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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.
Usua Amanam, Overall MVP
with his Record Setting Broad
Jump Performance
Even though Amanam was the most
impressive, two other defensive
backs also left their mark on
the event.
Sophomore Tim Gilmore, 5-foot-6
and 163-pounds, of Glen A.
Wilson High School in California
received the Fastest Man Award
after running a 4.45 40. Along
with his 40 time, which was the
fastest of the day, he also had
a 34.5 inch vertical, 27 reps at
150-pounds, and a 9’3” broad.
Tim Gilmore with Coach
Schuman
The DB MVP went to sophomore AJ
Cruz of Santa Margarita High
School in California, who proved
to be a lockdown cornerback all
day long. At 5-foot-7 ½ and
175-pounds, he also had a
35-inch vertical, 9’9” broad,
4.49 40, 4.26 shuttle, and 15
reps at 150-pounds.
AJ Cruz with Coach Schuman
Two freshmen running backs
proved to be the best at their
position during the afternoon.
The Freshman MVP went to Ramon
Buie of Long Beach Jordan High
School. Even though Buie only
measured in at 5-foot-4 and
132-pounds, he possessed an
impressive 29-inch vertical,
9’2” broad, 4.62 shuttle, and
4.79 40. But his combine
numbers only tell half the
story, as his speed during the
1-on-1’s, his ability to blow
past people, change direction,
and catch and run with the ball,
proved his complete dominance
among the freshmen.
Ramon Buie with Coach
Schuman
The other freshman RB who
definitely impressed was Cory
Westbrook of Long Beach Poly.
Westbrook, 5-foot-9 and
175-pounds, possesses a smooth
running style and powerful legs,
which should lead him to big
things in the future. He also
had a 28.5 inch vertical, 4.68
40, 4.51 shuttle, and 8’3”
broad, which led to his RB MVP
award.
Cory Westbrook with Coach
Schuman
The WR/TE MVP went to sophomore
Darrin Duncan of Victor Valley
High School in California.
Duncan is a great athlete, with
a 30-inch vertical, 10’ broad,
4.26 shuttle, 4.55 40, and 16
reps at 150-pounds, but he truly
stood out because of his amazing
hands and great routes.
Darrin Duncan with Coach
Schuman
Just missing out on the MVP
award was sophomore TE Levin
Toilolo of Helix High School in
California. Toilolo looked the
part of a D1 tight end from the
start, and at an amazing
6-foot-7 and 238-pounds, his
future is very bright. Aside
from his size, he proved to be a
great athlete with 17 reps at
150-pounds, a 4.63 shuttle, 4.87
40, 27-inch vertical, 8’8.5”
broad, and 129 inches on his
jump reach, which tied a new
Combine record. Toilolo may
still be a raw talent, but he is
definitely a player that every
college program should take a
close look at.
Levin Toilolo with Coach
Schuman
The race for the QB MVP was too
close to call, so two players
ended up going home with the
award. First up is super smooth
sophomore Joe Southwick,
6-foot-0 and 168-pounds, of San
Ramon Valley High School in
California. Southwick showcases
perfect technique, a great
release, phenomenal touch, and
can also put some zip on the
ball if necessary. He was
accurate on every pass and also
has great command in the
pocket. During the combine
events he had a 28-inch
vertical, 4.68 shuttle, 4.77 40,
and an 8’3” broad. The other
Co-MVP went to sophomore Austyn
Carta of Bellarmine College
Prep, who possessed the
strongest arm of the day. He
can throw the ball 60 plus yards
with ease and also drilled the
ball to closely defended
receivers. He also finished
with a 26-inch vertical, 8’3.5”
broad, 4.86 40, 4.40 shuttle,
and 21 reps at 150-pounds. A
special mention also goes out to
sophomore dual treat quarterback
Jeff Butler of Los Gatos High
School in California. Butler
still needs to fine tune his
passing game, but his potential
seems unlimited. He finished
with a 32-inch vertical, 9’3”
broad, 4.45 shuttle, 4.72 40,
and 21 reps at 150-pounds.
Austin Carta and Joe
Southwick with Coach Schuman
The OL MVP went to sophomore
Bryan Gabbard, 6-foot-3 and
210-pounds, of Centennial High
School in Arizona. Gabbard
still has to fill out his frame,
but he has great potential, foot
speed, strength, and agility.
He had 11 reps at 185-pounds, a
25-inch vertical, 8’5” broad,
and a 5.32 40.
Bryan Gabbard with Coach
Schuman
The top performer on the
defensive side of the ball was
likely LB MVP John Michael Davis
of Santa Margarita High School.
Davis, 6-foot-0 and 215-pounds,
didn’t allow a pass reception
all day long by a running back,
and to further prove his
athleticism, he went over to the
offensive side of the ball
during 1-on-1’s to work out with
the wide receivers. He is
smooth, strong, and fast, and he
could develop into one of the
top linebacker prospects in the
Class of 2009. During the
combine events he finished with
a 34-inch vertical, 10’ broad,
4.59 40, 4.61 shuttle, and 33
reps at 150-pounds.
John Michael Davis with
Coach Schuman
And finally, two defensive
linemen stood out throughout the
event. Winning the MVP was
speed rushing sophomore Jared
Koster of Norco High School in
California. Koster, 6-foot-0 ½
and 205-pounds, must continue to
grow, but he already has the
speed to be a D1 player. If
not, a move to the outside
linebacker position would also
make him a force on the
defensive side of the ball.
Jared Koster with Coach
Schuman
He finished with 13 reps at
185-pounds, a 4.69 40, 4.68
shuttle, 8’6.5” broad, and
33-inch vertical. Anchoring the
interior defensive line was
sophomore Carlos Martinez of
Oxnard High School. Martinez,
5-foot-10 and 282-pounds, is a
bull of a player, who is quick
and strong. He proved his
strength by totaling 21 reps at
185-pounds, plus running a 4.95
shuttle, 5.20 40, and jumping a
24.5 vertical. |
