|
The 2007 Underclassman Combine
season started off in style this
past Sunday, as the event hit
the Dallas/Fort Worth area in
Texas. Both sessions were
filled with top talent, and
today we’ll start with a quick
rundown of the top morning
performances, which included
sophomore CB Philip Gaines of
Judson High School, who was
named the morning session MVP.
Over 270 athletes turned out for
the event, which had a morning
and an afternoon session.
Gaines, 5-foot-11 and
150-pounds, had a 4.49 40, 4.15
shuttle and 9’4 broad jump, but
he truly shined during the
1-on-1 portion of the event,
when even though he was
repeatedly tested, he did not
allow one reception. Another
defensive back who shined during
the morning session was
sophomore Loyd Bradley Jr. from
Mansfield Summit, Texas. At
5-foot-7 and 161-pounds, his
4.02 shuttle time was the 2nd
fastest ever at an Underclassman
Combine event. Bradley, who was
named Defensive Back MVP, also
added 21 bench reps at
150-pounds, and was impressive
during 1-on-1 drills
Philip Gaines, Overall MVP with
Coach Schuman
In order to have impressive
defensive back performances, the
skill level at the wide receiver
position must also be strong.
Leading the charge for the wide
receivers was freshman Kyren
Watts of New Waverly Senior High
School in Texas, who was named
the Wide Receiver MVP. Watts,
who showcased an impressive
6-foot-2, 164-pound frame, had
several highlight reel
receptions during the 1-on-1’s,
plus tested solidly with a 4.58
shuttle and 4.75 40. Competing
neck and neck with Watts for the
WR MVP was Josh Norton of Norman
North High School in Oklahoma.
Similar to Watts, Norton showed
tremendous desire and attitude,
while also making a few circus
catches. At 5-foot-8 and
190-pounds, he also showcased a
30-inch vertical, 4.35 shuttle,
and finished with 28 reps at
150-pounds. Also worth
mentioning at the wide receiver
position was Laray Woodard,
5-foot-11 and 152-pounds, of
Summit High School in Texas, who
ran a 4.48 40, 4.14 shuttle, and
had a 9’7 broad jump, plus Will
Adams of South Grand Prairie in
Texas, who showed a tremendous
amount of athletic ability and
ran a 4.63 40 and 4.22 shuttle.
Kyren Watts, Wide Receiver MVP
With Coach Schuman
The wide receivers had an array
of quarterbacks to choose from,
but the one that definitely
stood out was sophomore Jordan
Najvar from Klein Oak High
School in Texas. Besides his
natural ability, Najvar also
stood about because of his
6-foot-6, 218-pound frame.
During 1-on-1’s, he showed a
deadly combination of arm
strength and accuracy,
especially for a player of his
age. He also showed off his
strength during the combine by
doing 28 reps at 150-pounds.
Jordan Najvar, QB MVP With Coach
Schuman
The running backs were yet
another position which excelled
on Sunday morning. Freshman
Brian Mills of Edmond Sante Fe,
Oklahoma was named RB MVP, as he
turned in the fastest 40 time of
the morning at 4.44. He
complimented that with a 4.36
shuttle, 8’10 broad jump, and an
excellent performance during
both individual workouts and
1-on-1’s. While Kyren Watts won
the WR MVP, his brother,
freshman Tyren Watts, also left
a very positive impression.
Watts ran a blazing 4.47 40,
4.55 shuttle, and had an 8’8
broad jump
.
Brian Mills, RB MVP with Coach
Schuman
Sophomore Alex Dunnam of Friona
High in Texas was clearly the
top offensive lineman on Sunday
morning and walked away with the
OL MVP. Dunnam, 6-foot-3 and
225-pounds, was dominant in
1-on-1’s and showcased flawless
technique. When he begins to
fill out his frame, he has the
potential to be a very
impressive and athletic
offensive guard.
Alex Dunnam, OL MVP with Coach
Schuman
Returning to the defensive side
of the ball, we’ll start with DL
MVP Nathan Badger, a sophomore
from Norman North in Oklahoma.
As with Dunnam, Badger was
dominant during 1-on-1’s and at
6-foot-1 and 234-pounds, he had
a 28-inch vertical, 4.57
shuttle, and 12 reps at
185-pounds.
Nathan Badger, DL MVP With Coach
Schuman
Joining Badger on the defensive
line was Freshman MVP Samuel
Harvill, who is actually an 8th
grader. Harvill, who will be
attending the famous Shiloh
Christian High School in
Missouri, turned in amazing
combine numbers for a player of
his age. At 6-foot-0 and
239-pounds, he ran a 5.13 40,
4.98 shuttle, had a 8’0 broad,
24-inch vertical and an
absolutely amazing 48 reps at
150-pounds. It should come as
no surprise that Harvill
currently holds the U.S. age
group record with a mark of
405-pounds on the bench.
Another defensive lineman worth
mentioning is Darius Banks of
Hendrickson in Texas, who had a
5.51 40, 5.33 shuttle, and 19
reps at 185-pounds after
measuring in at 6-foot-0 and
325-pounds.
Samuel Harvill, Frosh MVP With
Coach Schuman
Robert Lewis, 5-foot-10 and
179-pounds, a sophomore from
Mesquite, Texas was named the LB
MVP after an outstanding overall
performance in the combine
events. Lewis had 31 reps at
150-pounds, a 29-inch vertical,
8’6 broad, and ran a 4.67 40 and
4.60 shuttle. Other impressive
linebacker performances were
turned in by Trace Pawelek of
Springtown, Texas, who ran a
4.66 40, 4.45 shuttle, and had
24 reps at 150-pounds, and Alvin
Knox of West Dallas, who ran a
4.69 40, and had a 9’3 broad and
30.5 vertical.
Robert Lewis, LB MVP with Coach
Schuman
Finally, a few special mentions
from the morning session. With
Brian Mills winning the RB MVP
and a rule in place that allows
only one award per participant,
the Fastest Man Award went to
Adam Smith of Covenant Christian
Academy in Texas, who was the 2nd
fastest man of the morning with
a 4.45. Two more freshmen to
keep an eye on in the coming
years are Shawn Onyechi of Deer
Park, Texas and Oristes Hughes
Jr. of Memorial High in Texas.
Onyechi had the top vertical
jump of the morning with a 33.5,
plus had a 9’5 broad, 4.29
shuttle, 4.67 40, and a very
impressive 40 reps at
135-pounds. Hughes was equally
impressive with a 4.65 40, 4.37
shuttle, 9’0 broad and 27 reps
at 135-pounds.
Adam Smith, Fastest Man Award
with Coach Schuman
Check back later this week as we
bring you the results from the
afternoon session in Dallas/Fort
Worth!
|
