Koonce, who was named the RB MVP.  Koonce, from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in New Jersey, was great during the 1-on-1’s and individual drills, plus at 5-foot-7 ½ and 152-pounds, he had a 27-inch vertical, 9’3” broad, 4.59 40, 4.53 shuttle, and 16 reps at 150-pounds.  Just missing out on the RB MVP was sophomore Kaseeim Everett, 5-foot-9 and 160-pounds, of Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia.  Everett had a very impressive 34.5-inch vertical and 9’2” broad, plus a 4.58 shuttle and 4.75 40.